SEA WATER INTRUSION ASSESSMENT USING

GROUND WATER MODELLING IN AND

AROUND MINJUR,, TAMIL NADU

PROJECT DONE BY PROJECT GUIDED BY

S.NIVEDHA DR. G. DHINAGARAN

2016282009
Assistant Professor,
Centre for Environmental
Studies,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Anna University, Chennai .
 INTRODUCTION
• Water is one of the most important natural resources
which support life on the earth.
• Groundwater is an important source of water in
coastal regions of India for meeting the domestic,
agricultural and industrial needs.
• During the past four decades, technological
advancement and government policies has favoured
phenomenal increase in the growth of
groundwater withdrawal structures such as dug
wells, shallow and deep tube wells.
• Number of electric and diesel pump set has increased
manifold due to implementation of various schemes, liberal
funding from the banks and improvement in availability of
electric power and diesel engines.
• Ground water is the major source in Tamil Nadu to
contribute more water for agriculture as compared to other
states
• In India, groundwater contributes to 66% of the irrigated
area and to 60% of the irrigated food production.
• The increased availability of ground water for irrigation
made significant contribution to the agricultural
production and growth of India’s economy.
• However, once considered as a dependable source, ground water
is declining very fast in several parts of India.
• Pollution of groundwater from various sources is another
serious issue.
• Apart from declining groundwater level, the quality of ground
water is also of major concern in several parts of India.
 COASTAL AQUIFER
• An aquifer is an underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or
other materials like sand and gravel.
• In many areas the geological construction of soil is layered, that is the soil
has been built of from different layers. The composition of these layers may
vary; from sandy to clayey or loamy.
• Materials with a high porosity like sand or gravel have excellent water
bearing properties. Other materials with a lower porosity like solid
bedrock, clay and loam have reduced water bearing properties where
water flows slowly through.
COASTAL AQUIFER
 COASTAL AQUIFER AND SEAWATER
INTERACTION

• Coastal aquifers are confined or unconfined aquifers and are in connection

with seawater.
• Saltwater can intrude fresh water aquifers by natural processes and human
activities.
• The cause of the intrusion of salt water is a reduction in the groundwater
level or a rise of the sea level.
• Salt water is affecting the quality of fresh water pumping
CONFINED AND UNCONFINED AQUIFERS
SEAWATER INTRUSION IN GROUNDWATER

• The saltwater is not static and is moving in a circle from the sea
to the diffusion zone and back to the sea.
• It appears that the gradient of salt closer to the zone of diffusion
is smaller than the gradient in the zone closer to the sea.
• This zone of diffusion occurs as an interface between the
saltwater and freshwater.
CONE OF DEPRESSION IN AN AQUIFER
 CAUSES
• Intrusion of saltwater may be natural process or by human activities.
• Intrusion of saltwater by natural processes can be defined for example by the
tide. A low tide will give less intrusion than a higher tide. Due to seawater rise
freshwater becomes also more saline.
• Overexploitation of coastal aquifers is the main reason of saltwater
intrusion by human activities.
• The first common effect of exploitation of coastal aquifers is a continuous
water level drawdown.
• This process is initiated or reinforced by pumping water out of a underground
water bearing layer such as a coastal aquifer
SALT WATER INTRUSION
 EFFECTS

• The extent to which the water level drops or effects are felt is highly dependent
on the amount of extraction, the speed of pumping and the pressure in the
aquifer.
• Furthermore, the stability of the water table is depending on the recharge of
the water bearing layer which may differ depending on location.
• Water level decline have negative consequences for agricultural land.
• Another effect is water quality deterioration where in the chemical
composition changes and have a negative impact on the quality of the water
A CLEAR IMAGE OF SEAWATER INTRUSION
 SEA WATER INTRUSION ASSESSMENT

• Even now water trading is going on and heavy pumping is done

along the coastal aquifer.
• Sea water intrusion is monitored.
• Identification of seawater intrusion and forecast will be estimated
by visual MODFLOW (Groundwater Modeling) and mapping
will be done to identify the sea water encroached area in the
block.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES

1. ‘A Methodological Journal of Environmental ✓ construction of injection barriers for

