Assessment and Comparison of Surface Water Quality (Hydro Chemical) in Urban & Semi Urban Environment: A Case Study of Chennai and Cuddalore Districts
Abstract:
Water is one of the most valuable resources for humanity. Yet, securing safe drinking water has become a growing challenge for many people worldwide, particularly in developing and underdeveloped nations. Human activities and inadequate industrial waste management have worsened water pollution, leading to deteriorated water quality. Environmentalists and public health professionals struggle to combat the spread of infectious agents through contaminated drinking water in these regions, where millions of individuals rely on unsafe water sources. This article will compare the drinking water quality between Chennai district and Cuddalore district. Hydro-chemical data for groundwater in these districts has been collected from the State Ground and Surface Water Resource Data Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, covering the years 2012 to 2022. The data was analyzed using statistical software MS-Excel 2013 and represented with maps and diagrams created using ArcGIS 10.8 where necessary. The Water Quality Index (WQI) technique was employed to combine and summarize various parameters measured from individual samples, as it is the most accepted method for assessing drinking water quality. Parameters such as Sulphate, Chlorine, Magnesium, Calcium, and Total Dissolved Substances have declined in both Cuddalore and Chennai districts from 2012 to 2022. Fluorine and Nitrate levels improved in Cuddalore but worsened in Chennai over the same period. The pH levels showed improvement in both districts from 2012 to 2022. The comparison reveals that the drinking water quality in both districts has deteriorated during the study period.
