| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2.3-0204 |
| Title of Abstract | Delineation of Seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer using 3-Dimensional Groundwater modelling in the Harbour city of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Authors | THIRUMURUGAN MARIMUTHU*, SNOWLIN F, THANALAKSHMI A |
| Organisation | V.O.CHIDAMBARAM COLLEGE |
| Address | Department of Geology, V.O.Chidambaram College Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India Pincode: 628008 E-mail: thiru19591@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Coastal aquifers around the world are under threat by witnessing the wide range of environmental issues especially due to Sea water intrusion. Seawater intrusion affects the quality and sustainability of the groundwater resources in the coastal aquifers. In India, most of the coastal aquifers are affected by seawater intrusion up to 2 km, whereas it has intruded up to 15 km towards inland in the coastal aquifers of Chennai. Recently groundwater salinization has become a major threat in the Thoothukudi regions of Tamil Nadu, due to excessive pumping of groundwater, lack of groundwater recharge and reduced rainfall. The present study was carried out to evaluate the groundwater chemistry of the region and delineate the extent of seawater intrusion. Groundwater samples were collected during October 2023 and January 2024 in 18 locations around the Thoothukudi region. The collected samples were analyzed for Physio Chemical parameters, concentration of major and minor ions. It was found that most part of the coastal regions were highly salinized and high concentration of Na-Cl were observed. The extent of seawater intrusion was demarcated with 3-Dimensional Numerical groundwater modelling using the FEFLOW computer code. Initially, Groundwater model was developed under steady and transient condition. After successful comparison between the Observed and Simulated head, the model was further allowed to carry out density dependent groundwater model to study the extent of seawater intrusion. It was found that the seawater were intruded in the coastal aquifer up to the distance of 3km inland. Thus these seawater intrusion is an evidnece of deterioration of groundwater quality in the Thoothukudi region. The study highlighted the threat's to the aquifer of this region. The present study is helpful to formulate the mitigation and remediation measures for sustainable management of groundwater system. |
| Keywords | Seawater Intrusion, Groundwater modelling, Density dependent model, Thoothukudi |