摘要：Ever-increasing population and its increasing water needs due to improved life styleshave led to more and more tapping of groundwater resources due to continuousdeterioration of most surface water resources. This necessitates the urgent need tomonitor the quality characteristics of groundwater being tapped for domestic activities.The study reported in this paper was undertaken to assess the physicochemicalcharacteristics of shallow groundwaters in eight residential habitations of Usupur VillagePanchayat near Chidambaram town in Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu State. The qualityparameters namely, pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, chlorides,nitrates, fluorides and iron were analysed using standard procedures. The study revealedthat the groundwater was not fit for drinking and cooking but with certain affordableameliorations at household level it could be made fit for other domestic activities suchas bathing, washing and gardening.
