Pollution Research Paper

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION MODELLING - A CASE STUDY FOR CHENNAI (INDIA)

USHA NATESAN AND K. DEEPTHI

Abstract

The waterways of Chennai city are currently under severe stress due to pollution. Efforts by the Government to reduce the influx of solid and liquid pollutants have had some success, although there much to be done. The major waterways that flow through Chennai City are Adyar and Coovum rivers and Buckingham Canal. The waterways are polluted due to increased urbanization and industrialization. As the rivers are flowing through the Chennai city, there is a likely possibility for the contamination of groundwater. Hence a study had been taken up to assess the groundwater pollution from these waterways. Study area comprises of Adyar and Coovum River and 5km on either side of it. The data about aquifer characteristics viz., porosity, permeability, specific storage and specific yield were collected from different Government Departments. The water level and aquifer parameters were given as input to the groundwater model, visual MODFLOW and the groundwater flow was simulated. The validation of predicted and observed water levels has an RMS error of ± 2.5m. The zone of influence for Coovum is upto 3 km South and Adyar river upto 2 km North. The study confirms that the waterways are polluting the groundwater and the results encourage the usage of models as a groundwater management tool for decision making.