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Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam District of Andhrapradesh,

India, using GIS

Article  in  International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences · January 2010

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International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences
ISSN 0973-6077 Volume 5, Number 4 (2010), pp. 495–504
© Research India Publications
http://www.ripublication.com/ijaes.htm

Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam

District of Andhrapradesh, India, using GIS

*K. Sundara Kumar1, P.Udayabhaskar2, K.Padmakumari3 and

Ch.Kannamnaidu4
1
Sr.Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, GMRIT, Rajam,
Andhrapradesh, India
2
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, JNT University Kakinada,
Andhrapradesh, India
3
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, JNT University
Kakinada, Andhrapradesh, India
4
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, GMRIT, Rajam,
Andhrapradesh, India
*Corresponding author E-mail:skkusuma123@gmail.com

Abstract

Groundwater quality in Srikakulam (Andhrapradesh, South India) has a special

significance and needs greater attention of all concerned since it is the major
alternate source for domestic, industrial and human consumption. The study
area (Srikakulam) spreads over an area of 5837 sq. km falling within the semi-
arid region and frequently facing water scarcity as well as quality problems.
Hence, a GIS based mapping of the region has been carried out for the
evaluation of ground water quality. Physico-chemical analysis data of the
groundwater samples collected at predetermined locations forms the attribute
database for the study, based on which, spatial distribution maps of 12 major
water quality parameters are prepared using curve fitting method in Arc View
GIS software. Water Quality Index (WQI) has been calculated to find the
suitability of water for drinking purposes. Groundwater samples analysed show
quality exceedence in terms of Electrical conductivity, Hardness, Chlorides, and
TDS. The groundwater quality map shows fragments pictorially representing
groundwater zones that are desirable and undesirable for drinking purposes.

Keywords: Groundwater quality, Water Quality Index, Spatial Distribution,

Water Quality Parameters, Geographic Information Systems.
496 K. Sundara Kumar et al

Introduction
Fresh water being one of the basic necessities for sustenance of life, the human race
through the ages has striven to locate and develop it. Water, a vital source of life in its
natural state is free from pollution but when man tampers the water body it loses its
natural conditions. Ground water has become an essential resource over the past few
decades due to the increase in its usage for drinking, irrigation and industrial uses etc.
In the last few decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the demand for fresh
water due to rapid growth of population and the accelerated pace of industrialization.
Human health is threatened by most of the agricultural development activities
particularly in relation to excessive application of fertilizers and un-sanitary
conditions. Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries like India, has
affected the availability and quality of groundwater due to its overexploitation and
improper waste disposal, especially in the urban areas. According to WHO
organization, about 80% of all the diseases in human beings are water borne. Further,
the groundwater and the pollutants it may carry move with such a low velocity that it
may take considerable time for the contaminants to move away from the source of
pollution and degradation in the groundwater quality may remain undetected for
years; Once the groundwater is contaminated, its quality cannot be restored by
arresting the pollutants from the source. Polluted waters lead to various
gastrointestinal problems, liver infections, tropical diseases and terminal diseases like
cancer. Children are often the worst affected, dying in large numbers because of
diarrhea. Hence the quality of ground water is equally important as that of quantity.
It therefore becomes imperative to regularly monitor the quality of groundwater
and to device ways and means to protect it. Water quality index is one of the most
effective tools to communicate information on overall quality status of water to the
concerned user community and policy makers [1, 2]. Thus, it becomes an important
parameter for the assessment and management of groundwater.
Remote sensing and GIS are effective tools for water quality mapping and land
cover mapping essential for monitoring, modeling and environmental change
detection. GIS can be a powerful tool for developing solutions for water resources
problems for assessing water quality, determining water availability, preventing
flooding, understanding the natural environment, and managing water resources on a
local or regional scale [3].
The purpose of the study is to understand the groundwater quality in the district
and pictorially represent it using Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS is an
effective tool for storing large quantum of data that can be correlated spatially and
retrieved for the spatial analysis and integration to produce the desirable output. GIS
has been used by scientists of various disciplines for spatial queries, analysis and
integration for the last few decades [4].

