Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India

In this work, the assessment of surface and ground water quality of Palladam Taluk, Tiruppur, district, Tamil Nadu, India were carried out using Geographical Information System (GIS) and Modified National Sanitation Foundation -Water Quality Index (MNSF-WQI). Four samples from surface and twenty seven samples from ground water sources were taken from Palladam Taluk, Tiruppur District. In the current study, the surface and ground water samples were analysed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), biological oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), faecal coliforms (FC), total phosphate (TP), total nitrate (TN), chlorides (Cl-), sodium (Na+) and fluoride (F-) ions to investigate the suitability of surface and ground water for drinking and agricultural purposes through Geographic information system (GIS) and modified national sanitation foundation water quality index (MNSF-WQI) technique. The concentrations of TH, TDS, Cl- and Na+ were observed to be above the desirable limit of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). whereas F-, BOD, DO, EC, TP, TN, FC and temperature were within the acceptable limits. The GIS-based WQI map analysis indicated that 45% of the study area having good water quality index and the remaining area showed medium quality water. Dyeing and textile industries in the study area are responsible for deteriorating the quality to medium quality of water which was not appropriate for direct utilization and needed prior treatment. There is no detailed report on assessment of the surface and ground water quality of Palladam Taluk in Tamil Nadu using GIS and MNSF-WQI techniques.

Groundwater quality is a critical indicator of water usability for drinking and irrigation. Tiruvallur district, spanning approximately 3,394 square kilometres, is one of the largest districts in Tamil Nadu, India. Due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrial activities, overexploitation of groundwater has significantly deteriorated its quality, posing challenges for sustainable living. This study evaluates the groundwater quality in Tiruvallur, where groundwater serves as the primary source of drinking water due to inadequate surface water availability. The study addresses declining groundwater quality in Tiruvallur District using a novel integration of Water Quality Index and GIS-based spatial mapping. Groundwater samples were collected from 10 dug wells across the district. Key physicochemical parameters, including pH, total hardness (TH), total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity, were analyzed to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI). The suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation was assessed against the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, particularly QGIS, were employed to create spatial distribution maps of water quality parameters. Box plot analysis highlighted a strong correlation between total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity, further emphasizing the need for sustainable groundwater management. This study provides a comprehensive spatial representation of groundwater quality, aiding stakeholders in implementing effective water resource management strategies.

The groundwater usage for household, industrial and agricultural needs is largely depends upon the nature and composition of various dissolved components present in the water. A comparison of groundwater quality of Chennai district in 2019 and 2020 for its potability and its hydrogeochemical characteristics were studied using the physicochemical data of representative samples from 36 observation wells obtained during pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons. The chosen wells are spatially distributed in the study region. The present work was carried out using the water quality data consisting of various physicochemical parameters and major ions concentration pertaining to groundwater analysis of the study location obtained from State Groundwater and Surface Water Resources Data Centre (SGSRDC), Taramani, Chennai, India. Water quality parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids(TDS), total hardness(TH), total alkalinity(TA), Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl‒, SO42‒, and NO3‒,were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI) by weighted arithmetic method. The groundwater quality is ascertained from the calculated WQI values with reference to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The results of WQI calculation reveals that in the pre monsoon period of both 2019 and 2020, around 30 % samples fall under good category and 55 % samples fall under poor quality. In the post monsoon period of 2019, 70 % samples are of good quality, whereas for 2020, 61 % samples are of poor quality. Correlation analysis of water quality parameters and bivariant plots of major ions were plotted to decipher the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater. TDS, TH and electrical conductivity (EC) exhibits a strong positive correlations with Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl- and SO42- ions. The Piper diagrams of the ground water samples of the study area reveal its hydrochemical facies as Na-Cl type. The Gibbs diagram of the groundwater samples shows that water-rock interactions and evaporation are the predominant factors in controlling the ground water chemistry.

In this study, an attempt has been made to use the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) model to classify groundwater suitability (n = 40) of Kadava river basin during pre and post monsoon season of 2012. The CCME WQI model computed for drinking and irrigation through guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The pH, EC, TDS, TH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate and Nitrate variables were considered. The groundwater samples were classified into five categories from poor to excellent, ranges from 0 to 100. The result reveals that, the groundwater quality is poor to fair and majority of samples having marginal water quality for drinking. The groundwater quality is quite good for irrigation and it ranges from fair to good type with maximum samples fall in fair category. In the study area, the groundwater quality is considerably affected and found vulnerable in pre monsoon season due to intensive agriculture and anthropogenic activities. Spatial distribution maps of water quality index for pre and post monsoon season were prepared through GIS technique. In pre monsoon season, except Central part, many groundwater samples are found vulnerable and restricting their use for drinking. Three vulnerable hotspots are identified in North, NE and South region in post monsoon season. In pre monsoon season, Central, South and North part is affected; while, in post monsoon season, few patches in North, Central and Southern area are critical for irrigation use. In the study area, few aquifers are found to be problematic and thus limiting their use for drinking and irrigation. The CCME WQI is an effective tool to assess the groundwater quality and to communicate the health of water to multiple users. It gives precise results and water quality report in an easier way to the policy and decision makers. Finally, the study confirmed that the groundwater quality is influenced by agricultural activities and appropriate water management plan is essential to nurture precious groundwater resources in the study area.

