Physico-chemical analysis and quality assessment of groundwater in Chalk Hills, Mine area, Salem,Tamil Nadu

Continuous extraction of minerals from the study region results in disturbance of groundwater quality. An attempt has been made to identify the groundwater contamination and variation of groundwater quality due to industrial and mining activities. Groundwater samples have been collected from various locations of the study area Salem Chalk Hills. The Physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Electrical Conductivity, Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron, Nitrite, Nitrate, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulphate and Phosphate have been analyzed(6) and the results are compared with the WHO and ICMR drinking water standards. Most of the parameters are within the permissible limits. Suitable correlation studies have also been carried out among pairs of parameters. Statistical analysis brings out the significant linear relationship between the different pairs of water quality parameters and provides an excellent tool for the prediction of parameter values within degree of accuracy.