ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN JAFFNA PENINSULA I.G.C.I. KUMARA1*, S.S.K. RATHNAYAKA1, M.M.C.M. MAYADUNNE2 and R.R.G.R. RAJAPAKSE1 1Water Resources Board, 2A, Hector Kobbakaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07 2Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka *E-mail: chameera.personal@gmail ABSTRACT Physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in shallow and deep aquifers in the Divisional Secretariats of Jaffna, Nallur, Chavakachcheri and Pachchilaippallai in Jaffna Peninsula were studied in order to acquire sustainable utilisation and proper management of groundwater resources. Water samples analysed for seventeen (17) parameters. Most of the samples were collected during both dry and wet seasons. They exceeded the desirable level for electrical conductivity (EC) prescribed by the WHO standards. The major concern with respect to the drinking purposes is that an appreciable percentage of samples of each season exceeded the permissible level. The taste of water is not up to the standard because chlorine (Cl) and sodium (Na) concentrations were observed in excess of about 200 mg/L exceeding the WHO standards. About 15% of studied wells exceeded the permissible levels for hardness of the groundwater expressed as CaCO3 equivalent, in each period. Almost half of the samples showed hardness values higher than the desirable level, perhaps due to dissolution of Ca and Mg from underline sedimentary limestone. The geophysical applications of one-dimensional and two-dimensional resistivity imaging surveys revealed a possible belt of salt-water intrusions in the boundary between Karaveddi- Chavakachcheri. Based on the results of all chemical analyses and localised subsurface conditions of the study area
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:54:09 +0000
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