Quality of Surface and Ground Water around Tile and Brick Clay Mines in the Chalakudy River Basin, Southwestern India

A study is conducted to assess the quality and seasonal variation of surface and ground water sources in and around Chalakudy basin, where intense clay mining activities for tile and brick manufacturing are taking place. The study reveals marked differences in most of the physical and chemical constituents of the ground and surface water sources. The pH, DO, BOD, conductivity, TDS, chloride, hardness and nutrient (N, P and Si) contents of ground water register high values than that of surface water. The conductivity, chloride, sutphate, hardness, calcium, magnesium and iron in the ground water samples fall within the BIS/WHO permissible limits of drinking water standards. Generally, the concentration of chemical components in ground water from clay mine areas is high compared to that from non-cIay ' mine areas. High incidence of bacterial contamination is observed in well waters which stresses the need for proper treatment prior to human consumption.