The groundwater is an important natural resource utilized for drinking and many more purposes. The present study is aimed to assess the quality of groundwater using the water quality index (WQI) methods in Ambedkar Nagar district (U.P), India. A total of 10 groundwater samples were collected from ten different areas of Ambedkar Nagar district in November 2018, and samples were analyzed to investigate the suitability of groundwater for domestic purposes. The selection of locations for sampling has been based on a preliminary field survey. Ten groundwater samples were examined for physical and chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonates, sulfate, nitrate, fluoride, and chloride. The values have been computed and compared with the guideline values for drinking water given by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been observed that the calculated WQI ranges from 31.2 to 64.3 which represents excellent to good and good to the poor category of groundwater quality of studied areas. The high value of WQI is due to higher concentrations of electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate (HCO3−), and total dissolved solids (TDS) in the groundwater samples at some of the selected locations. The result shows that the groundwater at few locations required minor treatment before the consumption.KeywordsPhysicochemical parametersGroundwater qualityWater quality index (WQI)Major ions chemistry

Water quality assessment of Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary using water quality index (CCME WQI)

Shigaze city is situated in the southwestern Tibetan Plateau and is the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Groundwater is the major source of domestic and drinking water for urban inhabitants. In this study, the major ion chemistry and a water quality assessment of groundwater were studied using geochemical methods and fuzzy comprehensive assessment. Groundwater was classified as slightly alkaline soft and hard freshwater, and the influence of anthropogenic activities on groundwater was relatively weak. The dominant cations and anions were Ca2+ and Mg2+ and HCO3− and SO42−, respectively. Overall, the mean concentrations of major ions in groundwater increase gradually over time, except for NO3−; however, the mean value of pH decreases over time. Most groundwater samples belong to the type of HCO3-Ca, and the groundwater has a trend of evolution from HCO3-Ca to the mixed type. Rock weathering was the main hydrogeochemical process controlling groundwater hydrochemistry, and the dissolution of carbonate and silicate minerals were the primary contributors to the formation of the major ion chemistry of groundwater. Major ions of groundwater in the urban area of Shigaze are below the standard limits, and the groundwater is excellent for drinking according to the fuzzy comprehensive assessment.

Safe and clean acceptable quality of water is essential for the survival of life. There are severe problems with the insufficient availability of safe groundwater for human consumption. The present study aims to evaluate the groundwater quality in the coastal area of Srikakulam district, located in the extreme northeastern direction of Andhra Pradesh in India. The study area spreads over an area of 130 km2. In this study, groundwater is the major source for drinking and irrigation purposes. A total of 20 bore well (BW) groundwater samples were collected with a distance of 5 km each during the period of the premonsoon and monsoon seasons of 2020. This study investigates the importance of groundwater quality in some areas of the coastal villages in the Srikakulam district. The overall water quality condition is explained with various physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), fluoride (F–), chloride (Cl–), nitrate (NO3–), sulfate (SO42–), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and turbidity. The water quality is assessed on the basis of the water quality index (WQI) method. The physicochemical results are compared to the water quality standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), 2012, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), 2012. The correlations between the values have been presented for various parameters. The water quality index (WQI) ranged between 11.56 and 61.27, the highest value recorded at M. Ganguwada and the lowest at Bandaravanipeta. The analytical results showed that around 90% of the samples are extremely hard in their nature and that their Na+ and Cl– concentrations are also higher. It indicates that the coastal region is influenced by seawater intrusion.

The present study examines coastal groundwater quality in Kanchipuram District, East Coast, and Tamil Nadu. A total of 72 groundwater samples were obtained both before to and during the monsoon season. These samples were analyzed for several parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), bicarbonate (HCO3), chloride (Cl), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and total hardness. GIS created spatial distribution maps for all physicochemical parameters. The obtained findings were compared to the water quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Piper plot and correlation methods are commonly used to assess water quality and pollutants. Coastal areas with shallow groundwater tube wells have worse groundwater quality issues. Groundwater is fresh to brackish, according to results. Cations and anions are dominated by Na and Cl. Few samples have Cl, Ca, and Mg ions within the acceptable limit. Gibbs figure shows that most samples are rock–water interactions. The Piper diagram displays Na–Cl and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl groundwater samples. The majority of water quality samples are excellent to good and appropriate for drinking. The USSL graph demonstrates that most groundwater samples have high and medium salinity and low alkali risks. The use of factor analysis was employed in the classification of groundwater samples and the identification of pollutants and leaching of secondary salts dominates groundwater hydro geochemistry in the research area. The investigation found all groundwater samples appropriate for irrigation

