Improvement of groundwater quality due to fresh water ingress in Potharlanka Island, Krishna delta, India

Hydrochemical study had been carried out on the groundwater resources of Potharlanka Island, Krishna delta, India. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed at 42 sites in December 2001 and October 2006. A comparative study of hydrochemical data indicates: groundwater is mildly alkaline with a pH of 7.0-8.2; electrical conductivity (EC) varies from 605 to 5,770 mu S/cm in December 2001, and 652-5,310 mu S/cm in October 2006. More than 62% of the groundwater samples in 2006 have TDS value < 2,000 mg/l, which is within permissible limit of potable water, but 57% of the samples in 2001, are higher than the maximum permissible limit. Extremely low HCO3/Cl and variable high Mg/Ca (molar ratios) had been indicated the transformation of the fresh groundwater aquifer systems to saline in 2001. Groundwater of this Island is mainly classified as Na-Cl and mixed types. A high percentage of Na-Cl type of these waters indicates the possibility of seawater ingression/intrusion process during 2001 and comparatively mixed water type indicates the dilution activities of groundwater. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater has caused the increase of saline water intrusion. Improvement of groundwater quality in this Island due to artificial recharge structures made by NGRI under RGNDWM project and affects of the flood due to heavy rainfall of the months of September-October 2005 are discussed in this paper.