Application of High Resolution Electrical Resistivity Tomography for

groundwater quality appraisal in parts of Tirupur District, Tamilnadu, India

Srinivasamoorthy K, Sarma VS1, Vasanthavigar M, Vijayaragavan K, Pichiah S , Rajivgandhi R
*Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar
1
Scientist F, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad

Introduction
The purpose of electrical surveys is to determine the subsurface resistivity
distribution by making measurements on the ground surface as these measurements help
to estimate the true resistivity of the subsurface. Electrical imagine represents an old
technology which has been disadvantaged due to its high cost, with the present
improvement in field equipment design and the advanced computer algorithms made
electrical imagining technique a cost competitive than other geophysical techniques
(Kalinski et al. 1993). Electrical Imaging can provide information about distinct
subsurface boundaries and conditions, which can indicate soil or bedrock lithology
variations (Dahlin, 2000). 2-D and 3-D electrical surveys are the practically commercial
techniques used with the recent development of multi-electrode resistivity surveying
instruments (Griffiths et al. 1990) with aid of computer inversion software (Loke, 2004).
Igneous and metamorphic rocks typically have high resistivity values but vary on the
degree of fracturing, and the percentage of the fractures filled with ground water. The
resistivity of ground water approximately varies from 10 to 100 m depending on the
concentration of dissolved salts present (Keller and Frischknecht, 1966). The low
resistivity (about 0.2 m) in groundwater is mainly due to the presence of industrial
contaminants due to leaching of cations, anions and trace elements from rock sources and
manmade influences, reduce the resistivity of ground water to less than 1 m even at
fairly low concentrations (Srinivasamoorthy et al. 2009).
The measurements are carried out between current electrode pairs and potential
electrode pairs. An increase in the distance between two electrode pairs gives the
apparent resistivity at greater depth.
 Fig.1. Schematic diagram of multielectrode system for Wenner array
(Reproduced with permission from VS.Sarma, NGRI)

The number of electrodes with the multi-electrode systems can be, for example, 48, 72 or
96 etc with specified inter-electrode spacing. The inter-electrode spacing can be varied
from the specifications as per the available area and topography. The depth down below
the traverse can be increased by increasing the array size sequentially depending upon the
‘depth of investigation ’of the corresponding array (Fig. 1). The common methods
adopted are Dipole-dipole, Wenner and Schlumberger. In noisy areas combination such
as Wenner-Schlumberger and Three-electrode arrays are also followed. After analysis
and processing of the measured data in the field, pseudo-depth sections are constructed
(Dahlin, T., 1996, Dey, A., and Morrison, H. F., 1979, Apparao and Sarma, 1993) with
over lapping data levels. High- resolution resistivity (HERT) surveys play a significant
role especially for scanning the subsurface in noisy areas for better data coverage so that
the sub-surface architecture can be studied with reasonable precision and faster survey.
Equipment for multi-electrode survey
The Syscal Pro-96 system is capable of measuring apparent resistivity values with
different electrode configurations. Resistivity Pseudo sections are prepared using the
Apparent Resistivity values and Interpretation will be carried out using RES2DINV
software (Loke, 2004). The outcome is in the form of subsurface images. The equipment