Groundwater is an indispensable natural resource for drinking water, generally in rural areas due to unavailability of treated water. The study was designed to investigate the groundwater quality in nine open-defecation-free (ODF) villages (Nirmal Grams) of Kurukshetra district, Haryana, India. For the research, 81 groundwater samples were collected from different borewells of Nirmal Grams during pre-monsoon (PRM), monsoon (MON), and post-monsoon (POM) seasons and were analyzed for 13 water quality parameters, i.e., pH, EC, TDS, Cl-, TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, F-, SO42-, and PO42-, using standard methods. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated from the analyzed parameters and the results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO 2011) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS 2012) in order to have an overview of the groundwater quality. The concentration of major anions and cations was found to be in the order of HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > F- > PO42- and Ca2+ > Na+ > K+ > Mg2+, respectively. Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used for statistical analysis, Aquachem 2014 software (trial version) was used for Piper diagram, Box-Whisker plot, Schoeller, and Gibbs diagram, whereas WQI was calculated manually. The values of WQI in the study area were ranged between 32.08 and 88.38 in PRM, 46.62 and 102.33 in MON, and 34.99 and 79.81 in POM seasons, respectively. Groundwater quality index reveals that the majority of the samples fall under 'good' to 'excellent' water category. It indicates that the groundwater is suitable for drinking and other domestic uses.

In the study area, the primary source of water is groundwater for the drinking and irrigation purpose. For the assessment of groundwater quality results of 48 groundwater samples in post& pre monsoon season for the year 2021 & 2022 were carried out from Kundalika River basin Beed District, Maharashtra. The pH values of groundwater reveal that slightly alkaline in nature. The electric conductivity varies from 290 to 2640 µS/cm; the total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride measured. Most of TDS values of groundwater samples less 1000 mg/l indicate suitable for drinking and irrigation purpose. In the piper trilinear diagram, it is observed that 80% groundwater samples in post monsoon season 2021 and pre monsoon season 2022 fall in the Ca-HCO3 region and remaining 20 % groundwater samples of both season falls in mixed type such as Ca-Na-HCO3 region. According to Wilcox’s diagram all groundwater samples are good for irrigation purpose except 2 % samples of post monsoon season 2021 and pre monsoon season 2022 are doubtful to unsuitable area for irrigation use. Various water quality indices like: EC, SAR, SSP, RSC, MAR and KR shows that most water samples are suitable for irrigation uses. U. S. Salinity Laboratory Diagram shows that all the groundwater samples belongs to C2-S1,C3-S1,C3-S1 and C3-S2 category suggesting a medium to high salinity and alkalinity; this can be good for irrigation purpose, with few exceptions under specific conditions.

To evaluate the seasonal changes in quality and quantity of river Rispana (a tributary of river Ganges—Dehradun region of India) water quality index (WQI) was calculated at four major locations by using the weighted arithmetic method. Sixteen samples in all were taken throughout the pre‐monsoon (April 2022), monsoon (July 2022), post‐monsoon (November 2022), and the Winter season (January 2023). The major parameters, namely, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS), E‐coliform, sulphate, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were considered for calculation of WQI. The WQI varied from minimum 44.53 (good) at site 1 – Kairwaan Gaon during monsoon season to maximum 302.69 (unfit for drinking) at site 4 – Mothrowala during the pre‐monsoon period. In 75% samples quality of water was unfit for domestic purpose and the contributing factors are DO, BOD, and Coliform which exceeds permissible limit in all samples. The major factors attributed for decline in the Rispana water quality are discharge of sewage, commercial sites effluent, and urban runoff. Pre‐monsoon, monsoon, post‐monsoon, and winter had average total coliform levels of 1849.6, 2419.6, 2419.6, and 1546.25, respectively, in MPN units. The average value of E‐coli for the four season vary from 1306.8 to 1888.1 MPN. The pollution load (physico‐chemical parameters and bacteriological factors) increases as the river Rispana flows to downstream in urban locations. Streamflow was observed as very lean except monsoon season (~1500 cfs) due to more extraction of Rispana's fresh water in upstream and unplanned changes in its catchment basin; thus establishes an extensive decline in availability of fresh water sources (Domestic use) in downstream Dehradun city area. In monsoon season, more streamflow (rain water influx) maintains the WQI also in good‐moderate category. The land use/land cover – LULC analysis in Rispana basin area, depicted 71% enhancement in urbanization (24.16%–41.55%) takes place in 15 years’ span (2003–2017). The study establishes the potential causes (natural and anthropogenic) for Rispana deterioration and provides a baseline (quality index) for aquatic and ecological rejuvenation of its watershed by executing a proper management strategy with people participation. This work contributes discernments for effective water resource management to address the smart city objectives and sustainable development goal‐SDG:6, urban and municipal authorities must take cognizance for revival of this domestic water resource.

