Dear Sir,

The chemical analysis of the borewell-water samples from my flat at Palavakkam, Chennai-41, is as follows:-

pH level=7.559; Conductivity=32900 micro-siemens/cm; Turbidity=NIL; TDS level=20396 ppm & Total Hardness=1200 ppm;

The depth of the borewell is 58 ft and the soil type present there in that flat compound is clay-soil.

I would be more grateful to you Sir, if you kindly clarify the following points:-

1)How to reduce the salinity in that borewell-water ?

2)One method is by rainwater-harvesting over a period
of years, but then the rainwater is not available
throughout the year in Chennai. Is it not?

3)Can you please name any particular type of
plants/trees[like Canna Indica(or) "kalvazhai" in
Tamil] to grow near that borewell, which can
absorb the salinity of the soil present in that
area, so that the salinity of the borewell-water
may come down below some 2000 ppm?

4) We tried the Reverse Osmossis(RO) method, by
simply connecting the inlet of an RO-machine
to the kitchen-tap, but the RO-machine DID NOT
GIVE any outlet water from this borewell-water.
But I heard that, if we increase the inlet-
pressure for the RO-machine then it may work. Is
it true?

5) Digging another borewell is one option for the
present problem. But then how can we be sure that
we can get water with lesser salinity there?

6) Can you suggest any other methods(natural/
artificial/chemical) for reducing the salinity
of the borewll-water in that compound?

Thanking you Sir,

--B.CHANDRASEKAR, Scientific Officer,
Dept.of Atomic Energy, GOVT.OF INDIA,
Kalpakkam 603102, Chennai.
E-mail: bcskal@rediffmail.com--
Mobile:+91-94446 64552(Chennai)