ABSTRACT

Groundwater is located in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of lithologic formations under sub-surface.  Pollutants leached to the ground make their way down into groundwater, and contaminant an aquifer. This study focuses the physic-chemical and biological quality of groundwater spatially in Kerala to assess its suitability for drinking and understand the type of hydrochemicals and spatial distribution of major ions. Groundwater samples from 98 locations covering all districts in Kerala state, India were collected and analysed as per standard protocol. The results revealed that faecal coliform bacteria and pH were exceeding in many places. Nitrates exceeded permissible limits in two samples which contain 45.3 mg/l and 50 mg/l Kayamkulam ( Alapuzha) Old Munnar (Idukki). Fluorides exceed the desirable limit (1 mg/l) at. Mullackal (1.4 mg/l) and Kalikulam Junction (1.2 mg/l) in Alapuzha district and Kollengode (1.6 mg/l) in Palakkad district.  Hydrochemical types, relationship among the physico-chemical parameters, characterization of sampling sites according to the physico-chemical and biological characters, and the spatial distribution of major ions are also discussed.

Keywords: Groundwater, Water quality, BIS standards, Piper diagram, Geostiff diagram, Spatial analysis.