Geochemistry of Groundwater in and around

Petmanagaram,Thoothukudi district,Tamilnadu, India.

A.V.Udayana Pillai1, S.Selvam1, T.Balasubramanian2, A. Emi Princess
Prasanna2, P.Venkataraman1, G.Manimaran1 P.Sivasubramanian1

1 Dept.of.Geology,VOC College,Thoothukudi-628008
2 Dept.of.Chemistry,VOC College, Thoothukudi-628008

Abstract
Groundwater samples were collected from Petmanagaram hard rock terrain area. The
experimental analysis of thirteen parameters of water samples of the study area, were
interpreted for different water qualities by Correlation, Gibbs mechanism and Back
Facies methods. Further, the water qualities are compared with BIS and WHO standards
of Drinking water and other standards of Livestock use and Irrigation purposes.

Keywords: Petmanagaram, Hard rock terrain, Correlation, Gibbs mechanism, BIS and
WHO standards.

Introduction: Ground water is more precious and widely distributed resources of the
earth. The quality of ground water is highly affected by various factors such as lithology,
chemistry of aquifer characteristics, rock-water interaction and its circulation, microbial
action, pollution and sea water ingress. Keeping with this aim in mind, an attempt has
been made in this paper on water qualities of Petmanagaram and its surrounding.
(Latitudes N 8o35’ to N 8o40’ and Longitudes East 77o 56’ to East 77o 59’)

Material and Methods: Eight ground water samples were collected from the various
villages,centred around Petmanagaram and its locations are shown in (fig1).The thirteen
physical and chemical parameters of water qualities such as TDS, PH, EC, Hardness,
Cations-Ca,Mg,Na and K, Anions-HCO3,Cl,SO4,NO3,F were analyzed as per APHA
Standard procedure(1975)(Table-1) Water quality data’s are compared with rock
chemistry of the (Table-2) the study area to establish rock-water interaction.

Result and Discussion:

Correlation:The rock-water interaction on water qualities are highlighted (Nellaiappan
2004;Hegde 2006 ; Amutha 2007;Udyanapillai et.all,2008) and established (Ca2+ + Mg2+)
vs EC, (Na++K+) vs EC, Cl- vs EC, HCO3-3 vs EC, Cl- vs Na+ (Ca2+/Mg2+) vs Na+ K +, as
positive correlations. The water analysis of the above same data plots constructed for
Petmanagaram area show an existing same positive correlation plots of (Ca2+/Mg2+) vs
Na++ K +, (Ca2+ / Na+) vs (Mg2+/ Na+) show positive correlations which indicates that the
region has predominance of carbonate lithology influence on water chemistry. The
correlation study between TDS vs (Na+/Ca2++Na+) shows non correlation (r=0.2) which
suggest that chemical weathering is not only a major mechanism controlling water
chemistry, but also ground water movement and river basin recharges control the
chemistry of ground water by dilution.
 770 560 770 570 770 580 770 590

TUTICORIN – SRIVAIKUNTAM ROAD

N
80
400
SRIMOOLAKARAI
ADAIKALAPURAM

80
PETMANAGARAM 390

80
380
KULASEKARA AVARNKADU
NATHAM

RETTAITHIRUPATHI

ALWARTHOPPU 80
370

TAMIRAPARANI RIVER
80
0
ALWARTHIRUNAGARI TENTIRUPERAI 36

LOCATIONS Scale 80
SAMPLE LOCATIONS 0 2k 350

(Study area location map Fig.1)

 RESULTS OF THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF GROUND WATER
SAMPLES IN AND AROUND PETMANAGARAM (ppm)-Table.1

Sl Well Water sample Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ HCO SO42- Cl- NO3- F- TDS TH pH EC Mg2+ Na+ K+ HCO3-
- mg/l
No. Type location mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l 3 mg/l mg/l mg/ mg/l mg/l µmh mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l
mg/l o/cm
1 Open Tentiruperai 08 06 24 N 18 20 25 N N 112 16 7.0 180 06 24 N 18
well N : 80 36’
E : 770 59’
2 Open Alwarthirunag 12 09 20 N 20 18 22 N N 103 17 7.0 165 09 20 N 20
well ari
N : 80 36’
E : 770 57’
3 Open Alwarthoppu 16 09 21 N 18 19 20 N N 113 19 7.2 177 09 21 N 18
well N : 80 37’
E : 770 56’
4 Open Rettaithirpathi 10 06 20 N 17 20 18 N N 9 16 7.1 150 06 20 N 17
well N : 80 37’
E : 770 59’
5 Dug Kulasekaranat 40 10 105 N 145 90 125 N 0.6 455 60 7.2 680 10 105 N 145
Well ham
N : 80 38’
E : 770 57’
6 Dug Avarankodu 35 10 84 N 129 82 85 N 0.3 415 45 7.1 650 10 84 N 129
Well N : 80 38’
E : 770 59’
7 Open Petmanagaran 36 12 75 N 118 75 68 N 0.3 325 48 7.2 515 12 75 N 118
well N : 80 39’
E : 770 58’
8 Open Srimoolakarai 30 15 65 N 115 70 72 N 0.1 350 46 7.2 490 15 65 N 115
well N : 80 40’
E : 770 56’
 ANALYTICAL DATA OF ROCK SAMPLES IN %-Table.2
LOCATIONS
PARAMETERS
LIB LIC L4 L8
Moisture 0.48 0.02 1.95 0.21
CaO 14.56 5.6 17.92 22.4
MgO 1.1 1.25 1.04 1.5
K2O 6.3 0.75 0.75 0.81
Na2O 3.03 2.7 2.36 2.67
P2O5 0.02 ND 0.02 0.001
TiO2 ND ND ND ND
MnO2 0.01 0.04 0.001 ND
Fe2O3 4.24 4.1 3.71 2.82
SiO2 53.37 77.06 59.13 61.45
Al2O3 13.23 3.78 5.68 5.67
LOI 3.38 5.23 8.14 2.77
Total 99.72 100.59 100.4 100.31