Framework To Assess The Management, Volume 193 controlling seawater intrusion by
Environmental And (2017) developing a methodological framework
Economic Effects Of that combines numerical modelling with
Injection Barriers Against spatial and cost-benefit analyses.
Seawater Intrusion’ by ✓ They introduced a novel approach, which
Ilias Siarkos et al. considers the socio-economic aspects of
seawater intrusion in the modelling
procedure, and at the same time focuses
on the spatial and temporal relationships
between water salinity and farmers'
income.
✓ To test the proposed methodology two
alternative artificial recharge scenarios -
with different volumes of water used for
injection are assessed.
✓ results of both scenarios have a positive
impact on groundwater quality, as well as,
a net economic benefit to local society.
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
2. ‘A New Physical Barrier Journal of Hydrology, Volume ✓ the mixed physical barrier (MPB) as a new
System For Seawater 549 barrier system for seawater intrusion control,
Intrusion Control’, by (2017) which combines an impermeable cut off wall
and a semi-permeable subsurface dam.
Antoifi Abdoulhalik et al.
✓ A newly developed automated image analysis
based on light-concentration conversion was
used which were completed in a porous
media tank.
✓ The results show that the MPB induced a
visible lifting of the dense saline flux upward
towards the outlet by the light freshwater.
✓ The use of the MPB yielded up to 62% and
42% more reduction of the saltwater
intrusion length than the semi-permeable dam
and the cut off wall, respectively.
✓ The performance achieved by the MPB with a
wall depth of 40% of the aquifer thickness
was greater than that of a single cut off wall
with a penetration depth of 90% of the aquifer
thickness (about 13% extra reduction).
✓ The MPB could produce better seawater
intrusion reduction than the traditionally used
barriers at even lower cost
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
3. ‘Experimental Saltwater Journal of Hydrology Volume ✓ The methodology uses an automated
Intrusion In Coastal 538 image analysis procedure. This allowed
Aquifers Using Automated the quantification of the width of the
Image Analysis: (2016) mixing zone.
Applications To ✓ Glass beads of different grain sizes were
Homogeneous Aquifers’, by tested for both steady-state and transient
G.Robinson et al. conditions.
✓ The transient results showed good
correlation between experimental and
numerical intrusion rates.
✓ The experimental intrusion rates revealed
that the saltwater wedge reached a
steady state condition sooner.
✓ The angle of intrusion analysis revealed
the formation of a volume of diluted
saltwater at the toe position when the
saltwater wedge is prompted to recede.
✓ results of experiment produced an average
coefficient of variation less than 0.18 of
the measured toe length and width of
the mixing zone
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
4. ‘Monitoring Of Sea Water Journal of Environmental ✓ The monitoring of seawater intrusion may
Intrusion In Coastal Management, consist of direct and indirect methods.
Aquifers: Basics And Local Volume 51 ✓ Direct methods include measurement of
Concerns’, by A.J.Melloul groundwater salinity profiles and
et al. (1997) groundwater sampling of observation
and active wells. Such sampling can
involve single-chamber apparatus or
multi-layer samplers.
✓ Indirect methods use
geoelectromagnetics and more
specifically the time domain
electromagnetic method (TDEM).
✓ monitoring activity based upon a reduced
number of observation wells yields
uncertain indications as regards seawater
intrusion into the Coastal Plain aquifer.
✓ The results indicates that a combination
of TDEM and direct well observation
appears an optimal means of assessing
intrusion of seawater into coastal aquifers
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
5. ‘Management Of Aquifer Journal of Environmental ✓ Groundwater flow and
Recharge In Lebanon By Management, saltwater/freshwater 50% sharp interface
Removing Seawater Volume 130 have been modelled along the coastal area
Intrusion From Coastal using the Ghyben–Herzberg theory.
Aquifers’, by Costantino (2013) ✓ Three well-injection barriers have been
Masciopinto et al. proposed.
✓ The water volumes for recharge and the
barrier positions have been defined by
means of groundwater flow simulations.
✓ MAR can provide a valuable contribution
to colloid (even pathogen) removal from
injectant water, although during water
infiltration in subsoil the reduction of
aquifer permeability causes clogging.
✓ A simple new model for estimating the
soil-rock permeability reduction due to the
well clogging has been presented.
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
6. ‘Aquifer Vulnerability And Journal of Environmental ✓A new approach for vulnerability mapping
Sea Water Intrusion Risk Earth Sciences, using GALDIT, groundwater quality index
Gladit, Gqiswi, Gis: A Case Volume 11 for seawater intrusion (GQISWI),
Of Coastal Aquifer In geostatistics, the Ghyben–Herzberg model
Tunisia’, by Nadia Trabelsi (2016) and GIS was developed.
et al. ✓Vulnerability assessment method is
recognized through assessing weight and
ratings of the GALDIT relevant parameter.
✓A second vulnerability map was realized
based upon the groundwater quality index for
seawater intrusion
✓The validation of GQISWI and GALDIT
vulnerability maps was undertaken through
comparison of areas of hugh Jones Ratio,
chloride and TDS concentration and their
relative vulnerability index.
✓The Ghyben–Herzberg model has been
used to predict the actual seawater intrusion
extend.
S.No. TITLE & AUTHOR JOURNAL INFERENCES
7. ‘Impact Of Pumping On Journal of Environmental ✓ A groundwater flow model was developed
Salt Water Intrusion In Management, Volume 54 for GCA using MODFLOW-2000 based
Gaza Coastal Aquifer, (2007) on data from the Palestinian Water
Palestine’, by Authority (PWA).
✓ The model was calibrated based on head
Abdelhaleem Ibraheem et
observations obtained from PWA and
al.
contour maps from literature.
✓ The calibrated model was used to simulate
the effects of pumping, recharge, and
injection on water table elevation.
✓ The results show that GCA is sensitive to
the above mentioned parameters.
Pumping has a great impact on water table
elevations..
✓ Two potential solutions were simulated;
reduction in pumping and the injection
of water through wells. These two options
eliminated the problem.
 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE
• The purpose of literature review is to provide an overview of the current
knowledge on a topic or to provide a context for new research.
• Based on the studies carried out by various researchers, the above
literatures give a view on how seawater intrusion occurs and how it can
be identified, how groundwater modelling it done to identify seawater
ingress interface, modelling of groundwater to understand the status
of aquifer , the flow and quality of groundwater and how to prevent it
from seawater intrusion.
• The literature review shows the importance of groundwater as a reliable
source for drinking water, and the severity of the problem of saltwater
intrusion
• Several studies can be found in the literature that deal with the problem of
saltwater intrusion
• Sea water intrusion is a serious problem that needed to be assessed.
 NEED FOR THE STUDY
• Coastal aquifers are always at high risk of contamination due to sea
water encroachment.
• Indiscriminate pumping from the coastal aquifer is the major cause
for massive encroachment of sea water into the aquifer.
• The aquifer near Minjur, Tamaraipakam and Panjetty in late 1950-
60’s was found by UNDP, PWD Tamil Nadu.
• Minjur aquifer on the coast of Tamil Nadu, north of Chennai, is a
highly potential confined aquifer, which is subjected to
indiscriminate pumping by farmers and also by Minjur well field to
augment city water supply.
• Then heavy pumping was done for Chennai Metro Water Supply
even during summer season also. Million gallons of water have
been pumped.
• These large scale pumping have resulted in progressive lowering of the
piezometric level, well below the mean sea level and the hydraulic gradient
has been created towards land.
• Consequently seawater has intruded into this important ground water
resource of the area. The continuous pumping caused sea water intrusion
from the sea coast in Minjur block.
• The quality change in water from pumping of bore wells for agriculture
alarmed the menace of sea water intrusion. It affected agriculture and
socio-economic condition and most importantly environmental pollution.
• Hence planning, for the sustainable ground water development in the coastal
aquifer is very much essential.
• In the present study, the hydro geological data of Minjur area, have to be
analysed to understand the nature of Minjur aquifer system and to assess the
impact of large scale pumping on the piezometric levels.
 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is “To Assess Seawater ingress and impact of
environmental degradation on groundwater regime in and around Minjur,
Chennai using groundwater modelling”.
Study is being carried out with main objectives:
• To study the spatio-temporal variability of sea water intrusion for delineating
the affected zone in selected coastal aquifer of Minjur
• To model sea water intrusion with Existing scenario of groundwater regime
• Deciphering Freshwater/saline water interface in Minjur area.
• Determination of Groundwater quality in the study area.
METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW
 STUDY AREA

• Minjur is a neighbourhood in North Chennai in thiruvallur district in

Tamil Nadu. It is located at 13.27oN 80.27oE.
• It has an average elevation of 11 metres (36 feet) with Ponneri as its
north, Cholavaram as its west, Manali and Thiruvottiyur as its south.
• Minjur is called ‘Vada Kanchi’ for North Kanchipuram. It is situated
about 25km from north of Chennai and well connected.
 LOCATION

