Assessment of Groundwater quality near unlined drains of sanganur stream in Coimbatore city

Abstract

Groundwater was one of the principal sources of freshwater in Coimbatore. The major aquifers of India were highly contaminated with pollutants. It was essential to protect the groundwater as it was affected by both anthropogenic and geogenic factors. Recent urbanization and industrialization tends to detoriate the quality of groundwater. Sanganur drain was a natural storm water unlined drain to prevent flooding of Coimbatore during rainfall. The unlined drain of Sanganur stream was now used to carry the municipal sewage and effluents from various industries. There was a greater chance for the groundwater sources near the unlined drains to get contaminated. The population of Coimbatore has also a strong impact on groundwater pollution. The present work was an attempt to study the quality of groundwater aquifers located near the drain. The study includes collection and analysis of groundwater samples and wastewater samples from Sanganur stream. The sampling period was from January 2018 to February 2020. Twelve sampling locations were fixed along the drain and twelve sampling locations were fixed near the drain to collect the stream water and nearby groundwater respectively and totally 624 samples were collected during the sampling period. newlineThe physico-chemical parameters like Total Dissolved Solids, Chlorides, Hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, Nitrates, pH, acidity, alkalinity and Sulphates were analysed in groundwater samples and BOD, COD were also analysed in stream samples in addition to the above parameters of groundwater samples and presented in the results. newline