Dataset on the assessment of water quality of ground water in Kalingarayan Canal, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract This data article aimed to investigate the quality of ground water in Kalingarayan Canal for the analysis of pollution level, Tamil Nadu. In order to understand the pollution status of the canal, nine ground water samples (GW1- GW9) were collected from the downstream side of the canal during the period between January 2014 – December 2016. Nine stations were selected along the Kalingarayan Canal, and ground water samples were collected on a monthly basis from these stations. The parameters like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, total hardness (TH) nitrates, sulphates, sodium, calcium and magnesium were analyzed to observe the current status of the groundwater quality. Also, the groundwater quality is expressed in terms of Water Quality index (WQI). The APHA method was applied to determine the physico chemical parameters of the water samples. From the investigation, WQI reflects a low quality of groundwater in sampling stations Kolathupalayam (GW3) and Perumparai (GW6) which is mainly contaminated with nitrate and the water is found to be very hard in nature. Also, it was observed that calcium and magnesium content in groundwater is very high at certain stations. Most of the groundwater from this place cannot be used for any kind of industrial processes and human consumption without proper treatment.