• The area surveyed lies in the northern part of the Tamil Nadu state.
• The area is bounded by north latitudes of 13˚05’35” and 13˚33’20” and east
longitude of 79˚52’15” and 80˚18’30” forming parts of the survey of India
Toposheets of 66 C/3 & 7.
• The study area is bounded in the north by the Andhra Pradesh state, Pulicat lake, in
the west by Uttukottai & Tiruvallur district and in the South by Chennai district.
• Survey is being carried out over an area of 200 sq.km.
STUDY AREA (ENLARGED VIEW)
SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE STUDY AREA
 DRAINAGE
• The river Araniyar originates near Karvetinagar, at an altitude of 600 m above
msl, in Andhra Pradesh. It is not a perennial river; floods are occasional and flow
during the southwest and northeast monsoon seasons.
• From its origin the river flows for a distance of 65.2 km in Andhra Pradesh up to
Suruttapally anicut (small dam), before entering Tamil Nadu. It flows in an
easterly and south easterly direction in Tiruvallur district for a distance of 66.4
km, before it falls into the Bay of Bengal.
• The total length of the Araniyar river is about 131.6 km and the drainage area of
the basin is 1470 km2, of which 763 km2 lies in Tamilnadu. Two anicuts, namely
Annapanaicken Kuppam and Lakshmipuram anicut, are presently built on this
river.
• The Korattalaiyar river originates from Panappakkam reserve forest in Andhra
Pradesh State. In Tamil Nadu it flows through the taluks (sub-districts) of
Tirrutani, Tiruvallur, Saidapet and Ponneri. It mingles with Bay of Bengal near
Ennore, in Ponneri taluk.
• The total length of the river from its origin to the end is about 155 km. The
Nagari and Nandhi are the main tributaries of this river. The total catchment
area is 4273 km2, and 3242 km2 out of these lie in Tamil Nadu.
• The Poondi reservoir, with a capacity of 77.91 Mm3, was built on
Korattalaiyar in 1945. Upstream of the Poondi reservoir is the Keshavaram
anicut. Below the Poondi regulators are the Tamraipakkam anicut,
constructed in 1979, and the Vallur anicut, built in 1972.
• The river thereafter joins the Bay of Bengal. The slope of the area is gentle,
which allows surface runoff to enter the sea through streams.
• These rivers contribute to the recharge of the aquifer. Storing the stream
flows by means of check dams can enhance the recharge to the aquifer
system significantly.
• Apart from the rivers, the Sholavaram and Cholavaram lakes, in the vicinity,
influence the recharge of the Minjur aquifer system.
• The regions in between Arani-Korattaliar rivers are very fertile. The Arani
and Korattaliar rivers in general have a dendritic drainage pattern.
• The Arani R (Araniyar), originating in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh,
flows through the northern part of the study area and finally discharges into
Bay of Bengal near Pulicat lake.
• The Korattalaiyar river originates from the Kaveripakkam tank in Vellore
district (outside of the surveyed area). Korattaliar river water is supplied to
Cholavaram and Red Hill tanks by constructing an Anicut at Vellore
Tambarambakkam. After filling a number of tanks on its further course, the
river empties into the Ennore creek a few kilometres north of Chennai.
DRAINAGE MAP
 GEOMORPHOLOGY
• The prominent geomorphic units identified in the district through interpretation of
Satellite imagery are
• 1) Alluvial Plain,
• 2) Coastal plains
• 3) beach and beach ridges
• 4) lagoon/backwater
• 5) Palaeo channels
• 6) marsh and
• 7) flood plains.
• Major part of the study area is occupied by coastal plains.
• Palaeo channels are observed in scattered locations. Coastal plains are observed in the
most boundary of the study area.
• The coastal land forms include beach and beach ridges, lagoons/ back water, flood
plains, salt marsh etc
GEOMORPHOLOGY MAP
 GEOLOGY
• The major portion of the study area is occupied by sand consisting of coastal,
alluvial, aeolian deposits, clay deposits in scattered region and silt Formations of
Quaternary, Tertiary and Upper Gondwana, as well as the basement complex of
crystalline rocks, underlie the study area.
• Gondwana series consisting of a massive pile of lacustrine and fluvial deposits lie
over the crystalline rocks.
• These formations exist as outcrop to the north of Araniyar and along the southern
bank of Korattalaiyar.
• Deposits known as boulder-beds overlie the eastern part of the Gondwana series.
• The worn out and eroded surface of unexposed Tertiary and Quaternary formations
are underlain by crystalline rocks.
• The alluvium consists of gravel, fine to coarse sand, clay silt, clayey silt and silty
clay.
• Commonly the different types of clay or sand deposits are seen as lenses due to
migration and varying flow velocities of the old rivers.
GEOLOGY MAP
 LAND USE/LAND COVER

• The particulars of utilisation of land is governed by various factors including

topography, type and thickness of soil, rainfall pattern etc.
• In the study area, the plains are extensively cultivated, urbanisation/building
has also extensive developed.
• The major portion of study area is covered by agricultural land and water.
Very less forest area is exposed.
• Some built up land is scattered throughout the study area. Wasteland is also
found in coastal plains.
LAND USE/LAND COVER MAP
 SOIL
• Soils in the area have been classified into 1) Alfisol 2) Entisol 3) Inceptisol
and 4) Vertisol.
• The majority of the study area is covered by Vertisol and Inceptisol.
• Alfisol is a soil of an order comprising leached basic or slightly acid soils
with a clay-enriched B horizon.
• Entisols are defines as soils that donot show any profile development other
than an A horizon. An entisol has no diagnostic horizons, and most are
basically unaltered from their parent material, which can be unconsolidated
sediment or rock.
• Inceptisol is a soil of an order comprising freely draining soils in which the
formation of distinct horizons is not far advanced, such as brown earth.
• Vertisol is a moderately fertile deep alluvial, weakly cracking that was well
drained. It is a clayey soil with little organic matter which occurs in regions
having distinct wet and dry seasons.
SOIL MAP
DATA COLLECTION
 PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION

• Data collection includes collection of historical data from Central Ground

Water Board, Chennai Metro Water, Ground water (PWD).
• Toposheet collection from Survey of India of Toposheet number 66 C/3, 66
C/7 and gap analysis reports like previously done water quality analysis and
survey report of North Madras from Central Ground Water Board.
• Collection of historical data and last 10 years water level, physio-chemical
parameters of wells, aquifer parameters from Central Ground Water Board.
TOPOSHEET NO 66 C/3
TOPOSHEET NO 66 C/7
 HISTORICAL REPORT
• Central ground Water Board has carried out several detailed hydrogeological surveys in the
form of Systematic and Ground Water Management studies in this district from time to time.
• Sh.Sampath Kumar, Scinetist-C carried Systematic hydrogeological survey during 1991-92
and Sh.K.S.S.Nathan, Assistant Hydrogeologist carried out reappraisal survey during 2003-
04 and subsequently Sh.K.Ramanand, Assistant Hydrogeologist (2010-11) carried out district
ground water management studies in Tiruvallur district.
• Dr.M.Senthilkumar, Scientist-C( 2011-12) carried out Studies to decipher Seawater ingress
and impact of environmental degradation on groundwater regime in and around Minjur and
Greater Chennai.
• United Nation took up project studies in Arani and Korratalaiyar basin during 1967-70.
Studies included construction of tubewells in various parts of the basin to understand the
subsurface geology, aquifer parameter and identify the possibilities of seawater intrusion in
the Minjur area.
• The erstwhile Exploratory Tubewell Organisation had undertaken the ground water
exploration by drilling in the Araniyar and Korattalaiyar basin during 1956-57 for the study of
sub-surface configuration of the basin and to assess the ground water resources for
augmenting the water supply to Chennai city. During the 3 phases of explorations, 17
boreholes were drilled down to a maximum depth of 457.50 m bgl.
• From the results of exploration, potential areas were identified near Panjetti, Minjur and
Tamaraipakkam areas for development of ground water by tube wells.
• Central Ground Water Board (1975-81) also carried out the exploration in
Defence establishments at Avadi, Central farm area of Alamadhi and also at
Puduvayal down to a depth of 764 m bgl to assess the ground water resources of the
area. The exploratory drilling at Puduvayal revealed the absence of crystalline
basement down to a depth of 764.20 m and the sandstone aquifer with intercalation
of shale and compact in nature with poor permeability. The aquifers encountered are
less productive.
• Monitoring of ground water levels and water quality is being carried out by
Central Ground Water Board since 1969 through a network of Hydrograph Stations.
Recently, the monitoring network has been expanded with the construction of 25
purpose-built observation wells under the World Bank-aided Hydrology Project-II.
During the Hydrogeology Project –II, Purpose Driven Study was taken in the
Tiruvallur district to study the different hydrogeological setting in five sites of the
district & conduct field experiments to estimate the specific yield & other aquifer
parameters for providing decision support tool for rainwater harvesting and artificial
recharge design for the area.
• In addition to various investigations taken up by Central Ground Water Board,
ground water investigations and monitoring of water levels and quality are being
carried out by various State Government agencies such as State Ground and
Surface Water Resource Data Centre and Tamil Nadu Water Supply &
Drainage Board as part of their field activities.
 PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION

The primary data collected will be the water

samples. Groundwater samples will be collected in
two seasons of pre monsoon and post monsoon.
 FIELD SURVEY

• Hydro-geological survey has to be conducted.

