Comparison of Groundwater Quality in Southern Province

Abstract

Groundwater quality in southern province is varying considerably in between Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Hambantota district has recorded as Chronic Kidney Disease in unknown etiology (CKDu) prevailing districts. Some researchers suggested that it has a relationship with contaminated ground water. Fluoride, Hardness, Heavy metals and other typical inorganic water quality parameters have been analysed in the samples collected from 303 stations. The parametric values of F\ Ct, SO42' , Na+, NH4+, Mg2*, Ca2+, Hardness and Mn in Hambantota are higher than the recommended maximum level allowed according to the Sri Lankan Standard (SLS) for drinking water while NHS, Al and Mn are recorded in Matara. But in Galle district Pb shows high concentration by giving a clue towards the vehicle gas emission. Principal Component Analysis has identified 7 components in Galle which explains 75.4% of total variance. In Matara and Hambantota, 6 components explain 75% and 76% of the total variance respectively.