Study Area
Srikakulam District is the extreme Northeastern District of Andhra Pradesh situated
within the geographic co-ordinates of 180-20’ and 190-10’ of Northern latitude and
830-50’ and 840-50’ of Eastern longitude. Srikakulam is the second-most backward
district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district has an industry called Dr. Reddy's
Laboratories, at Pydibhimavaram. The district has lot of scope for development in
Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam 497

future with the forthcoming establishment of a thermal power plant at Sompeta and a
nuclear power plant at Ranasthalam.
The District is skirted to a distance by Kandivalasagedda, Vamsadhara and
Bahuda at certain stretches of their courses white a line of heights of the great Eastern
Ghats run from North East. Vizianagaram District flanks in the south and west while
Orissa bounds it on the north and Bay of Bengal on the East .The total area of the
District is 5837 Sq. kms. It has a population of 2537593 persons [5]. Nagavali,
Vamsadhara, Mahendratanaya, Champavathi, Bahuda and Kumbikotagedda are the
important rivers. The rivers have origin in the EatsrenGhats of Orissa state and joins
Bay of Bengal within the seacoast of Srikakulam district. The Irrigation Projects at
Narayanapuram on the Nagavali, Gottabarrage on Vamsadhara, and Kalingadala on
Mahendratanaya provide abundant water resources throughout the District.
The District has a seacoast of 193 Kms. Throughout the year, the climate is
characterised by humidity. The South-West-monsoon which follows the summer
season lasts up to September. Northeast monsoon starts from 1st October to the end of
November. The period from December to mid February enjoys generally a fine
weather. The annual rainfall is 937.6 mm during the year 2004-2005 against normal
rainfall is 1162 mm. The district map, location map of the study area and Mandal map
are shown in the Figure.1, 2, 3 respectively.

Figure 1: District map of Srikakulam. Figure 2: Location map of the study area.

Figure 3: Mandal map of the study area.

498 K. Sundara Kumar et al

Methodology
Database Creation
The study is carried out with the help of four major components: inputs from remote
sensing data, topographic maps, field data and existing data. The IRS-ID satellite data
of 2001 procured from the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) for the study
area is used for the generation of various digitally processed outputs. These outputs
form the spatial database for the present study. The water quality parameters data has
been obtained from the Department of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of
Srikakulam District. The data comprises water quality of samples collected from
about 7308 sampling stations spread over the 38 mandals of the Srikakulam District,
during the last six months of 2009. The number of sampling locations in each Mandal
was given in the Table.1.The water quality data so obtained form the attribute
database for the present study. Table 2 presents the normal statistics of water quality
parameters of groundwater samples.

Table1: Statistics of samples collected in 38 mandals of Srikakulam district.

Number Number
of of
Name of the Mandal Name of the Mandal
samples samples
Tested Tested
AMUDALAVALASA 75 NARASANNAPETA 326
BHAMINI 129 PALAKONDA 198
BURJA 94 PALASA 112
ETCHERLA 248 PATHAPATNAM 230
G.SIGADAM 78 POLAKI 178
GARA 525 PONDURU 194
HIRAMANDALAM 91 RAJAM 223
ICHCHAPURAM 210 RANASTALAM 203
JALUMURU 234 REGIDI 52
KANCHILI 201 SANTHABOMMALI 219
KAVITI 207 SANTHAKAVITI 166
KOTABOMMALI 152 SARAVAKOTA 300
KOTHURU 160 SARUBUJJILI 98
L.N.PETA 84 SEETHAMPETA 122
LAVERU 270 SOMPETA 203
MANDASA 152 SRIKAKULAM 416
MELIAPUTTI 249 TEKKALI 120
NANDIGAMA 231 VAJRAPUKOTHURU 160
VANGARA 171 VEERAGHATTAM 227
Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam 499

Table 3: Water quality parameters, their BIS 10500/WHO standards, and assigned
unit weights.

Parameter Standard (Sn & Si) Weightage (Wn)

pH 8.5 0.024939
Electrical
Conductivity(EC) 2000.00 0.000106
Total dissolved
Solids(TDS) 500.00 0.000424
Turbidity 5.00 0.042396
Alkalinity 200.00 0.00106
Hardness 300.00 0.000707
Fluoride 1.00 0.211978
Chloride 250.00 0.000848
Calcium 75.00 0.002826
Sulphate 200.00 0.00106
Iron 0.30 0.706592
Magnesium 30.00 0.007066

Integration of Spatial and Attribute Database

The spatial and attribute database generated were integrated for the generation of
spatial distribution maps of selected water quality parameters like chlorides, nitrates,
TDS, total hardness, fluorides and Water Quality Index (WQI). The water quality data
(attribute) is linked to the sampling location (spatial) and maps showing spatial
distribution were prepared to easily identify the variation in concentrations of the
above cited parameters of the groundwater at various locations of the study area.

