Integrated approach to groundwater quality assessment using hydrogeochemistry and GIS along the Kodaiyar river, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu

The Kodaiyar River is an important water source of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli Districts in Tamil Nadu. The aim of the present research is to use the hydrogeochemistry and water quality of groundwater along the Kodaiyar River to assess the suitability of drinking and agricultural purposes through integrated approach. Totally twenty-five groundwater samples were collected from bore wells and open wells along the river course and near the confluence point of the river. The major water quality parameters such as physicochemical, major ions and nutrient parameters were analyzed and their suitability was evaluated in accordance with WHO standards. The study area is mainly occupied by the Fresh, Fresh—brackish and the Brackish water by its chloride content. The USSL diagram shows that all the collected samples fall under medium to high salinity hazard and low to medium sodium hazard. The Piper hydrochemical facies shows that most of the samples fall under the Na+K and Cl type. Based on WQI classification, 24% of the collected samples are classified under excellent water category and 68% of the samples are classified under good water category, 4% as poor and 4% as very poor. These results indicate that the majority of the groundwater samples are suitable domestic and drinking purpose. Hydrogeochemical analysis integrated with GIS based overlay techniques was employed to assess groundwater quality in the study area. The result indicate that moderate quality groundwater predominates, whereas poor quality water is restricted to the southern part, highlighting areas suitable for domestic and drinking water use.