Abstract
Groundwater is one of the precious water sources for domestic, irrigation, and industrial demands in arid and semiarid regions of the world. The same is true in Ethiopia context. In this study, seven groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for various chemical constituents (pH, TDS, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, and NO3−) to assess the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water types of the groundwater wells. Among the seven sampled groundwater wells, five wells are found and used for domestic water supply in Arba Minch University (AMU) main campus. The remaining two are used for industrial and irrigation demands located at the compound of Textile Factory and Haile Resort, respectively. Results showed that the main campus groundwater wells are saline and harder than the two wells from Textile Factory and Haile Resort. Moreover, elevated concentration of nitrate and potassium (greater than the maximum permissible level allowed in Ethiopia) were obtained in the groundwater sources used mainly in the AMU main campus wells. These elevated concentrations of potassium and nitrate beyond the enriched salt contents in the AMU main campus wells could pose kidney, cardiovascular, and other related health problems. This study, therefore, recommends the AMU to find other groundwater sources for drinking purpose other than the studied water-well field.
Highlights
Groundwater is a precious resource for our planet, which supports over 97% of accessible freshwater, from which the domestic and irrigation demands cover much [1]
The water quality takes the essential aspect since most of the public health problems are derived from insufficient water supply and sanitation [2]. e poor water quality has a great effect on soil and crops production, especially in saline-alkali soil areas [3]. erefore, understanding the quality of available groundwater is necessary for ensuring a reliable supply for domestic, industrial, irrigation, and other purposes. e groundwater quality depends on the physical and chemical characteristics and anthropogenic activities. e physical and chemical factors are owing to the natural factors and the human induced anthropogenic activities including agricultural and industrial conditions [4]
Groundwater is at the core of sustainable development and covers more than 70% of the water supply in Ethiopia Journal of Environmental and Public Health (IAEA, 2017). e source of water for domestic and recreational use at Arba Minch University (AMU) main campus is groundwater. ere are five deep groundwater wells utilized for the intended purpose at this campus
Summary
Groundwater is a precious resource for our planet, which supports over 97% of accessible freshwater, from which the domestic and irrigation demands cover much [1]. Erefore, understanding the quality of available groundwater is necessary for ensuring a reliable supply for domestic, industrial, irrigation, and other purposes. E groundwater quality depends on the physical and chemical characteristics and anthropogenic activities. E physical and chemical factors are owing to the natural factors (comprise of lithology, velocity, geochemical reactions, solubility of salts, and the quality of recharge water) and the human induced anthropogenic activities including agricultural and industrial conditions [4]. E saline groundwater drinking has become an increasing public health especially in the coastal countries of the world [6]. It is identified that a high level of drinking water salinity has posed increased kidney, cardiovascular, and blood pressure [6,7,8] problems. E prolonged drinking saline water may cause kidney and other health problems for the university students The users (including us) of these groundwater wells have been complaining that the water was saline. e prolonged drinking saline water may cause kidney and other health problems for the university students
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