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is switched on after all the necessary arrangement of electrodes, cables set, selector unit
and battery.
Concept and depth of investigation
The concept consists in using multi core cables, which contain arrangement of
cables and electrodes one takeout every 5meters and 64 electrodes. The measuring unit
includes relays, which automatically carry out the sequence of readings introduced in its
internal memory. The system takes readings for many combinations of transmission and
reception pairs so as to achieve some kind of mixed profiling and sounding pairs (ABEM,
2004). The total length of the cable is the product of the electrode spacing by the number
of electrodes and that determines the depth of investigations (Sasaki, Y., 1994) (Loke, 1997)..
Methodology
A known amount of current (I) is pumped to energize the subsurface using current
electrodes and the response is measured on the ground surface in the form of voltage (V)
through potential electrodes. Resistance (V / I) is calculated and further, apparent
resistivity is computed a = K x (V / I) where K is the geometrical factor which depends
upon the type of configuration that is used. The HERT technique combines methods
(profiling and sounding) simultaneously by using multi-electrode arrangement. And
hence a comprehensive subsurface picture is obtained finally.
Description of the study area
Tirupur is located 50 Km east in Coimbatore district of Tamilnadu at latitudes and
Longitudes 11.18° N 77.25° E with a total extent of 27 sq.km (Fig.2). Tirupur is an
important trade center of India which gained universal recognition as leading source of
Hosiery, Knitted Garments, Casual Wear and Sportswear. The current population of
Tirupur is estimated to be 7 lakhs. The landmark of Tirupur is the Noyyal river, a
tributary of river Cauvery which divides the city into two halves, the north and the south.
Rapid growth of industrial output and exports from cotton textile and garment
industries along with dyeing and bleaching industries discharge effluents containing a
variety of dyes and chemical (acids, salts, wetting agents, soaps, oil etc.). These units
discharge nearly 90 mld of effluents on land or into the Noyyal river, leading to
contamination of the ground and surface water and soil in and around Tirupur and
downstream. Further these studies have pointed out that in and around Tirupur the water
is unsuitable for domestic / irrigation purposes.

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 Kumarananthapuram
TNK Puram
VOC nagar
Thirumalai nagar
P.M. Palayam
M.P. Nagar Muthunagar Karumarapuram
Vodakadu
Anaipalayam
Palayakadu
Pethichettipuram
Ranganathapuram
Chellapuram
S.R Nagar Kurunji Nagar
Perichi Palayam

Thennampalayam Noyyal River

Survey Locations
0 2 4 Important Locations
Road network
Fig.2 Location and survey points of the study area

Geology and Hydrogeology of the study area

Tirupur is situated on a plateau in a part of the Precambrian shield area called the
Indian Peninsular complex. A wide range of igneous and metamorphic rocks, usually
referred to as hard or crystalline rocks characterizes this area (PWD, 1983). The most
common rock type in the study area is gneiss. The gneiss found is of high metamorphic
grade and is mainly of the biotite type, but quartzo-feldspatic gneiss is also found. These
rocks records low hydraulic conductivity with no primary porosity but presence of
secondary porosity (result of weathering and fracturing) which permits flow and storage
of substantial amounts of groundwater. The Transmissivity for weathering varies from
11.4 to 51.0 m2/day, with an average of about 30.7 m2/day (CGWB, 1993).
Transmissivity in fractured aquifer vary from 52.1 to 497.0 m 2/day, giving an average of
218.0 m2/day. The groundwater table more or less follows the topography, but with a
smaller slope than the surface slope. The hydraulic gradient is approximately 2.8 m/km
with a steeper slope of about 6.5 m/km towards the River Noyil. This implies that the
groundwater in the study area flows in the East west direction.

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 Groundwater is the main source of water supply mainly used for irrigational
purposes, but also used for industries, livestock, drinking and domestic purposes. The
study area is marked as red category where groundwater is most heavily exploited. Due
to the overexploitation of the groundwater resources, the water levels have decreased,
leading to a deepening of many of the dug wells. It has also resulted in the construction of
an increasing amount of bore wells, which are capable of tapping the deeper fractured
aquifer. A combination of the both, called dug cum bore well, is also being designed to a
larger extent than before. Attempts of decreasing the consequences of water scarcity are
being made by the Indian Government.
Electrical Resistivity Tomography
The study area along with sites demarcated for HERT is shown in Figure 13. An
attempt was made to get information on the extent of groundwater contamination due to
the effluents released from the industries. The first survey was conducted at Muthunagar
5 Km away from the river Noyyal (Fig.3). The profile shows a typical comparative low
resistivity ranging from 10-100 m confirms to an area of highly weathered rock

Fig.3 Resistivity imaging at Muthunagar

materials. The presence of regolith with a resistivity range of <10 m is found at a depth
of 8 m indicating the contamination of top soil by discharge of effluents. The weathered
and fractured zones were identified at a depth of 27-47 m with increase in resistivity from
46 – 95.5 m indicting deeper layers uncovered to groundwater contamination and also
lower resistivity is confined to greater thickness of the basement and presence of clay
materials.
The second survey was conducted near Pethichettipuram just 1Km away from the
Noyyal river. The survey indicates a little source of contamination at left end corner with