Estimation of Water Quality Index (WQI)

Water Quality Index (WQI) is a very useful and efficient method for assessing the
quality of water [6]. Water Quality Index (WQI) is a very useful tool for
communicating the information on overall quality of water [7, 8]. To determine the
suitability of the groundwater for drinking purposes, WQI is computed adopting the
following formula [9].

WQI = Antilog [ ∑ Wn n=1 log10 q n] (1)

Where, W, Weightage factor (W) is computed using the following equation, (Table 3)
Wn = K / Sn (2)
and K, Proportionality constant is derived from,
K = [1 / (∑n n=1 1/Si)] (3)
Sn and Si are the WHO / BIS10500 standard values of the water quality
parameter.[10,11]

Quality rating (q) is calculated using the formula,

500 K. Sundara Kumar et al

qni = {[(Vactual – Videal) / (Vstandard – Videal)] * 100} (4)

where,
qni = Quality rating of ith parameter for a total of n water quality parameters
Vactual = Value of the water quality parameter obtained from laboratory analysis
Videal = Value of that water quality parameter can be obtained from the standard
tables.
Videal for pH = 7 and for other parameters it is equal to zero.
Vstandard = WHO / ICMR standard of the water quality parameter
Based on the above WQI values, the ground water quality is rated as excellent,
good, poor, very poor and unfit for human consumption (Table 4).

Table2: Normal statistics of average water quality parameters of ground water.

