N.B. GAIKWAD AND P.D. RAUT
Abstract
Groundwater samples from coastal aquifers were collected from forty-two sampling sites in and around Malvan, District Sindhudurg, MS, India. The assessment of sites influenced via seawater in the coastal aquifers was done utilizing analyzed data of mainly major ions in groundwater, various ionic ratios, and GIS software. Major ionic concentrations showed the salinization and especially Cl- a concentration which is the significant indicator for salinization process. Further, the various ionic ratios of them were effectively used to portray seawater intrusion. SO4 2-/Cl-, Cl-/HCO-3, Na-/Cl-, Ca2+/ (HCO- 3+ SO4 2-), Mg2+/ Ca2+, Cl-/Alkalinity were used and observed to be helpful to characterize seawater intruded sites. In the coastal region where excessive pumping and excavation for mining and quarries has been done are the sites observed to be influenced via seawater intrusion.