Improper design, faulty planning and mismanagement are the principal causes for the deterioration of groundwater quality in a large number of countries, in particular in semi arid and arid regions. Untreated textile industrial effluents discharged on the surface causes severe groundwater pollution in the industrial region of the country. The main impact of industrialization in Tirupur is the pollution of Noyyal river and groundwater. Contamination of groundwater in Tirupur region has been reported in various places because of large number of dyeing and printing units located within the study area. To assess the extent of groundwater deterioration, a detailed analysis of groundwater quality data has been carried out. Groundwater samples have been collected and tested for various water quality parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, HCO3−, CO3−, NO3, SO42- and F−. The quality of groundwater in the study area was assessed hydrochemically in order to determine its suitability for human consumptions, and irrigation purposes. Interpretation of these geochemical parameters indicates that groundwater available in most of the locations in the study area is not suitable for drinking purpose. However, almost all types of soil can be used for irrigation with little danger of exchangeable sodium.
Groundwater quality, Hydrochemical parameters, Piper diagram, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India