ND - Not detected
LIB - Biotite rich Composite gneiss
LIC - Grey granite
L4 - Pink granite
L8 - Intermediate Charnockite

GIBBS MECHANISAM: The close Relationship between aquifer lithology and water
composition has established with Gibbs diagrams of cations and anions (Gibbs;
1970).The study area data plots on Gibbs diagram (fig 2&3) indicates that rock
dominance mechanisms is controlling ground water chemistry. Despite that, the well
locations near the Tamiraparani river basin are showing low TDS content. It may be due
to basin recharges and also by impounding of water through land use pattern such as
ayacuts, ponds, dams, lakes and canals.
 Fig.2 MECHANISM CONTROLLING GROUND WATER
CHEMISTRY - CATIONS (AFTER GIBBS – 1970)
1.2

[Na+ +k+/ Na+ +k+Ca2+] mg/l

1.0
Rock
Dominance
Crystallization 0.8
Evaporation&

Precipitation
0.6
0.4

0.2

0.0
100000 10000 1000 100 10
TDS mg/l

Fig.3 MECHANISAM CONTROLLING GROUND WATER

CHEMISTRY - ANIONS (AFTER GIBBS – 1970

1.2
Dominance

1.0
Rock

[Cl-/Cl-+HCO3-] mg/l

0.8
Evaporation&

Precipitation
Crystallization

0.6
0.4

0.2

0.0
100000 10000 1000 100 10
TDS mg/l
Back Facies: Groundwater quality is evaluated by plotting cation and anions in the Back
facies diagrams (Back; 1969).The data plots for the study area revealed that water quality
falls on the cation facies, such as Ca-Na=50%, Na-Ca=50%, where as in anion facies,
cent percent (100%) of wells fall on Cl-So4-HCO3 facies. Since the area is having Calc-
alkaline group of rocks such as Composite gneiss, Charnockite, Calc-granulite,
Crystalline limestone and Block Cotton Soil, the water quality reveals such above type
of facies.The concentration of Calcium and Sodium may be obtained from weathering
process of Ca and Na bearing minerals such as Hornblende and Biotite from the rocks of
the study area.

Groundwater Quality Assessment: The chemical quality standards for Drinking, (BIS;
1991), (WHO; 1973), Livestock uses (Ramakrishna, 1998) and Irrigation uses (USDA
Diagram-Todd; 1959) for the study area were discussed. The study area is generally
showing below the desirable and permissible limits of BIS and WHO. So, they are
suitable for Drinking.
The Livestock use of water quality based on TDS (Ramakrishna1; 998) is given as
follows. Below 2500mg/l TDS-Fair; 3500-4000 mg/l TDS-Poor; above 4500 mg/l TDS-
Not Satisfactory.
As per the above classification, cent percent (100%) of study area are having very low
TDS. So, it is more suitable for livestock use.
In the USDA (United States Dept of Agriculture) diagram for Irrigation quality study
SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio) values are plotted against Specific Conductance (EC)
(fig-15).The data plots for the study area indicate that all water samples are classified as
good quality for irrigation.

Conclusion: The Study area is a hard rock terrain bearing calc-alkaline group of rocks.
The Correlation studies of chemical parameters groundwater samples are generally
showing positive correlations. Though the chemistry of groundwater shows Ca, Na, Cl,
SO4, HCO3 rich facies and rock dominance character in weathering process, water quality
is more enhanced for drinking, livestock and irrigation uses by river basin recharges and
lands use pattern plan of impounding water in ayacuts, dams, ponds and canals.

References:
• APHA (1975) Standard method for the examination of water and waste water
(14th Ed) APHA-A WWA WPCE
• Amutha A (2007) “The Study of geochemistry of ground water from the twenty-
five villages of the Vilathikulam and Ottapidaram Taluks, Thoothukudi district”
M.Phil thesis awarded by Barathithasan University 1-125.
• Hegde G.V (2006) “Evaluation of Chemical Quality of ground water Resource in
Dharward districts, Karnataka” Jour.Geolo.Soc.India Vol 67, Oct pp4-58.
• Nellaiappan S (2004)The Geochemistry of groundwater and its impact on human
health in and around Kelaseithalai Village,Ottapidaram(T.K)Thoothukudi
dt,M.Phil thesis awarded by Bharathithasan University.
• Udayanapillai A.V; Manimaran G; Nellaiappan,S (2008)Fluoride rich
Groundwater and its impact on human health at Keelaseithalai, Thoothukudi
district of Tamilnadu, Jour.Of.Outreach, VOC College,pp-76-79.