Evaluation of the Groundwater Quality in the Coastal Zone of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India

The groundwater chemistry in the shallow aquifers of the coastal zone of Thiruvananthapuram district (Length= 70 Km), Kerala, India have been examined in detail. Results, in general, indicate that the groundwaters is more or less deteriorated. Except pH, TDS, chloride and Na, most of the other hydrochemical parameters analyzed are within the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO). Based on Hill-Piper trilinear diagram, it is confirmed that majority of the dug wells are characterised by high amount of Na and chloride, indicating the influence of saline water intrusion. Correlation analysis of hydrochemical attributes showed perfect correlation between electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS), which indicates that EC is a measure of dissolved solids in groundwater. The study further raises points for the need of action towards the sustainable utilization of precious resources.