Collected Groundwater Samples Research Articles

Studies on uranium concentration in groundwater samples and its associated health hazards to the residents of surrounding regions of Manchanabele reservoir, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Uranium occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Being a radioactive element, high uranium concentration can cause impact on human health. The health effects associated with consumption of uranium through water includes increased cancer risk and kidney toxicity. In view of this, an attempt was made in the present study to establish the level of radiological and chemical toxicity of uranium. Radiological toxicity was evaluated in terms of lifetime cancer risk and chemical toxicity through hazard quotient. For the said purpose, groundwater samples from the selected villages of the surrounding region of the Manchanabele reservoir, southwest of Bengaluru, were collected. The collected groundwater samples were analysed for Uranium mass concentration using Light emitting diode (LED) fluorimeter and is found to range from 0.88 to 581.47ppb with a GM of 20.82ppb. The result reveals that ~ 66% of the samples show concentration of uranium within the safe limit of 30ppb as set by the World Health Organisation. The radiological risk estimated in terms of lifetime cancer risk is in the range of 0.0028 × 10-3 to 1.85 × 10-3 with a GM of 0.066 × 10-3. The chemical toxicity risk measured as lifetime annual daily dose is found to range from 0.03 to 21.65μg per kg per d with a GM of 0.77μg per kg per d.

Evaluation of potential human health risks arising from nitrate and fluoride in the groundwater of Aurangabad, Bihar using GIS and chemometric analysis.

This study employed the groundwater pollution index to assess the appropriateness of groundwater for human consumption. Additionally, the hazard index was utilized to evaluate the potential non-carcinogenic risks associated with fluoride and nitrate exposure among children, women, and men in the study region. A total of 103 samples were collected from the Aurangabad district of Bihar. The analyzed samples were assessed using several physicochemical parameters. Major cations in the groundwater are Ca2+ > Mg2+ and major anions are HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > F- > PO43-. Around 17% of the collected groundwater samples surpassed the allowable BIS concentration limits for Nitrate, while approximately 11% surpassed the allowed limits for fluoride concentration. Principal component analysis was utilized for its efficacy and efficiency in the analytical procedure. Four principal components were recovered that explained 69.06% of the total variance. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) of nitrate varies between 0.03-1.74, 0.02-1.47, and 0.03-1.99 for females, males, and children, respectively. The HQ of fluoride varies between 0.04-1.59, 0.04-1.34, and 0.05-1.82 for females, males, and children, respectively. The central part of the district was at high risk according to the spatial distribution maps of the total hazard index (THI). Noncarcinogenic risks due to THI are 47%, 37%, and 28% for children, females, and males, respectively. According to the human health risk assessment, children are more prone to getting affected by polluted water than adults. The groundwater pollution index (GPI) value ranges from 0.46 to 2.27 in the study area. Seventy-five percent of the samples fell under minor pollution and only one fell under high pollution. The spatial distribution of GPI in the research area shows that the central region is highly affected, which means that this water is unsuitable for drinking purposes.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality of Taluka Bulri Shah Karim, District Tando Muhammad Khan, Sindh, Pakistan

Groundwater in Pakistan is the main drinking water source, highlighting the significance of regularlymonitoring its quality. There have been several examples of high concentrations of elements like arsenic and nitrate ingroundwater that harm human health and the environment. Our aim with this study was to assess the groundwater qualityof the sub-district Bhulri Shah Karim for drinking and irrigation purposes. We collected groundwater samples from 53shallow bore well hand pumps in October and November 2018. We determined the concentration of four cations, fiveanions and other parameters like pH, turbidity, TDS, total hardness, EC, alkalinity, total iron, and arsenic. Thegroundwater was found to be very hard, and the relative abundance of cations and anions was Na+> Ca2+> Mg2+> K+ andCl‾ > HCO3‾ > SO42‾ > NO3‾ > F‾. The concentrations of arsenic and iron varied from 0 to 0.2 mg/L and 0.02 to 3.6mg/L, respectively. We discussed groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes by calculating the waterquality index, sodium adsorption ratio, percent of sodium, permeability index, and residual sodium carbonate. Inconclusion, the groundwater of the studied area is suitable for drinking on average and irrigation. However, some watersamples were high in arsenic content, and some were highly saline and may need some prior treatment

Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index and principal component analysis in the Achnera block, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India

The qualitative and quantitative assessment of groundwater is one of the important aspects for determining the suitability of potable water. Therefore, the present study has been performed to evaluate the groundwater quality for Achhnera block in the city of Taj, Agra, India, where groundwater is an important water resource. The groundwater samples, 50 in number were collected and analyzed for major ions along with some important trace element. This study has further investigated for the applicability of groundwater quality index (GWQI), and the principal component analysis (PCA) to mark out the major geochemical solutes responsible for origin and release of geochemical solutes into the groundwater. The results confirm that, majority of the collected groundwater samples were alkaline in nature. The variation of concentration of anions in collected groundwater samples were varied in the sequence as, HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > F− while in contrast the sequence of cations in the groundwater as Na > Ca > Mg > K. The Piper diagram demonstrated the major hydro chemical facies which were found in groundwater (sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride type). The plot of Schoellar diagram reconfirmed that the major cations were Na+ and Ca2+ ions, while in contrast; major anions were bicarbonates and chloride. The results showed water quality index mostly ranged between 105 and 185, hence, the study area fell in the category of unsuitable for drinking purpose category. The PCA showed pH, Na+, Ca2+, HCO3− and fluoride with strong loading, which pointed out geogenic source of fluoride contamination. Therefore, it was inferred that the groundwater of the contaminated areas must be treated and made potable before consumption. The outcomes of the present study will be helpful for the regulatory boards and policymaker for defining the actual impact and remediation goal.

