Indian Journal of Science and Technology

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Status of Groundwater at Chennai City, India


Affiliations
1 University of Madras, Department of Zoology, Maraimalai Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
2 National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Chennai Zonal Laboratory, Tamilnadu-600 113, India
 

Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and India's fourth largest metropolitan city. The status of the groundwater depends on a large number of individual hydro-biological parameters. Pollutants are added to the groundwater system through anthropogenic activities and natural processes. Solid waste from industries is being dumped near the factories and subjected to reaction with percolating rainwater and reaches the groundwater level. The percolating water picks up a large amount of dissolved constituents and reaches the aquifer system and thus it contaminates the groundwater. The aim of the present study was carried out to assess the status of the groundwater in Chennai city using physicochemical and biological parameters according to the standard methods (APHA 1998). Two zones (North and South) from Chennai city were selected for the studies from each Zone 25 sampling stations were fixed and the analysis was made during summer and monsoon seasons (Jan - Dec) 2007. Results indicate that the groundwater of the study area is bacteriologically not safe and need treatment before it is used for drinking purposes. Thus, this study assumes greater importance in the public health management point of view.

Keywords

Groundwater, Chennai, Pollution, Public Health, India
User

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  • Status of Groundwater at Chennai City, India

Abstract Views: 473  |  PDF Views: 320

Authors

D. Loganathan
University of Madras, Department of Zoology, Maraimalai Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
S. Kamatchiammal
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Chennai Zonal Laboratory, Tamilnadu-600 113, India
R. Ramanibai
University of Madras, Department of Zoology, Maraimalai Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
D. Jayakar Santhosh
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Chennai Zonal Laboratory, Tamilnadu-600 113, India
V. Saroja
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Chennai Zonal Laboratory, Tamilnadu-600 113, India
S. Indumathi
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Chennai Zonal Laboratory, Tamilnadu-600 113, India

Abstract


Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and India's fourth largest metropolitan city. The status of the groundwater depends on a large number of individual hydro-biological parameters. Pollutants are added to the groundwater system through anthropogenic activities and natural processes. Solid waste from industries is being dumped near the factories and subjected to reaction with percolating rainwater and reaches the groundwater level. The percolating water picks up a large amount of dissolved constituents and reaches the aquifer system and thus it contaminates the groundwater. The aim of the present study was carried out to assess the status of the groundwater in Chennai city using physicochemical and biological parameters according to the standard methods (APHA 1998). Two zones (North and South) from Chennai city were selected for the studies from each Zone 25 sampling stations were fixed and the analysis was made during summer and monsoon seasons (Jan - Dec) 2007. Results indicate that the groundwater of the study area is bacteriologically not safe and need treatment before it is used for drinking purposes. Thus, this study assumes greater importance in the public health management point of view.

Keywords


Groundwater, Chennai, Pollution, Public Health, India

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst%2F2011%2Fv4i5%2F30064