Water Quality
Conductivity

Magnesium
Alkalinity

Sulphates
Turbidity
Electrical

Dissolved

Hardness

Chloride
Fluoride

Calcium
Solids

Index
Total

Iron
Sl.
pH

No NAME
1 AMUDALAVALASA 6.90 1093.55 1225.33 3.89 270.08 568.11 0.57 424.59 151.41 44.51 0.18 98.42 52.32
2 BHAMINI 6.95 604.75 608.53 3.48 277.27 319.32 0.62 174.05 103.94 32.63 0.15 52.24 46.73
3 BURJA 6.85 949.41 901.08 3.77 211.35 492.71 0.59 351.68 148.95 38.54 0.22 81.97 60.09
4 ETCHERLA 6.97 899.67 999.60 3.36 310.55 451.72 0.61 335.99 128.00 40.69 0.19 78.47 57.27
5 G.SIGADAM 7.00 1260.77 1434.62 2.77 368.97 631.05 0.68 502.97 168.60 55.13 0.18 112.55 53.11
6 GARA 6.99 918.28 1007.43 3.64 273.04 413.47 0.61 373.49 125.36 37.29 0.21 69.71 63.48
7 HIRAMANDALAM 8.15 1270.69 762.10 10.51 267.42 332.42 0.50 289.54 80.91 43.98 0.06 65.58 28.58
8 ICHCHAPURAM 7.73 1291.80 689.68 4.68 129.12 429.34 0.50 289.88 0.06 97.56 0.35 95.68 92.10
9 JALUMURU 8.37 1547.94 827.44 0.80 231.27 462.03 0.40 385.58 148.94 44.46 0.10 97.27 35.32
10 KANCHILI 7.81 1343.08 738.51 18.24 138.36 360.76 0.27 257.97 101.94 56.90 0.46 65.78 106.79
11 KAVITI 7.47 547.04 305.67 2.88 65.98 153.74 0.25 113.52 51.45 55.79 0.22 0.01 53.29
12 KOTABOMMALI 7.72 915.30 658.89 5.79 149.64 324.72 0.53 205.35 86.57 56.90 5.72 0.03 659.68
13 KOTHURU 7.02 792.03 790.63 3.43 298.79 372.25 0.63 308.68 130.68 36.57 0.19 58.63 57.13
14 L.N.PETA 6.90 973.04 1058.33 2.92 342.26 464.54 0.60 301.95 132.38 38.15 0.18 80.03 52.39
15 LAVERU 7.04 1254.22 1308.15 3.46 352.30 584.59 0.69 433.82 168.03 51.75 0.19 100.41 61.10
16 MANDASA 6.79 1214.79 1307.90 13.90 452.68 375.79 0.78 400.00 51.19 82.90 0.16 65.89 54.29
17 MELIAPUTTI 7.80 1401.57 777.07 0.10 114.56 354.68 0.30 264.73 84.85 42.66 0.17 69.71 42.94
18 NANDIGAM 7.32 1116.97 743.26 4.79 163.97 375.77 0.60 317.26 108.53 45.67 0.57 0.04 128.82
19 NARASANNAPETA 7.76 1992.62 1285.73 8.38 318.66 502.78 0.43 474.31 125.06 43.68 0.34 96.57 93.46
20 PALAKONDA 7.23 858.43 941.41 3.28 306.77 428.21 0.63 263.20 113.07 63.71 0.17 76.85 57.18
21 PALASA 7.83 1405.88 971.79 3.97 135.67 473.78 0.65 302.79 85.90 29.45 0.16 84.73 56.24
22 PATHAPATNAM 7.26 1312.41 828.04 3.43 153.34 394.26 0.59 308.68 130.68 36.57 0.19 58.63 60.31
23 POLAKI 7.06 637.25 662.57 3.89 209.29 359.47 0.73 224.61 151.41 44.51 0.18 98.42 59.60
24 PONDURU 6.92 629.47 629.90 3.99 233.21 391.16 0.71 196.64 106.40 30.93 0.17 68.20 52.12
25 RAJAM 6.97 999.02 1032.74 3.83 215.10 593.21 0.63 452.71 146.92 48.07 0.19 108.01 58.59
26 RANASTALAM 6.96 849.34 960.59 3.55 273.29 435.94 0.60 298.42 125.49 37.29 0.20 75.27 58.89
27 REGIDI 6.94 711.27 803.85 2.56 243.23 400.77 0.59 238.19 116.31 36.37 0.15 68.95 46.12
28 SANTHABOMMALI 7.26 1312.41 828.04 6.67 153.34 394.26 0.59 355.51 97.63 35.79 3.68 0.06 487.09
29 SANTHAKAVITI 7.08 856.54 971.69 2.96 282.64 490.77 0.60 326.36 140.65 41.34 0.13 84.91 45.03
30 SARAVAKOTA 8.09 1437.06 837.17 8.19 135.57 409.63 0.37 285.12 85.14 54.80 0.24 62.79 70.66
31 SARUBUJJILI 6.90 1112.24 1036.73 4.71 224.22 473.27 0.57 431.22 121.92 34.10 0.29 85.04 73.49
32 SEETHAMPETA 6.95 300.26 318.85 3.48 190.26 239.00 0.52 92.97 102.13 29.80 0.22 33.75 59.24
33 SOMPETA 7.73 1607.00 897.57 4.90 154.50 390.76 0.48 301.43 91.63 44.79 11.54 0.04 1056.71
34 SRIKAKULAM 6.97 970.14 957.21 3.56 306.07 424.42 0.59 363.49 127.62 36.29 0.19 72.20 56.57
35 TEKKALI 7.10 263.00 300.00 3.00 200.00 180.00 0.80 70.00 84.00 16.80 0.10 23.40 39.90
36 VAJRAPUKOTHURU 7.55 1151.00 749.49 3.79 74.38 347.01 0.35 202.05 110.32 54.78 0.47 67.90 106.03
37 VANGARA 7.06 637.25 662.57 3.08 209.29 359.47 0.73 224.61 106.98 32.80 0.19 61.79 60.42
38 VEERAGHATTAM 7.06 641.16 719.82 3.27 275.26 376.36 0.58 225.67 117.44 36.59 0.17 62.32 55.26
Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam 501

Table 4: Water Quality Index Categories.

