摘要：The geochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Chittur block, Palghat, Kerala have beenstudied to assess the water quality for domestic and irrigational purposes. During pre-monsoon (April-2010) period 89 groundwater samples were collected from 61 dug wells and 28 bore wells. Chemicalanalysis of the groundwater shows different ranges for different parameters (pH 6.25-8.29, EC 250-2400 µS/cm, TDS 160-1536 mg/L, TH 65-945 mg/L, Mg2+ 3.62-189.46 mg/L, F- 0.02-6.3 mg/L, Cl- 10-672mg/L, Na+ 1-126 mg/L, K+ 1-23 mg/L, NO3- 1.42-23.15 mg/L, SO42- 5.72-159.62 mg/L and PO43- 0-2.12mg/L). High fluoride (F-) concentration is reported from 12% water samples. Piper diagram reveals that42% of the samples are MgCO3 type. Irrigational suitability of water is evaluated based on sodiumadsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, sodium percent, salinity hazard and USSL diagram.Salinity hazards show that 52% of the samples fall in high salinity hazard (C3) and 1% in very highsalinity hazard class (C4). The study shows that, groundwater beyond the acceptable limit of EC, TDS,TH, Mg2+ and F- are not suitable for drinking, and groundwater fall in very high salinity hazard class isnot suitable for irrigation.
