Spatio-temporal assessment of groundwater level and quality in urban coastal city Puri, India

Puri city is situated on the shoreline of Bay of Bengal and groundwater is the only source available to meet the city water supply mainly from two demarcated water fields. Due to the anthropogenic activities and absence of sewerage system, groundwater quality is deteriorating through open discharges of domestic waste, open defecation, septic tanks, soak pits, contaminated water pools, unorganized waste dumping etc. The objective of the paper was to assess seasonal groundwater fluctuation and water quality in terms of physcio-chemical and bacteriological parameters. For this, groundwater levels were measured and samples were collected during post-monsoon (November 2006) and pre-monsoon (June 2007) from the water fields and city area. Groundwater quality was represented spatially and temporally using geographical information system and evaluated with national and international drinking water standards. Based on the groundwater quality, suitable measures were suggested to minimize further groundwater contamination.