Groundwater quality and its potential health impacts nearby inactive mines using PIG and geospatial technology, Southwestern part of Cuddapah basin, Andhra Pradesh, South India

Abstract

The primary intend of this research is to determine the standard drinking water quality build upon on the Pollution Index of Groundwater (PIG) and health risk index. For this, fifty groundwater samples were chosen and determined for chief cations & anions in the Southwestern part of Cuddapah basin (SW). Maximum samples are under the allowable level of W.H.O standards except Fluoride and nitrate concentrations. Around 60% and 62.5% of the groundwater surpass the allowable range (1.5 mg/L) of fluoride and nitrate (45 mg/L), respectively. As a result, groundwater is not potable due to fluoride and nitrate levels, and a health risk assessment was conducted in this area. From the PIG values; 80% of the samples fall under insignificant pollution category. Nitrate Pollution Index value shows that; 88% of the groundwater polluted with high nitrate content as per national guide lines for drinking purpose. As per USEPA guidelines non carcinogenic effect of nitrate and fluoride in this region vary from 0.01 to 14.48 (adults), 0.02–14.68 (children), 0.01–11.8 (infants), while 92.5, 92.5%, 80% of groundwater is surpass the recommended value (>1) of THI for adults, children and infants. Higher fluoride concentration may be due to geogenic and higher levels of nitrate concentration may be due to human induced activities including fertilizers, industrial effluent and service pipe leakage. The predominant geochemical processes in this region are weathering, ion exchange and to reduce fluoride and nitrate-contaminated in water intake in the research area, precautions should be adopted.