Water Quality Index Description

0-25 Excellent
26-50 Good
51-75 Poor
76-100 Very poor
>100 Unfit for drinking (UFD)

Results and Discussion

Groundwater Quality Variation
Current status of the ground water quality has been evaluated for the 38 mandals of
the Srikakulam district of Andhrapradesh, India. The entire district shows a very poor
quality of ground water resources. Out of the 38 mandals only Tekkali is having
medium salinity and Bhamini, Seethampeta,veeraghattam, Regidi, Ponduru,
Palakonda and Kaviti are showing moderately high salinity, and the remaining
mandals are showing high salinity. Salinity makes the water unfit for drinking. One of
the reason for high salinity may be the location and spread of the district along the
coast. The spatial distribution of the Electrical conductivity is shown in the Figure:4
As per the IS10500-1991, the maximum Total Dissolved Solids(TDS) allowed for
drinking water is 500mg/l and beyond this palatability decreases and may cause
gastrointestinal irritation. Only Seethampeta, Kaviti and Tekkali are having TDS below
500mg/l. The spatial distribution of the TDS is shown in the Figure:5. Except 11 mandals
all other mandals show high chloride content which makes the water unpalatable and
corrosive. The spatial distribution of the chlorides is shown in the Figure:6
Fluoride content of all the mandas was observed to be less than 1.0mg/l. As per
standard Total Hardness as CaCo3 is 300 ppm. Seethampeta , kaviti and Tekkali fall
under this category and all other mandals show very hard water.(Figure.7) The high
turbity of water makes the water less acceptable by the public and also interfere with
disinfection mechanism and reduce the difinfection efficiency especially of
chlorination. The spatial distribution of the turbidity is shown in the Figure:8
The desirable limit for Iron is 0.3 ppm beyond which water exhibit bad,
appearance bad taste and effect water supply structures and promotes iron bacteria.
Sompeta shows excess iron content that is in the range of 6 to 12ppm, Santhabommali
& Kotabommali, 3 to 6ppm where as Nandigama, Vajrapukothuru, Kanchili,
Ichhapuram and Narasannapeta are in the range of 0.3 to 1.0. The spatial distribution
of the Iron is shown in the Figure:9.
Water quality index has been calculated based on 12 important water quality
parameters(pH, TDS, EC, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Chlorides, Fluorides, Hardness,
Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphate &Iron). Only few mandals like Bhamini,
Hiramandalam, Regidi, Seethampeta, Jalumuru, Tekkali, Meliaputti are having good
water quality index and fit for drinking. Remaining all mandals are categorized as
502 K. Sundara Kumar et al

poor to very poor and Kanchili, Sompeta, Nandigam, Vajrapukothuru,

Santhabommali & Kotabommali are unfit for drinking. The spatial distribution of the
Water Quality Index is shown in the Figure:10.

Figure 4: Spatial distribution of the Figure 5: Spatial distribution of the Total

Electrical conductivity. Dissolved Solids.

Figure 6: Spatial distribution of Figure 7: Spatial distribution of

Chlorides. Hardness.

Figure 8: Spatial distribution of Turbidity. Figure 9: Spatial distribution of Iron.

Ground Water Quality Assessment of Srikakulam 503

Figure 10: Spatial distribution of Water Quality Index.

Conclusion
In this study the water quality parameters of all the 38 mandals of Srikakulam district
were analysed and water quality index has been calculated and the results were
interpreted in terms of maps. The analysis of the results drawn at various stages of the
work revealed that integration of Remote Sensing and GIS are effective tools for the
preparation of various digital thematic layers and maps showing spatial distribution of
various water quality parameters. The final output has been given in the pictorial
representation of ground water quality suitable or unsuitable for drinking purposes in
the area under study. As it is an underdeveloped area and because of poor ground
water management practices the water quality in the area is more or less poor. The
analysis reveals that the ground water of the area needs some degree of treatment
before consumption. The outcome of this research work can be effectively utilized by
the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering Department, for better
management of groundwater as well as supplying protected water to the affected
areas.

Further scope of the work

Overlaying spatial distribution water quality maps on Satellite imagery is a very
authenticate concept to identify the water quality problems and to correlate them with
the land use to interpret the reasons for deterioration of environmental quality.
 504 K. Sundara Kumar et al

Acknowledgments
The author wish to acknowledge K.Vamsikrishna Reddy, S. Kesav,Final year
B.Tech(Civil) students, GMRIT, S. Sivayya, Environmental Engineering lab
technician, GMRIT, for their contribution in this paper work, Department of
RWS&SE of Srikakulam, A.P, for their support, Department of Civil Engineering,
GMRIT, for providing Soft ware and computer lab facilities.

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