Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY OF PHREATIC AQUIFERS IN CENTRAL KERALA RIVER BASIN, INDIA

Sreela Reghu1, Reji Srinivas, Girish Gopinath and Kurian Sajan

Abstract

The paper focusses on spatial and temporal distribution of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness, total iron and fluoride content of groundwater samples collected from phreatic aquifers of Bharathapuzha river basin, Kerala, India. The spatial and temporal distribution of non ionic substances like pH, EC & total hardness are within the permissible limit of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Total iron concentration during both the seasons reveals that majority of the area falls within the 0.3mg/L to 1 mg/L category which is of desirable limit of BIS. In the Bharathapuzha river basin the fluoride content of groundwater during pre monsoon ranges from 0.01 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L, whereas in post monsoon it varies from 0.01mg/L to 1.45 mg/L. The geological characteristics of the region plays a vital role in increased fluoride content at high fluoride zones.