• Ground water condition, quality and level are to be inventoried.
• Detailed hydro-geological survey in the study area will be done to reveal the
interface of saline water with the freshwater in aquifers in the Minjur
region.
 WELL INVENTORY SURVEY
• Ground water samples were collected in pre and post monsoon season.
• 12 dug wells, 3 tube wells were collected.
• The samples were immediately transported to the laboratory and carefully
stored for analysis
• Well inventory survey to be conducted to take well depth, well dimension,
water level pre-monsoon, post-monsoon (reported), lithology
corresponding to well hydraulics, groundwater samples and also
representative wells to be established.
• The representative wells or observation wells will be established in grid
pattern with regular distance covering the study area
FIELD SURVEY (SAMPLE COLLECTION PRE-MONSOON)
FIELD SURVEY (SAMPLE COLLECTION POST-
MONSOON)
 GROUND WATER QUALITY SURVEY
• To understand the chemical quality of groundwater in the study area and its
suitability for domestic, drinking and agricultural utilisation,
representative samples were collected from 15 locations.
• The taken groundwater water samples are to be tested for its level, quality,
electrical conductivity, pH, and temperature are to be measured using
portable meters at field.
• Spacing of the sampling was planned in such a manner that at least two to
three sample fall in one quadrant and are equally spaced.
• Analysis of the 15 groundwater samples collected during the survey is done
later.
 WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS

• Ground water samples are collected using polythene containers of two

litres capacity which are cleaned and sterilized well before using for the
sample collection.
• During sample collection utmost care was taken to avoid any kind of
contamination.
SAMPLES COLLECTED
WELL LOCATION MAP
WELL LOCATION
WELL LOCATION
 SAMPLE ANALYSIS

• The samples are further needed to be tested in laboratory for other

physio-chemical parameters.
• The samples were analyzed for relevant physio-chemical
parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids, electrical
conductivity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate,
sulphate.
 METHOD OF WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS

• All the parameters were analyzed following the procedure

specified in APHA (1998).
• pH, EC, sodium, potassium, nitrate, sulphate and fluoride were
analyzed in the instrumental method.
• Total hardness, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, and
chloride were analysed in Titration method.
• In the study area the Ground water is used for domestic and other
purposes.
METHOD OF ANALYSIS
MODFLOW MODELLING
 MODEL DEVELOPMENT

• Groundwater models are developed to simulate water movement and salt

water transport in the land and river through the porous medium of aquifer
for a range of existing and possible future conditions.
• Seawater intrusion is a natural process, where the groundwater flow depends
on hydraulic gradient and fluid density variation between freshwater and
seawater and the transport mechanics includes convective and dispersive
processes.
• Model setup includes identification of the model area domain (area to be
modelled), river line that would be included in the model, identification of
pumping stations, identification of geological layers and their hydraulic
properties, identification of boundary conditions, land use and preparation
various hydro-meteorological input data, identification of head observation
stations and concentration observation stations.
SIMULATION STEPS OF THE GROUNDWATER MODELLING
 MODEL CALIBRATION
• The purpose of model calibration is to achieve an acceptable agreement with
measured data by adjusting the input parameters within acceptable range.
• A groundwater model contains huge number of input data, the parameters to adjust
during the calibration could be numerous.
• During the calibration it is therefore important to adjust the parameters within the
acceptable range determined from field measurements, and also to minimize the
number of adjusted parameters.
• In this study, the initial input parameters have been obtained from field
measurements.
• The model has been calibrated for the year 2019.
• In the present model, calibration has been done against groundwater levels.
• During calibration vertical hydraulic conductivity, storage coefficient and river
leakage coefficient have been adjusted.
• To check the model accuracy the comparison of the measured and simulated values
are done.
 MODEL VALIDATION

• Validation of a groundwater model refers to the testing of a calibrated

groundwater model against a new set of historic groundwater conditions
for which measurement data of water levels or groundwater flow is
available, but that have not been used for the calibration process.
• A data collection program was undertaken in the year of 2018-19, during that
time 15 field samples were collected and from there various groundwater
quality parameters like pH, temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), total
dissolved solids (TDS) are measured.
• Graphs have been prepared with the collected data and data got from the
model to show the model validity in the same time frame with same location.
 MODELLING OBJECTIVES

• Numerical three-dimensional groundwater flow model was developed for the

Arani-Korattaliyar Aquifer system, Northern India with the following
objectives,
• to simulate regional groundwater flow to identify the distribution of heads.
• Impact on the aquifer system due to various hydrological stresses.
• To develop few scenarios for proper understanding of the aquifer system.
• For Efficient and sustainable management of the aquifer system.
 MODELLING PROTOCOL

• The modelling protocol used in this study for the construction of a numerical model
involves the following steps:
• Data collection, acquisition and processing of primary data
• Conceptual model building
• Numerical model building
• Model application
• Result generation.
GROUND WATER MODELLING METHODOLOGY
(AFTER BEAR 1992)
 COMPUTER CODE

• The computer software program MODFLOW (McDonald and Harbaugh

1998) developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was used
for the present study.
• The computer program uses the finite-difference technique and block-
centered formulation to solve the groundwater flow equation for the three-
dimensional steady and transient flow in heterogeneous media.
• The pre and post processor, Visual Modflow version 4.6 of 2014 was used to
give input data and process the model output.
• Modelling studies were carried out in the hydrogeological modelling cell of
the South Eastern Coastal Region, Central Ground Water Board, Chennai.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
 SECONDARY DATA
COLLECTION

• The following data is the previously work done by Central

Ground Water Board.
• The samples have been collected from the same locations as well
 GROUNDWATER QUALITY RESULT

• The following parameters are tested and respective values and contours have
been given
 pH

• A perusal of tables indicates that the pH of all samples from groundwater was
near neutral with a range of 6.9 to 7.4 for pre monsoon and 6.9 to 8 in post
monsoon.
• Most of the samples are neutral and below neutral condition.
 pH
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
pH
 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

• The EC is a valuable indicator of the amount of material dissolved in water

and determination of total dissolved solid.
• Results reveals that it ranges between 1080 to 7380 μS /cm for dug wells and
1140 to 3310 μS /cm for tube wells for pre monsoon and 870 to 8540 μS /cm
for dug wells and 1470 to 1530 μS /cm for tube wells for post monsoon.
• These high conductivity values obtained for the ground water is an indication
of its effect on the water quality.
pH METER AND CONDUTIVITY METER – pH & EC
ANALYSIS
EC MAP OF THE STUDY AREA (PRE MONSOON)
EC MAP OF THE STUDY AREA (POST MONSOON)
 EC

VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE post monsoon

VAYALUR KUPPAM pre monsoon

EC (µS/cm)
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0.0 1000.0 2000.0 3000.0 4000.0 5000.0 6000.0 7000.0 8000.0 9000.0
EC
 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
• TDS indicates the general nature of water quality or salinity and measure the total
concentration of all constituents present in the water.
• The range of TDS at all sites falls in between 1014 to 4797 mg/l for dug wells and
741 to 2152 mg/l for tube wells for pre monsoon and 566 to 55591 mg/l for dug
wells and 955 to 994 mg/l for tube wells for post monsoon.
• This high value of TDS may be due to the leaching of various pollutants into the
groundwater.
• The high concentrations of TDS decrease the palatability, may cause gastro-
intestinal irritation in human, and may have laxative effect particularly upon
transits (WHO, 1997).
• Table reveals the classification of ground water, based on TDS in that 2 of the
samples fall under fresh (< 1000) category, 10 of the samples under slightly saline
(1000 to 3000), 3 of the samples under moderately saline (3000 to 10000) and NIL
samples under very saline category for pre monsoon and 5 of the samples fall under
fresh (< 1000) category, 6 of the samples under slightly saline (1000 to 3000), 4 of
the samples under moderately saline (3000 to 10000) and NIL samples under very
saline category for post monsoon.
TDS RANGE
 TDS
VELANKULAM
KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM
THIRUPALAVANAM
PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI
URAMBEDU
SANGIIMEDU
VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU
NEITHAVAYAL
MINJUR
PUDHUPEDU
MOUTHAMBEDU
ATTIPATU

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

TDS
 HARDNESS
• According to the classification of Durfor and Becker (1964) for TH, the
ground water of the area is very hard.
• Ca2+and Mg2+are the important parameters for the measure of total hardness.
Calcium concentration in groundwater ranged from 205 to 2600 mg/l for dug
wells and 270 to 420 mg/l for tube wells.
• The concentration of Magnesium ions varied from 22 to 297 mg/l for dug
wells and 27 to 95mg/l for tube wells in pre monsoon.
• Calcium concentration in groundwater ranged from 40 to 116 mg/l for dug
wells and 36 to 102 mg/l for tube wells and the concentration of Magnesium
ions varied from 3.645 to 96 mg/l for dug wells and 40.10 to 75 mg/l for tube
wells in post monsoon
• Magnesium salts are cathartic and diuretic and high concentration may cause
laxative effect, while deficiency may cause structural and functional changes.
TOTAL HARDNESS ANALYSIS – EDTA TITRI METRIC
METHOD
CALCIUM ANALYSIS – EDTA TITRI METRIC
METHOD
 TH
VELANKULAM
KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM
THIRUPALAVANAM
PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI
URAMBEDU
SANGIIMEDU
VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU
NEITHAVAYAL
MINJUR
PUDHUPEDU
MOUTHAMBEDU
ATTIPATU

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

TH
 Ca
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Ca
 Mg
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Mg
 SODIUM AND POTASSIUM

• The concentration of sodium in water samples varied from 125 to 1265 mg/l
for dug wells and 138 to 529mg/l for tube wells for pre monsoon and 47.7 to
1897 mg/l for dug wells and 114.2 to 207 mg/l for tube wells for post
monsoon.
• The high concentration of sodium may pose a risk to persons suffering from
cardiac, renal, and circulatory disease.
• The concentration of potassium in the water samples varied from 13 to 181
mg/l for dug wells and 22 to 374mg/l for tube wells in pre monsoon and from
3.85 to 811 mg/l for dug wells and 2.3 to 11.3 mg/l for tube wells in post
monsoon.
ANALYSIS OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM – FLAME
PHOTOMETRIC METHOD
 Na
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Na
 K
VELANKULAM
KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM
THIRUPALAVANAM
PULICAT LAKE
well location KATTUR-TATTAMANJI
URAMBEDU
SANGIIMEDU
VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU
NEITHAVAYAL
MINJUR
PUDHUPEDU
MOUTHAMBEDU
ATTIPATU

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

K
 CHLORIDE
• An excess of Cl- in water is usually taken as an index of pollution and
considered as tracer for groundwater contamination (Loizidou and
Kapetanios, 1993).
• The concentration of Cl- the groundwater samples ranged between 206 to
1985mg/l in dug wells and 213 to 815 mg/l in tube wells for pre monsoon
and 70.9 to 670.8mg/l in dug wells and 212.7 to 269.42 mg/l in tube wells for
post monsoon
• High Cl- content of groundwater is likely to originate from pollution sources
such as domestic effluents, fertilizers, and septic tanks.
• Increase in Cl- level is injurious to people suffering from diseases of heart or
kidney (WHO, 1997).
SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ANALYSIS OF
CHLORIDES – ARGENTOMETRIC METHOD
CHLORIDE MAP OF STUDY AREA (PRE MONSOON)
CHLORIDE MAP OF STUDY AREA (POST MONSOON)
 Cl
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Cl
 NITRATE

• Nitrate is an inorganic compound of nitrogen which is bio

available for plant uptake and is essential to plant growth.
• Natural levels of nitrate in water bodies are typically lower than 1
mg/L.
• The concentration of nitrate in water sample varied from 19 to 51
mg/l for dug wells and 19 to 38 mg/l for tube wells in pre
monsoon and 26 to 843 mg/l for dug wells and 26 to 37.2 mg/l for
tube wells in post monsoon.
ANALYSIS OF NITRATES – UV SPECTRO
PHOTOMETER
NITRATE MAP OF STUDY AREA (PRE MONSOON)
 NITRATE MAP OF STUDY AREA (POST
MONSOON)
 NO3
VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE
well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM
pre monsoon
KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

NO3
 SULPHATE

• Concentration of sulphate in water sample ranged from 24 to 1968 mg/l for

dug wells and 81.6 to 278 mg/l for tube wells in pre monsoon period and 27
to 1440 mg/l for dug wells and 72 to 432 mg/l for tube wells in post monsoon
period.
ANALYSIS OF SULPHATES – TURBIDIMETRIC
METHOD
 SO4

VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM pre monsoon

KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

SO4
 FLUORIDE

• The concentration of F- in the studied water samples ranged from 0.3 to 0.81
mg/l for dug wells and 0.3 to 0.62 mg/l for tube wells in pre monsoon period
and 0.18 to 0.96 mg/l for dug wells and 0.23 to 0.57 mg/l for tube wells in
post monsoon period.
ANALYSIS OF FLUORIDES – SPADNS METHOD
 F

