Hydrogeochemical characteristics and fluoride status of groundwater in dry drone region of Virudhunagar district, Tamilnadu, India.

Due to over exploitation of groundwater, there is a drastic decrease in groundwater level and its quality. The groundwater samples have been analysed to estimate its aptness for domestic and agricultural in Sivakasi Taluk industrial areas. In the course of post monsoon and summer of 2020, twenty two samples have been collected from the research area. The groundwater samples were examined for various parameters like pH, EC, TDS, TA, TH, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄⁻, HCO₃⁻, F⁻, DO and samples were compared with BIS, WHO and ICMR standards. It is inferred through results that EC and TDS values were spiked up due to excess presence of Cl⁻, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, F⁻ and NO₃⁻ present in water samples near the industrial areas and natural rock formation. The water samples were evaluated for their suitability for irrigation and were assessed by SAR, % Na, Kelly's ratio and MH, USSL diagram shows majority of the samples are apt for agricultural. Piper plot indicates that majority of the collected samples fall under the Na–Cl category thereafter by Mg- HCO₃- Cl, Ca–Mg–Cl and Na + K –Cl types and this infers anthropogenic influences. Gibb's plot shows that the collected samples fall under evaporation dominion field followed by rock-water dominion field of the two seasons. It is recommended to provide Artificial Recharge structures, recharge ponds in the area of research to increase the under-groundwater level and its standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]