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a drop in resistivity <46.5 m at a depth of 7.91 m Fig.4. The same trend was also noted
at a depth of 11.5 m with a drop in resistivity indicating the contaminated zone in deeper
regoliths. The fractured and massive rocks showed higher resistivity indicating the non
polluted nature of subsurface formations. A thin subsurface layer with low resistivity which
extends to deeper depth in the middle of the profile and a thick layer with high resistivity
(resistivity greater than 1000 ohm-m) acting as a basin at deeper depth, which is more
dominant at the last quarter of the traverse where it is closer to the surface. This high
resistivity layer could represent the bedrock, which is competent without any structures.

Fig.4 Imaging at Pethuchettipuram

Fig. 5 Imaging at P.N.Palayam

The third survey was conducted in P.N.Palayam (Fig.5), indicates extensive
contamination of regolith at a depth of 0-20 m as the resistivity of the regolith drops less
than 40 m. Bed rock resistivity was higher >1058 m indicating their massiveness
present at shallow depth. The profile generally shows low values of electrical resistivity
rock materials at the subsurface. An intermediate resistivity layer at the intermediate
depth zone, which could represent weathered to moderately weathered rock material, is
observed at depth range (15-40 m) with a moderate resistivity range (150-1018 m). A

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thick layer with a comparatively high resistivity is also observed below the two layers of
low to intermediate rock resistivity. This relatively high resistivity rock layer possibly
representing the fresh rock material with no structural patterns gives no indication of
fractures and joints which are good indications for aquifers.
The fourth survey conducted at Chellapuram (Fig.6) indicates the study area is
underlain by high resistivity rock materials like fresh granite rocks layered with sharp
changes in electrical resistivity. An overburden with a range of (11- 45 m) is observed to a
depth of about 10 m. This layer could be interpreted to be weathered materials derived from
intense weathering of the underlying rock material with a chance of greater contamination.
An intermediate depth zone of comparatively high resistivity distribution in relation to the
resistivity distribution on the profile in the range (663 -8833 m) which increases with
depth. A very high zone of resistivity greater than 125418 ohm-m is observed from depth
greater than 55 m. This layer defines the fresh rock material without any structural pattern.
There is generally no structural deformation patterns on the whole profile apart from the
different layering of the formation.

Fig.6 Imaging at Chellapuram

A total of four profiles of which all the four showed the first, third and fourth showed top
10–25 m of regolith has resistivity of less than 10 m, with top 5 m having a resistivity
of less than 10 m. This has clearly indicated that the soil is strongly contaminated. One
profile has shown low resistivity at pockets at shallower depth and resistivity of above
100 m is not contaminated. None of the five images measured across the contaminated
sites show any strong lateral change in resistivity and it must be admitted that similar
information could be obtained with resistivity sounding. A few soundings over the area
can indicate likely sites for low resistivity regolith and heavy contamination.

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Summary and conclusion
Geophysical imaging is presently the latest development for an exploration
geophysicist to understand the nature of subsurface geological setting. Imaging in
geoelectrical methods, in particular, resistivity methods, has been extensively in use for
delineating subsurface structures. In resistivity methods, it is also known as Electrical
Resistivity Tomography (ERT). The ERT involves measuring a series of constant
separation traverses with the electrode spacing being increased with each successive
traverse. Imaging can be carried out for many purposes like pollution studies, overburden
mapping, civil engineering problems, saline water intrusion studies etc. The resistivity
imaging method can be used for under-water surveys also with special type of sensors.
One can understand the sub-surface stratal architecture with precision and accuracy by
carrying out HERT. Hence an attempt was made in Tirupur a highly industrialized zone
to determine the extent of pollution in aquifer matrix. From the study it was found that
the top regolith has been extensively contaminated. Thus, this technique provides useful
and interesting information about the polluted zone. The imaging over the contaminated
areas, although providing interesting information, can only be interpreted qualitatively.
The imaging technique has proved to be a powerful one in groundwater contamination
studies.

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