VELANKULAM

KAMARAVAR PALLAYAM

THIRUPALAVANAM

PULICAT LAKE

well location
KATTUR-TATTAMANJI

URAMBEDU

SANGIIMEDU

VELLORE
post monsoon
VAYALUR KUPPAM pre monsoon

KOKKUMEDU

NEITHAVAYAL

MINJUR

PUDHUPEDU

MOUTHAMBEDU

ATTIPATU

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

F
SAMPLE TEST VALUES
(PRE MONSOON)
SAMPLE TEST VALUES
(PRE MONSOON)
SAMPLE TEST VALUES
(POST MONSOON)
SAMPLE TEST VALUES
(POST MONSOON)
WELL FEATURES AND
WATER LEVEL (PRE MONSOON)
WELL FEATURES AND
WATER LEVEL (POST
MONSOON)
CONTROLWELLS
COMPARISONS AND SUITABILITY OF
WATER
RANGE OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS DURING
PRE- MONSOON (OCTOBER – 2018)
RANGE OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS DURING
POST- MONSOON (JANUARY – 2019)
CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND WATER FOR
DRINKING WATER PURPOSE
(PRE MONSOON)
CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND WATER FOR
DRINKING WATER PURPOSE
(PRE MONSOON)
CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND WATER FOR
DRINKING WATER PURPOSE
(POSTMONSOON)
CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND WATER FOR
DRINKING WATER PURPOSE
(POSTMONSOON)
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF GROUNDWATER PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN
THE STUDY AREA (PRE MONSOON)
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF GROUNDWATER PHYSICOCHEMICAL
PARAMETERS IN THE STUDY AREA (POST MONSOON)
MINIMUM MAXIMUM OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL
PARAMETERS OF GROUNDWATER SAMPLES
IN THE STUDY AREA (PRE AND POST MONSOON)
 MINIMUM MAXIMUM OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL
PARAMETERS OF GROUNDWATER SAMPLES IN THE
STUDY AREA (PRE AND POST MONSOON)
 CLASSIFICATION OF WATER QUALITY
INDICES BASED ON IRRIGATION PURPOSES
FOR THE STUDY AREA

• The important parameters that influence the quality of water for irrigation
use are sodium absorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (%Na), permeability
index (PI) and magnesium ratio (MR).
 SODIUM ABSORPTION RATIO

• It is used to express relative movement of Na+ ions in the exchange reaction

with the soil. Higher Na ion concentration can diminish the permeability of
soil and its structure. In this area, the observed value of SAR ranged from
3.53 to 16.26 meq/l for pre monsoon 2 to 64.5 meq/l and for post monsoon.
(Table 4.14). sodium absorption ratio is calculated by
• SAR= (Na++√Ca+ + Mg+/2 (All ionic concentrations expressed in meq/l)
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON
SODIUM ABSORPTION RATIO
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
 PERCENT SODIUM (%Na)
• Excess sodium in water reacts with soil, thereby reducing its permeability which shows the
importance of Na+ ion in the classification of irrigation water quality.
• A High percentage of sodium ions on water using for irrigation purpose may inhibit the plant
growth and reduces soil permeability. The sodium percentage was calculated by
• 100× (Na+ + K+)/ (Ca2+ + Mg2+ + Na++ K+) (All ionic concentrations expressed in meq/l)
• Soil containing large proportions of sodium with carbonate as the predominant anions termed to
alkali soil, whereas with chloride or sulphate as the predominant cations termed as saline soil.
Neither soil will support plant growth.
• The percentage sodium computed for the post monsoon and pre monsoon period of January 2019
and October 2018. Generally, %Na+ should not exceed 60% in irrigation waters.
• Results shows the most of groundwater samples fall under the category of good to permissible
quality during the pre monsoon season.
• A few samples fall under excellent and doubtful category that is the irrigation water quality
improves in the post monsoon period.
• Groundwater samples of the study area are plotted in the Wilcox’s diagram (Wilcox 1955) for the
classification of groundwater for irrigation, wherein EC plotted against %Na (Figure 4.15).
• In this area, the observed value of %Na ranged from 37.84 to 75.38 meq/l for pre monsoon 31.7 to
95.6 meq/l and for post monsoon.
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON SODIUM PERCENT
WILCOX DIAGRAM
 PERMEABILITY INDEX (PI)
• The permeability of the soil is affected by the long-term use of water for irrigation as it
is influenced by sodium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate content of the soil.
• Doneen (1964) has proposed a criterion for assessing the groundwater suitability for
irrigation use based on the PI as shown in the given formula
• PI= (Na++√HCO3- / (Ca2++Mg2++Na+) ×100 (All ionic concentrations expressed in
meq/l)
• Accordingly, the permeability index is classified under class 1 (>75%), class 11(25-
75%) and class 111(<75%) orders. Class I and class II waters are categorised as good
for irrigation with 75% or more of maximum permeability. Class III waters are
unsuitable with 25% of maximum permeability.
• In this area, the observed value of PI ranged from 5.18 to 20.14 meq/l for pre monsoon
and 13.21 to 86.56 meq/l for post monsoon.
• In pre monsoon except sample number 3 and 15 all other samples fall under class I
whereas 3 and 15 falls under class II. In post monsoon sample number 3, 7,11,13 falls
under class II whereas remaining samples falls under class I.
PERMEABILITY INDEX
 KELLY’S RATIO (KR)
• Kelly (1951) has discussed the hazardous effect of sodium on water quality
for irrigation usage.
• Water beyond 1.0 Kelly’s ratio indicates an excess level of sodium and is not
suitable for irrigation and water with Kelly's ratio below 1.0 is suitable for
irrigation. The Kelly’s ratio can be calculated with the following formula as
given below
• Kelly’s ratio = Na+/ (Ca2+ + Mg2+) (All ionic concentrations expressed in
meq/l).
• In the study area, Kelly's ratio value varied between 0.15and 0.71 meq/l for
pre monsoon and 0.5 to 20.4 meq/l for post monsoon.
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON KELLY’S RATIO
 MAGNESIUM HAZARD RATIO (MR)
• Generally, Ca2+ and Mg2+ keep equilibrium in most waters. In equilibrium
magnesium in waters will adversely affect crop yield.
• More magnesium present in waters affects the soil quality converting it to
alkaline and decreases crop yield. The magnesium ratio can be calculated as
• MHR = 100* (Mg2+/ (Ca2++ Mg2+) (All ionic concentrations expressed in
meq/l)
• Magnesium ratio above 50 percent is considered unsafe and unsuitable for
irrigation purposes.
• The MR values of waters in the study are varying from 13.04 to 83.33 meq/l
for pre monsoon and 12 to 71.42 meq/l for post monsoon.
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON MAGNESIUM HAZARD RATIO
RESIDUAL SODIUM CARBONATE (RSC)
• Eaton suggested that the hazardous effect of bicarbonates and carbonates on the
quality of water for agricultural use can be assessed using RSC. The residual sodium
carbonate can be calculated as
• RSC =(HCO3+CO3) – (Ca + Mg) (All ionic concentrations expressed in meq/l)
• RSC value varied between -0.4 to -24.3 meq/l for pre monsoon and -0.4 to 8.7
meq/l for post monsoon.
• The quantity of bicarbonate and carbonate in excess of alkaline earth (Ca +Mg) also
influences the suitability of water for irrigation purposes.
• Residual sodium carbonate (RSC) is frequently used to assess the water quality for
irrigation purpose, was not applied in present day
• The sample count for pre monsoon is more unsuitable than post monsoon. This is
clearly found from field studies the occurrence of alkaline white patches of the soil.
• Further, continued usage high RSC will result in burning of leaves of plants, affects
crop yield. Similarly irrigation with high RSC water in the fine textured soil will
result in the development of alkali soil.
SUITABILITY OF IRRIGATION WATER BASED ON RESIDUAL SODIUM CARBONATE
MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, MEAN AND STANDARD DEVIATION VALUES
FOR IRRIGATION INDICES (PRE MONSOON)
MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, MEAN AND STANDARD DEVIATION
VALUES FOR IRRIGATION INDICES (POST MONSOON)
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS RECOMMENDING AGENCIES AND UNIT
WEIGHTS (ALL VALUES EXCEPT pH AND EC ARE IN mg/L)
WATER QUALITY INDEX (PRE AND POST MONSOON)
EFFECTIVE WEIGHTS OF EACH WATER QUALITY PARAMETER
(PRE MONSOON)
EFFECTIVE WEIGHTS OF EACH WATER QUALITY PARAMETER
(POST MONSOON)
DELINEATION OF SEAWATER
INTRUSION
EVIDENCES FROM GROUND WATER QUALITY
REVELLE FACTOR
• The Revelle factor (buffer factor) is the ratio of instantaneous change in
carbon dioxide (CO2) to the change in total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC),
and is a measure of the resistance to atmospheric CO2being absorbed by the
ocean surface layer.
• The buffer factor is used to examine the distribution of CO2 between the
atmosphere and the ocean, and measures the amount of CO2 that can be
dissolved in the mixed surface layer.
• It is named after the oceanographer Roger Revelle.
• The importance of his work was that he found human produced CO2 would
not be easily absorbed by the oceans.
• The samples from region 2.1 to 6.5 is slightly to moderately affected whereas
range above 6.5 will be completely affected samples.
REVELLE DIAGRAM SHOWING SEAWATER AFFECTED REGIONS
 GIBBS PLOT
• The ‘Gibbs Diagram’ represents some of the key processes controlling
surface water chemistry.
• The importance of geochemical processes governing groundwater
chemistry is discussed in the Gibbs Diagram framework.
• This shows that the processes represented on the Gibbs Diagram originally
developed for surface waters are unlikely to represent key processes
controlling the chemistry of most groundwater systems.
• The original Gibbs (1970) article summarizes the evolution of surface water
chemistry. Based on that study, the main governing processes include
evaporation, precipitation, and water-rock interaction.
• The pattern of world surface water bodies forms a boomerang-shaped cloud
on the figure
• Mechanism controlling groundwater chemistry-Gibbs diagram and water-rock
interaction. Gibb’s (1970) suggested two plots such as (i) TDS vs Cl-/ (Cl-
+HCO3-) and (ii) TDS vs (Na++K+)/ (Na++K++Ca2+).
• In the present study, for pre monsoon it is found that most samples are falling
into the rock dominance region which revealed that the rock-water
interaction process. The silicate weathering prevails if HCO3- and SO42-
dominate Ca2+ and Mg2+, resulting in increasing the concentration of HCO3-
in groundwater. For post monsoon it is found that most samples are falling
into the rock dominance region which revealed that the rock-water
interaction process prevails followed by evaporation dominance
GIBBS PLOT (PRE MONSOON)
GIBBS PLOT (POST MONSOON)
 PIPER TRIPLOT
• In 1994, Arthur M. Piper, proposed an effective graphic procedure to
segregate relevant analytical data to understand the sources of the dissolved
constituents in water. This procedure was born under the statement that most
natural waters contain cations and anions in chemical equilibrium.
• A piper diagram is a graphical representation of the chemistry of a water
sample or samples. The cations and anions are shown by separate ternary
plots.
• The apexes of the cation plot are calcium, magnesium and sodium plus
potassium cations.
• The apexes of the anion plot are sulphate, chloride and carbonate plus
hydrogen carbonate anions.
• The two ternary plots are then projected onto a diamond. The diamond is
a matrix transformation of a graph of the anions (sulphate + chloride/total
anions) and cations (sodium + potassium/total cations).
• The piper diagram is suitable for comparing the ionic composition of a set
of water samples, but does not lend itself to spatial comparisons
• For geographical applications, the Stiff diagram and Maucha diagram are
more applicable, because they can be used as markers on a map. Colour
coding of the background of the Piper diagram allows linking Piper Diagrams
and maps
• Water samples shown on the Piper diagram can be grouped in hydrochemical
facies.
• The cation and anion triangles can be separated in regions based on the
dominant cation(s) or anion(s) and their combination creates regions in the
diamond shaped part of the diagram.
• The figure clearly indicates that the data points falling in the Na-Cl zone.
• Majority of the groundwater samples falls in the sodium chloride zone.
PIPER TRIPLOT (PRE AND POST MONSOON)
 Na/Cl GRAPH

