Physicochemical Analysis of Drinking Water Quality in Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Salem Districts of Tamil Nadu: A Comparative Study with BIS: 10500 Standards

Physicochemical Analysis of Drinking Water Quality in Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Salem Districts of Tamil Nadu: A Comparative Study with BIS: 10500 Standards

Naveena M., Poonguzhali R., Sathya T.

Department of Civil Engineering

Tagore Institute of Engineering and Technology, Deviyakurichi 636112, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract – Water is one of the most fundamental natural resources essential for sustaining all forms of life on Earth. Drinking water quality holds paramount importance as it directly influences human health, socioeconomic development, and public well-being. This study presents a physicochemical analysis of drinking water collected from three districts of Tamil Nadu Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Salem each characterized by distinct contamination sources such as agricultural runoff, salinity intrusion, and industrial discharge, respectively. Groundwater samples were tested for physical parameters including temperature, colour, odour, and turbidity, and chemical parameters including pH, TDS, total hardness, and chloride. Results were compared against BIS: 10500 permissible limits to assess potability. Salem and Kallakurichi showed elevated TDS and hardness beyond permissible limits, while Cuddalore exhibited objectionable odour. The findings highlight regional water quality variations and provide a scientific basis for water treatment interventions.

Keywords – Drinking water, physicochemical parameters, BIS: 10500, water quality index, Tamil Nadu, TDS, turbidity, hardness, chloride.

Physicochemical parameters including pH, TDS, total hardness, alkalinity, DO, BOD, turbidity, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and heavy metals serve as critical indicators of water potability. Deviations from acceptable ranges can lead to gastrointestinal disorders, dental and skeletal fluorosis, methemoglobinemia, cardiovascular ailments, and chronic heavy metal toxicity.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has established IS: 10500 as the national benchmark for drinking water quality. This study systematically collects, analyzes, and compares water samples against BIS: 10500 standards to assess potability and recommend appropriate interventions.

Table I: BIS: 10500 Standard Values

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

I. INTRODUCTION

Water is an essential natural resource, and ensuring its quality for human consumption is of paramount importance. Tamil Nadu, one of the most industrially and agriculturally active states in southern India, faces significant challenges in maintaining adequate drinking water quality across its districts.

The three districts under study Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Salem represent a diverse spectrum of geographical, demographic, and industrial characteristics. Cuddalore is known for heavy industrial activity including chemical and petrochemical manufacturing. Salem is recognized for its steel industries and agricultural practices. Kallakurichi is a predominantly agricultural district with a rural population largely dependent on groundwater.

1. Ravikumar et al. (2011)

   Conducted a comprehensive study on physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in Salem district. A significant proportion of samples exceeded BIS: 10500 limits for fluoride and TDS, attributed to dissolution of fluoride-bearing minerals in granite and gneissic rock formations. Defluoridation treatment was recommended as an urgent public health intervention.

2. Subramani et al. (2005)

   Investigated hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in hard rock terrain of Tamil Nadu. Weathering of silicate minerals and ion exchange processes were dominant controls on groundwater chemistry. Several samples showed TDS values exceeding 1500 mg/L, rendering them unsuitable for drinking without treatment.

3. Deepali and Gangwar (2010)

   Examined physicochemical deterioration of water bodies near industrial zones. Their findings are directly relevant to Cuddalore, which hosts the SIPCOT industrial complex. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals and high BOD/COD values were documented, consistently exceeding BIS: 10500 permissible limits.

4. Vasanthavigar et al. (2010)

   Conducted a WQI-based groundwater quality assessment in the Thirumanimuttar sub-basin, Tamil Nadu. Approximately 30% of samples fell under the poor to very poor water quality category, primarily due to elevated hardness, chloride, and nitrate concentrations from agricultural runoff.

5. Annapoorna and Janardhana (2015)

   Evaluated groundwater quality in rural segments of Cuddalore district. Iron, chloride, and TDS concentrations in several samples exceeded BIS: 10500 limits. Coastal proximity contributed to saline intrusion, elevating sodium and chloride levels in groundwater.

