Abstract:

To evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, water samples were collected from thirty-three villages at Dindigul district. From the analysis, pH of the all samples were varying from 6.64 to 8.17. The pH values are within the permissible limit. In Natham taluk, bore wells samples showed extreme (991, 963 and 951 mg L -1) total dissolved solids (TDS) values when compared to maximum permissible TDS is 600 mg L -1. The taste of water comes under poor TDS rating. The highest total hardness (TH) 725 mg L -1 was tested at Silukuvarpatti bore well in Nilakottai taluk. Residual free Chlorine and Iron were not detected in any of the samples. All samples showed Nitrate (NO 3 -) concentrations were ranged from 0 to 25 mg L -1. The values are less than NO 3 - desirable limit, that is 45 mg L -1 respectively. Maximum number of samples showed chloride (Cl -) values were higher than Cl- permissible limit (1000 mg L -1) as referenced by BIS. The highest Cl - values were obtained at 2950 and 2000 mg L -1 in Pudukkottai well and Sengulam bore well taken from Reddiyarchatiram and Natham taluks. In regards to fluoride (F -) contamination, thirty-four samples showed < 0.5 ppm F - and rest of fourteen samples viewed <1ppm F -. According to BIS and WHO standard, low concentration of F - below 0.5 ppm may increase the risk of tooth decay.

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