• Sodium vs chloride graph diagram is plotted. The figure will

clearly indicate that whether the data points are falling in the 1:1
line.
• This will indicate that whether ion exchange is active when it is in
1:1 line.
• This figure clearly indicates that the data points falling in the 1:1
line.
• This indicates that ion exchange is active when it is in 1:1 line.
SODIUM-CHLORIDE 1:1 LINE
 DISTANCE VS WATER LEVEL GRAPH

• The graphs between distance and water level for pre and post monsoon season
is plotted.
• The distance is taken from sampling stations in a linear and measured its
distance from coast.
• Two sample station lines of sample wells Mouthampedu, Pudhupedu and
Minjur and another line is Sangibedu, Voyalur, Kokkumedu is taken.
• The distance of 1st sample line is 4500m 7500m and 9250m and 2nd sample
line is 4000m ,6500m and 7000m. the distance with water level values for
these sample stations is plotted
MAP SHOWING WATER LEVEL VS DISTANCE GRAPH
 DISTANCE VS EC GRAPH
• The graphs between distance and EC for pre and post monsoon season is
plotted.
• The distance is taken from sampling stations in a linear and measured its
distance from coast.
• Two sample station lines of sample wells Mouthampedu, Pudhupedu and
Minjur and another line is Sangibedu, Voyalur, Kokkumedu is taken.
• The distance of 1st sample line is 4500m 7500m and 9250m and 2nd sample
line is 4000m ,6500m and 7000m. the distance with EC values for these
sample stations is plotted.
EC VARIATION BETWEEN PRE AND POST MONSOON WITH DISTANCE
FROM THE COAST

Pre monsoon

post monsoon
EVIDENCES FROM GROUND WATER
MODELLING
 REGIONAL GROUNDWATER FLOW
• Three-dimensional mathematical models of regional groundwater flow are beneficial to the
management of groundwater resources as they allow the approximation of the components of
hydrological processes and provide a mechanistic description of the flow of water in an aquifer.
• Such a modelling study was carried out in a part of Minjur region of Arani and korattaliyar river
basin, Tamil Nadu.
• The study area is characterized by alluvial formation comprising of sand, silt, clay aquifer
system with very heavy abstraction of groundwater for agricultural purposes.
• The model simulates groundwater flow over an area of about 960 square kilometers with 72
rows, 84 columns, with one vertical layers on the regional model.
• The detailed study area is divided into rows and columns with a size of 500 by 500 m grids.
• The model was simulated in steady and transient state condition using the finite-difference
approximation of three-dimensional partial differential equation of groundwater flow in this
aquifer from September 2018 to April 2019.
• The model was calibrated for steady and transient state conditions. There was a reasonable match
between the computed and observed heads.
• Based on the modelling results, it is found that this aquifer system is not stable at this pumping
rate.
 MODEL INPUT PARAMETERS

