A Preliminary Investigation for Groundwater Quality and Health Effects–A Case Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kumar, N. Venkat | Mathew, Samson | Swaminathan, G.

Affiliations: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli-620015, India

Note: [] Corresponding Author. E-mail: venkatsomsai@gmail.com

Abstract: The study is an integrated GIS approach on groundwater quality and its health effects. The groundwater quality is a problem in different parts of our country. In Tamil Nadu the ground water is the only alternative source when surface water become scarce in pre-monsoon. Concentration greater than their permissible limits in drinking water have been linked to health problems, especially in infants. Tannery is one of the major industries in Tamil Nadu leading to water quality problems. In order to elucidate the status of groundwater quality, geochemical seasonal variation of ground water have been investigated. The diseases such as Acute Gastro Enteritis (AGE), Gastro Enteritis with dehydration, AGE with mild dehydration, AGE with moderate dehydration, AGE with severe dehydration and other diseases like enteric fever, malaria were classified and they were arranged according to ward wise in the study area. The tremendous power of analysis, map querying and presentation of data were applied in this study. Based on map query, water quality zones were demarcated as 'Affected Area' and 'Not affected Area' based on quality of water and diseases. The objective of this work is to analyze the water quality and the health effects in the study area using GIS.

Keywords: Ground water, Health, GIS, AGE

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 99-107, 2008