Abstract

HEAVY METAL POLLUTION INDEX OF GROUNDWATER OF FATHIMA NAGAR AREA NEAR UYYAKONDAN CHANNEL TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA.

J. Sirajudeen, S. Arulmanikandan and V. Manivel

ABSTRACT

The present study is carried out to find the heavy metal contamination in the ground water of Fathima Nagar area located near the bank of Uyyakondan channel, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu. To get the extend of heavy metals contamination water samples were collected from Eight different locations during the year May 2011 to August 2013 .The concentrations of heavy metals such as Zinc, Copper, Lead, Iron and Nickel were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and the results were compared with standards prescribed by WHO (2003).Heavy metal pollution index (HPI), a technique of rating water quality, is an effective tool to assess the water quality with respect to heavy metals. The data generated were used to calculate the heavy metal pollution index of Ground water. The mean value of HPI was 123.2 and the value is well above the critical index limit of 75. This result shows that the water quality of the study area is very poor and not suitable for drinking purpose. This study suggests that the preventive measures which are to be adopted to control the heavy metal contamination in the study area.

Keywords: Fathima Nagar, Ground water, Heavy metal Pollution Index