6. Pazhanivel and Bhaskaran (2018)

   Investigated seasonal fluctuations in physicochemical parameters of drinking water sources across Kallakurichi. Turbidity and microbial load peaked during monsoon season. Post-monsoon samples showed elevated nitrate from agricultural leaching. Approximately 38% of water sources were unfit for direct consumption without treatment.

7. WHO (2017)

The WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (4th Edition) serve as the global benchmark complementing national standards. Health-based guideline values include fluoride (1.5 mg/L), nitrate (50 mg/L), arsenic (0.01 mg/L), and lead (0.01 mg/L). The guidelines provide Water Safety Plans (WSPs) as a proactive risk management framework for water supply systems.

III. METHODOLOGY

Sample Collection

Sample Preservation & Transport

Physicochemical Parameter Testing (Lab)

Data Recording & Tabulation

Comparison with BIS: 10500 Standards

Water Quality Index (WQI) Calculation

Statistical Analysis

Results & Interpretation

Table II: Ground Water Test Methods

The pH meter was calibrated with standard buffer solutions (pH 4, 7, 9). The glass electrode was immersed in the sample and reading was stabilized before recording. Expressed on scale 014 using Electrometric Method.

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table III presents the physicochemical test results for the three districts compared against BIS: 10500 standards. Salem and Kallakurichi showed significantly elevated TDS (1309 mg/L and 1208 mg/L respectively), both exceeding the acceptable limit of 500 mg/L though within the permissible limit of 2000 mg/L. Total hardness in Salem (768 mg/L) and Kallakurichi (676 mg/L) exceeded both acceptable (200 mg/L) and permissible (600 mg/L) limits, indicating unsuitability for direct consumption.

Chloride levels in Salem (444.8 mg/L) and Kallakurichi (349.9 mg/L) exceeded the acceptable limit of 250 mg/L but remained within the permissible limit of 1000 mg/L. Cuddalore showed odour classified as Not Agreeable, indicating potential organic or industrial contamination.

Salem turbidity (1.1 NTU) slightly exceeded the acceptable limit of 1 NTU but remained within the permissible limit of 5 NTU. pH values for all three districts remained within the acceptable range of 6.58.5.

Table III: Comparative Results vs BIS: 10500 Standards

VI. CONCLUSION

The physicochemical analysis of drinking water from Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Salem districts reveals significant regional variations in water quality. Salem and Kallakurichi exhibit the most critical non-compliance, particularly for total hardness and TDS, likely attributed to geological and agricultural factors. Cuddalore's objectionable odour reflects industrial contamination.

All districts require appropriate treatment interventions before the water is safe for human consumption. The study recommends installation of reverse osmosis systems in high-TDS zones, regular monitoring by TWAD Board, community-level awareness programs, and stringent industrial effluent treatment norms in Cuddalore. Future studies should incorporate seasonal variation, microbiological parameters, and heavy metal analysis for a comprehensive assessment.

REFERENCES

1. Ravikumar et al., "Groundwater quality assessment in Salem district, Tamil Nadu," J. Environ. Sci., 2011.

2. Subramani et al., "Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in hard rock terrain, Tamil Nadu," Hydrol. Process., 2005.

3. Tiri et al., "Evaluation of drinking water quality using water quality index," J. Water Resour. Prot., 2011.

4. Deepali and Gangwar, "Impact of industrial effluents on water quality," Environ. Monit. Assess., 2010.

5. Vasanthavigar et al., "Application of WQI for groundwater quality assessment, Thirumanimuttar sub-basin," Environ. Monit. Assess., 2010.

6. Annapoorna and Janardhana, "Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking in rural areas of Cuddalore district," IOSR

   J. Environ. Sci., 2015.

7. Selvam et al., "Geochemical characteristics of coastal groundwater in southern Tamil Nadu," Environ. Earth Sci., 2013.

8. Brindha and Elango, "Fluoride in groundwater: Causes, implications and mitigation measures," Fluoride, 2011.

9. Pazhanivel and Bhaskaran, "Seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters of drinking water in Kallakurichi," Indian J. Environ. Prot., 2018.

10. WHO, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, 4th ed. incorporating 1st addendum. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017.

11. Bureau of Indian Standards, IS 10500: 2012 Indian Standard Drinking Water Specification. New Delhi: BIS, 2012.

12. APHA, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 23rd ed. Washington DC: American Public Health Association, 2017.