Abstract
<p><a name="_Hlk173243332"><span style="background-color:white;color:black;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;">As the groundwater pollution is increasing, it is crucial to assess groundwater quality and characterize hydrogeochemistry accurately for long term water supply.&nbsp;</span></a><span style="background-color:white;color:black;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;">In this study groundwater samples were collected from 120 locations from Bahawalpur district and analyzed for electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>), potassium (K<sup>+</sup>), calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>), magnesium (Mg<sup>2+</sup>), carbonate (CO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), bicarbonate (HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), sulfate (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>), chloride (Cl<sup>-</sup>), nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), fluoride (F<sup>-</sup>) and heavy metals. The results obtained from the analysis of samples showed that the SAR of nearly 65% of samples collected from Bahawalpur district were in acceptable limit (&lt;6 meq L<sup>-1</sup>), while 12% found to be unfit for irrigation (&gt;10 meq L<sup>-1</sup>). Similarly, the RSC values depicted that 8% samples were unfit while 64% samples were falling in the category of fit irrigation water. Most of the water samples were predominantly Ca<sup>2+</sup>-HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> and Na<sup>+</sup>-HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> type, that were controlled by various processes of cation exchange, water-rock interaction, dissolution and evaporation. Some samples fall in the&nbsp;middle of diamond and lower triangles of Piper diagram are showing no dominant type of water (mixed water type) due to the complex influence of rock-water interactions as well as anthropogenic activities. The Water Quality Index (WQI) showed that&nbsp;out of total 120 sampling sites in Bahawalpur the number of excellent water samples were only 2% while 18% water samples were characterized as hazardous. Moreover, the number of samples falling in the categories of good, poor and very poor quality water were 36%, 29% and 13% respectively.</span></p>
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