Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF OPEN WELL WATER AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR HUMAN USE IN POLLACHI, COIMBATORE DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Dhanalakshmi V.* and Shanmugapriyan R.**

Abstract

Ground water (Open well water) samples collected from various sites of thickly populated residential area of Pollachi in Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu, India were analysed to assess the quality of water determining its suitability for drinking purpose. The physico chemical properties of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium, magnesium, sulphate, chloride, nitrate, total dissolved solids (TDS) and alkalinity of open well water surveyed between the period of May 2014 and April 2015. The results revealed that the pH, EC, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, chloride, nitrate, total dissolved solids and alkalinity ranged from 7.1 to 7.5, 1020 to 1080 (mMhos/cm), 49 to 60 (mg/l), 20 to 24 mg/l), 22 to 29 (mg/l), 79 to 85 (mg/l), 56 to 66 (mg/l), 601 to 615 (mg/l) and 319 to 343 (mg/l), respectively. The results of well water survey indicated that the pH, calcium, magnesium, sulphate and chloride content were within the limits of drinking water standards laid by WHO and ICMR. The concentration of nitrate, total dissolved salts and alkalinity were exceeded the water standards.

Keywords: Physico chemical properties, Total Alkalinity, Total dissolved solids, Well water.