• The model was developed by incorporating geologic data, measured and

inferred hydrologic data.
• Two sets of data are required for the development of a groundwater model is
given.
• The two sets of data are the physical framework and hydrological stresses.
DATA REQUIRED IN DEVELOPING A NUMERICAL
MODEL
 MODEL CONCEPTUALISATION

• The conceptual model of the system was arrived from the detailed study of
geology, borehole lithology, geophysical resistivity survey and logs, cross
section and water level fluctuations in wells.
• Groundwater of the study area is found to occur in the alluvial formations.
• Groundwater is found to occur in unconfined conditions in the alluvial
formation.
 BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
• The study area forms a part of the Minjur region of Arani-Korattaliyar river
basin.
• The boundary conditions modelled are as per the open boundary.
• The western, northern and southern boundary of the study area is the general
head boundary and eastern boundary is bounded by sea boundary or
constant head boundary .
• Arani river flows from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and
Korattaliyar river flows parallel to it from western boundary to eastern
boundary.
• The aquifer top and bottom were derived mainly based on the lithology of
boreholes and by intensive field surveys.
• The study area has been vertically divided into one layer.
• The unconfined layer comprises of the alluvial formation comprising of sand
silt and clay.
 GRID DESIGN
• The geographic boundaries of the model grid covering 960 km2 of the study
area were determined using the map module.
• The map was projected using the metric coordinates in the map module and
then imported into the MODFLOW.
• The finite-difference grid was superimposed on the study area was constructed
based on the conceptual model representing the physical properties of the
groundwater system.
• The gird network has a constant spacing 500 m by 500 m.
• The model gird discretised into 6048 cells with 72 rows and 84 columns, and
vertically by 1 layer.
• The length of model cells is 500 m along the east west and 500 m along the
north- south directions of the study area.
DISCRETISATION OF THE STUDY AREA.
BOUNDARY CONDITION OF THE STUDY AREA
 INPUT PARAMETERS

INITIAL GROUNDWATER HEAD

• The initial groundwater head of the study area is done by pre monsoon water
level data recorded in the month of September 2018.
• The aquifer geometry includes defining the aquifer top, bottom of layer.
• They were mainly derived from the subsurface characterization using the
lithologs, resistivity data and geological field work.
• These values were extrapolated for the entire area considering the lithological
variations and field study of well sections.
• The layer is characterized by alluvial formation with a maximum thickness of
40 m and section west-east and north-south
TOP ELEVATION OF THE STUDY AREA
BOTTOM ELEVATION OF THE STUDY AREA
EAST WEST SECTION
NORTH SOUTH SECTION
 AQUIFER CHARACTERISTICS

• The aquifer properties such as horizontal hydraulic conductivity, Specific

yield and storativity used in the model was derived from pumping tests results
and is given.
AQUIFER PARAMETER
 GROUNDWATER ABSTRACTION
• The groundwater of the study area is abstracted for irrigation, drinking water
supply and domestic purposes.
• Agriculture activity of the study area is mainly dependant on groundwater
resource and small region of canal/dam command area.
• The Land use and landcover map was prepared to demarcate the area under
cultivation.
• Information on the number of wells (open and borewells) available in the
study area was collected from the department of economics & Statistics and
also from the electricity board.
• The data obtained from electricity board included the number of wells
energized and their horse power of the pump.
• The domestic and drinking water requirement of the study area was calculated
based on population
 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AS PER GEC
97
• The study area falls in block Minjur (part) of Tiruvallur district.
• Block wise groundwater recharge and draft estimated as per the methodologies and
norms recommended by the groundwater resources estimation committee.
• Rainfall, seepage from canals, irrigated fields; reservoirs and tanks constitute the
major components of ground water recharge in district.
• The computation of ground water resources available in the district has been done
using GEC 1997 methodology.
• The total replenishable ground water resources available in the study area have been
computed using the average water level fluctuations in observation wells and specific
yield of aquifers.
• These have been normalised using normal rainfall data to eliminate variations in
recharge due to excess or deficit rainfall.
• The monsoon recharge arrived at is then compared with the recharge computed using
rainfall infiltration method. In cases where the difference between the two is more
than 20 percent, the recharge is computed using ad hoc method..
 MODEL CALIBRATION
• The calibration strategy was to initially vary the best known parameters as
little as possible, and vary the poorly known or unknown values the most to
achieve the best overall agreement between simulated and observed.
• Steady state model calibration was carried out to minimize the difference
between the computed and field water level condition. Steady state calibration
was carried out with the water level data of September 2018 in 15 wells
distributed over the study area.
• Out of all the input parameters, the Specific yield value is the only poorly
known in this area. The lithological variations in the area and borehole
lithology of existing large diameter wells were studied. Based on this it was
decided to vary hydraulic conductivity values.
• Transient state simulation was carried out for a period from September 2018
to January 2019 with monthly stress periods and 24hour time step.
• The trial and error process by which calibration of transient model was
achieved by several trials until a good match between computed and observed
heads over space and time.
• The hydraulic conductivity values incorporated in the transient model were
modified slightly from those calibrated by the steady state model.
• Based on the close agreement between measured and computed heads from
September 2018 to January 2019 at 15 observation wells distributed
throughout the aquifer, the transient models were considered to be calibrated
satisfactorily.
• The sensitivity of the model to input parameters were tested by varying only
the parameter of interest over a range of values and monitoring the response
of the model by determining the root mean square error of the simulated
heads compared to the measured heads.
 SIMULATION RESULTS

• The model was simulated in transient condition for a period of September

2018 to January 2019.
• There was fairly good agreement between the computed and observed heads.
MODEL OUTPUT 1
MODEL OUTPUT II
TDS VALUES
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
• Detailed hydrogeological survey was carried out in and around Minjur, Tamil Nadu.
• Well inventory survey conducted in 15 wells
• Representative Key wells have been established.
• Groundwater level, EC, pH and Temperature measured in the field
• 15 groundwater samples have been collected for complete analysis
• Groundwater is developed by dug wells and tube wells.
• Groundwater level in the dug wells ranges from 1.95 to 6.5 m bgl during pre-monsoon period and
from 1.9 to 4.45 m bgl during post-monsoon period. Groundwater level in the tube wells ranges
from 5 to 8 m bgl during pre-monsoon period and 5.2 to 10 m bgl during post-monsoon period.
• EC of groundwater ranges from 1080 to 7190 µS/cm during pre-monsoon period and from 870 to
8540 µS/cm during post-monsoon period.
• Groundwater is extensively pumped for drinking water supply to Chennai from Minjur which
should be controlled.
• Detailed analysis of the groundwater level and EC it is observed that Seawater has intruded inland
and FW/SW interface of 7.4 – 7.8 km is observed.
• Artificial recharge structure in the Korattalaiyar river and in the field plains needs to be taken in
large scale to push the FW/SW interface further seaward
• Farm ponds, recharge borewells which are the methods of rain water harvesting can be done
which will be benefit to the farmers.
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THANK YOU