The present investigation aims to assess the processes controlling the composition of groundwater in the Sohagpur coalfield and its quality concerning drinking and irrigation purposes using hydrogeochemical and statistical approaches, water quality indices, and a geographic information system (GIS). Twenty-seven groundwater samples collected from different sites were analysed for electrical conductivity (EC), pH, turbidity, major anions and cations, total dissolved solids (TDS), and total hardness (TH). The study results show that the pH of samples varied from 5.97 to 8.26, suggesting the acidic to slightly alkaline nature of the water samples. The TDS ranged from 265 to 1450 mg/L with 78% of the samples being in the freshwater category. The Ca2+-Mg2+-SO4 2− and Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3 − are dominant hydrogeochemical facies in the Sohagpur coalfield. The hydrogeochemical and statistical methods show that the groundwater chemistry of the Sohagpur coalfield is primarily controlled by the dissolution and weathering of minerals and secondarily due to the influence of anthropogenic activities (i.e., agricultural practices, sewage, and animal waste discharge). In the majority of the groundwater samples, concentrations of TH, TDS, turbidity, and SO4 2− exceeded the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking acceptable limits and suggested that water is unsuitable for direct consumption. Moreover, the estimated water quality index (WQI) indicated that 52% of the samples (especially from the Dhanpuri and Amlai areas) belong to poor to unfit water categories. High values of EC in 56% of the samples and magnesium hazard (MH) at two sites restrict the irrigation suitability at these locations.

The contribution of mica mining activities to fluoride (F-) contamination in groundwater has been chased in this study. For the purpose, groundwater samples (n = 40, replicated thrice) were collected during the post-monsoons (September-October) from a mica mining area in the Tisri block of Giridih district, Jharkhand. The study has employed a synergy of classical aquifer chemistry, statistical approaches, different indices, Self-Organising Maps (SOM), and Sobol sensitivity index (SSI) to unveil the underlying aquifer chemistry, identify the impacts of mining activities on groundwater quality and its associated health hazard. Fluoride levels varied from 0.34 to 2.8ppm, with 40% of samples exceeding the World Health Organization's permissible limit (1.5ppm). Physicochemical analysis revealed significant differences in electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH) and major ion concentrations (Na+, HCO3-, Ca2+) between fluoride-contaminated (FC) and fluoride-uncontaminated (FU) groups. Higher Na+ and HCO3- associated with F- contaminated samples, were indicative of silicate weathering and carbonate dissolution as primary geogenic sources for this ion. Health risk assessment (HRA) revealed hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding unity, indicating non-carcinogenic risks, particularly for children in most samples from group FC. The mean Water Quality Index (WQI) of FC group (156.76 ± 7.30) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than group FU indicating of its unsuitability. SOM could accurately (80%) predict presence of fluoride in water samples based on other major ions. Sobol sensitivity analysis successfully identified fluoride concentration and body weight as most impactful parameters affecting human health. The integration of advanced modelling techniques and geospatial analysis as Inverse Distance Weightage (IDW) maps has provided a robust framework for ongoing groundwater quality monitoring in mining-affected regions and can help proactive intervention in risk-prone areas. Overall, this comprehensive study takes us a step ahead towards ensuring safe drinking water access for the global community.

Due to environmental pollution, climate change, and anthropogenic activities, the judicious use and regular assessment of the quality of groundwater for industrial, agricultural, and drinking purposes had gained a lot of attention across the globe. To assess the seasonal suitability of groundwater based on hydrochemistry and different quality indices, groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for different physicochemical parameters. Our findings indicated that the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), and calcium ion (Ca2+) content of groundwater were within acceptable limits of WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines for drinking water. However, chloride content exceeded the acceptable levels, accounting for about 29.1% during the pre-monsoon and 15.3% during the post-monsoon period. Based on the water quality index (WQI), none of the water samples were deemed unsuitable for drinking purposes. However, when considering the synthetic pollution index (SPI), 100% of the samples were categorized as moderately polluted during both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. For industrial purpose suitability, 39.8 and 30.6% of the water samples had high corrosion tendency for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Additionally, 77.5-93.4% of the total water samples were slightly affected by salinization on the basis of Revelle index. Generally, the groundwater quality for drinking purposes meets the WHO and BIS guidelines, with high corrosion potential for industrial use and slight salinization concerns in the area.