ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Long-term Groundwater Quality Assessment and
Management Strategies in Rapidly Urbanizing
Regions: A Case Study of Tiruvallur
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1
Department of Civil Engineering, Jaya Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Civil Engineering, National Engineering College, Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu, India
3
Department of Civil Engineering, R.M.K. Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Submission date: 2024-07-29
Final revision date: 2024-11-04
Acceptance date: 2024-12-02
Online publication date: 2025-03-03
Corresponding author
Sudhakar S
Department of Civil Engineering, Jaya Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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ABSTRACT
Rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion have led to the overexploitation and degradation of
groundwater quality. The present study focuses on analyzing the groundwater quality in the Tiruvallur
district of Tamil Nadu, India, through data collection, including maps, topographic sheets, and
collection of groundwater samples over the period from 2012 to 2022 in 11 dug well stations. Numerous
physiochemical properties, including pH, Total Hardness, Total Dissolved Solids, and Electrical
Conductivity, have been used for assessing the Water Quality Index. pH levels in the groundwater
samples vary from 5.7 to 7.06, with a mean hardness of 312 ppm. The average TDS and EC in the
groundwater were 634.36μs/cm and 1164.5 μs/cm, respectively. The evaluated characteristics were
compared with the permissible limits of both national and international standards. Box plot analysis
indicated a significant correlation between TDS and EC. Hydro-chemical dynamics were assessed
using Piper and Wilcox plots. The Wilcox plot effectively demonstrates the suitability of groundwater
for irrigation purposes. The Piper diagram classification indicated that the dominant hydro-chemical
facies were Ca2+- Mg2+- Cl- in most samples. The major findings from this study can be applied to areas
with similar geographical conditions, highlighting the importance of adopting effective groundwater
management strategies.