Groundwater quality mapping of Singrauli district using ArcGIS

Abstract

Singrauli district, which is in central India, is renowned for its extensive natural riches and vibrant industrial activity. The present study includes a comprehensive investigation on the spatial distribution and fluctuations of major physicochemical parameters, namely magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), and fluoride (F), in the groundwater of the Singrauli district. Understanding these characteristics is critical due to their potential impact on water quality and human health. The data needed for this study came from two distinct sources. The Central Groundwater Board website provided data from 2010 to 2018, while the Madhya Pradesh Groundwater Yearbook provided data for 2019-2020. This dataset was linked into ArcGIS, a Geographic Information System (GIS) application, allowing for the creation of thematic maps and spatial patterns that provide significant insights into the spatial distribution of certain parameters. Mg conc. values were within the permissible limit, that is 100 milligram litre-1 except the max value that was observed at the location marked by the coordinates 24.067, 82.629 in the year 2012. At most places in the study area the conc. of chloride in the groundwater was found to be within the permissible limit. Maximum value of Fluoride conc. was 3.8 mg/l at the location marked by coordinates 24.233,82.377 (Lat., Long.) in the year 2016. The reason for this unusually high level of F conc. in the groundwater of Singrauli may be due to human activities like coal mining and leaching from the waste generated from the various power plants, etc.