Elevated fluoride levels in groundwater in the Himalayan aquifers of upper Indus basin, India: Sources, processes and health risk

Groundwater plays an important role in socio-economics and ecosystem development in mountainous catchments of Himalaya. However, enriched geogenic pollutants in groundwater e.g. Fluoride (F−) and Arsenic (As) in many aquifer systems has deteriorated its suitability for drinking purpose. Although, F− enrichment in other Himalayan basins is well documented but its sources, fate and transport in groundwater of upper reaches of Indus Basin, western Himalaya is still unknown. In the present study, we collected groundwater samples (n = 334) across Upper Indus Basin, (UIB) India to assess the distribution, hydrogeological and geochemical processes controlling the origin, fate and transport of F− in the complex aquifer system. The groundwater is circum-neutral to alkaline with HCO3− -Na+, HCO3−- Ca2+- Na+ and HCO3−- Ca2+- Mg2+ type suggesting the dominance of silicate and carbonate weathering. The results showed that F− enriched groundwater is widespread in the basin with 70% samples having F− above the maximum permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L. High F− groundwater showed distinct hydrochemical evolution attributed to higher pH, HCO3−, Na+, low Ca2+ with Na+/Ca2+ ratio >1 exhibiting F− in groundwater is geogenic, facilitated by the release of Na+ and HCO ions via silicate and carbonate dissolution. F− release in groundwater is also assisted by the incessant dissolution of fluorinated minerals (fluoride) with active exchange between Na+ and Ca+. High HCO3− also facilitates exchange of hydroxides (OH−) and F− on sediment surfaces that contributes to F− enrichment in groundwater through desorption. Geochemical modelling indicated that the precipitation of calcite, dolomite and aragonite is conducive for F− release. F− risk assessment exhibited that people living in UIB are highly vulnerable to the potential risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis. Therefore, it is highly substantial to provide an alternative drinking water source or treat the contaminated water before consumption to mitigate human health hazards.

Evaluation of groundwater quality by adopting a multivariate statistical approach and indexing of water quality in Sagar Island, West Bengal, India.

In the vicinity of the coast, predominantly groundwater is the sole reliable resource for potable purposes as the surface water sources are highly saline and unfit for human consumption. However, the groundwater in Sagar Island is highly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. The majority of drinking water comes from government-owned hand pump-equipped tube wells. But during the summer season, many of these tube wells yield significantly less water. Hence, in the current scenario, water quality assessment has become important to the quantity available. Total of 31 samples of deep tube wells (groundwater) are collected at variegated locations during pre-monsoon season throughout Sagar, and then, the physical and chemical quality parameters of these water samples are analysed. Furthermore, a multivariate statistical technique is executed with the aid of the SPSS program. The hydro-chemical parameters that are taken into account for the quality analysis are pH, salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, aluminium, arsenic, bi-carbonate, cadmium, iron, chloride, copper, chromium, cobalt, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium, sulphate, zinc, and sodium. Then, the analysed data evaluates the water quality index (WQI). Five components are identified through the principal component analysis (PCA) technique, and 82.642% total variance is found. The outcomes of the quality assessment study illustrate that about 54.84% of collected samples come in the "excellent" water quality class when calculated by the "weighted arithmetic WQI method," and 90.32% of collected groundwater samples come in the "good" water quality class when computed using the "modified weighted arithmetic WQI method." This study helps for the interpretation of WQI to assess groundwater quality.

Spatial distribution of radon concentration and risk evaluation through consumption of groundwater in the District of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Radon (222Rn) is naturally readily water-soluble, posing a cancer risk to the exposed community. Human exposure in the community may occur via 222Rn intake in drinking water. Groundwater is used for drinking and other domestic purposes in the region. Higher concentrations of 222Rn in groundwater have been reported near Kotli district, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir. This investigation aimed to measure 222Rn concentrations in groundwater and evaluate the associated risk assessment for children and adults in the Kotli district. 222Rn concentrations were measured in randomly collected groundwater samples of Kotli (n = 25) and Sehnsa (n = 15) towns in the Kotli district using the portable Radon Detector (RAD7, Durridge Company, United States of America). Among the studied areas, the Sehnsa showed a higher average 222Rn concentration (7.6 ± 0.2 Bq/L) in groundwater compared to Kotli (6.0 ± 1.9 Bq/L). The average concentrations of 222Rn were found within the recommended limit (11.1 Bq/L) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), except for 10% of sampling sites. 222Rn concentrations were used for the calculation of total effective dose for ingestion and inhalation pathways (EwTotal) values for infants (24.5 ± 7.5 and 30.7 ± 0.9 μSv/a), children (18.1 ± 5.5 and 23.5 ± 0.7 μSv/a), and adults (18.1 ± 5.5 and 22.7 ± 0.3 μSv/a) in the Kotli and Sehnsa, respectively. This study noted that EwTotal and estimated lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values were found within the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Commission (EU) acceptable limits (<100 μ Sv/a and 0.1 × 10−3).

The Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Groundwater Quality in Some Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater quality in some coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study utilized primary data obtained from thirty boreholes in the area. The primary data consist of water quality parameters obtained from laboratory analysis of collected groundwater samples in the study area. Spatial distribution of groundwater constituents was carried out using ArcGIS 10.4 software. The result indicated that the groundwater in the coastal areas id acidic (pH ranges from 3.9 to 6.4); chloride ranges from 2.0mg/l to 52.0mg/l; total dissolved solids ranges from 4.8mg/l to 128.2mg/l; nitrate ranges from &lt;0.01mg/l to 10.0mg/l; and turbidity ranges from 1.0 NTU to 3.11 NTU. The result also indicates that the groundwater is saline (salinity level range from 4.32mg/l to 85.8mg/l); turbidity at some locations also exceeds permissible standards. The study revealed that the quality of groundwater in the coastal areas is poor and not suitable for human consumption acidic and saline. Therefore, the groundwater in the coastal areas should be treated for acidity and salinity before domestic use.

Evaluating groundwater quality and salinity dynamics in the Western-west area of El Minya Governorate, Egypt, based on geochemical modelling and multivariate analysis

In the Western-west area of El Minya Governorate, Egypt, the present study investigates the water quality and salinity of 33 groundwater samples. The primary aim is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of water purity and gain insights into salinity dynamics. The investigation involves a combination of geochemical analysis and multivariate statistics to reveal significant findings that contribute to our understanding of groundwater characteristics in the region. The collected groundwater samples are analyzed to assess various properties, including pH levels, mineral content, hardness, and salinity. The prevalence of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) ions emerges as a noteworthy aspect, implying their derivation from deeper aquifers through mechanisms like upward seepage or reverse ion exchange. The observation is validated through Durov's plot analysis. Concerning the suitability of the water for consumption, the study raises concerns. Apart from magnesium (Mg) ions, all other parameters exceed the acceptable drinking water limits defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating potential health implications related to water quality in the region. Furthermore, outcomes from the saturation index reveal an oversaturation of groundwater with evaporites and carbonates, with halite and sylvite minerals standing as exceptions to this trend. Negative chloroalkaline ratios offer insights into the origins of excessive Na and Cl ions in 72% of the samples, pointing towards processes such as rainy recharging and reverse ion exchange as contributors. Gibbs' chart analysis highlights evaporite dissolution as the predominant process influencing water composition. The study also utilizes principal component analysis, identifying the dissolution of halite as the primary source of Na, K, Cl, and SO4 ions, while the presence of calcium (Ca) and bicarbonate (HCO3) ions originates from the dissolution of carbonate minerals, thereby influencing water hardness and salinity levels. Considering the findings, we recommend the dilution of groundwater with fresh water, assuming the absence of additional contaminants. This step is essential for enhancing water safety for drinking purposes. This research not only advances our understanding of water quality and salinity dynamics in the region but also underscores the imperative for implementing sustainable water resource management strategies. Furthermore, we propose that future investigations delve into the broader environmental ramifications of these discoveries, thus contributing to a more holistic comprehension of the complexities associated with groundwater quality and salinity.

Groundwater trace element changes were probably induced by the ML3.3 earthquake in Chaoyang district, Beijing

Geochemical composition changes in groundwater related to earthquakes have been documented in previous studies, and most such studies focused on the changes in major ions, hydrogen, oxygen isotopes, and geochemical gases. Changes in trace elements were suggested to be more sensitive to small earthquakes than the commonly used chemical constituents such as major ions, yet they received less attention. Beijing is located in the Zhangjiakou-Bohai seismic belt and experiences frequent occurrences of small earthquakes. In this paper, we collected groundwater samples from a hot spring in Yanqing district of Beijing weekly from August 2021 to August 2022. Each water sample contained 41 trace chemical compositions. During the sampling, an earthquake with a magnitude of ML3.3 occurred in the Chaoyang district of Beijing on 3 February 2022, so these trace elements changes were systematically monitored before and after the earthquake: Li, Sc, Ti, and Pb elements had upward changes before the earthquake, while Cu, Nb, Th, Zn, Tl, and U elements had downward changes before the earthquake. Eu (rare earth elements) had upward changes after the earthquake. At the same time, the earthquake caused no significant changes in the groundwater level in the seismic monitoring well near the Songshan spring. Such responses indicate that trace elements are likely to be more sensitive to crustal strain than groundwater level. We considered that the earthquake-induced rock cracks before or after the earthquake caused enhancing water-rock interaction and led to the migration of trace elements between the water column and rocks, which is the mechanism to explain the trace elemental changes. This study probably provides a comprehensive assessment of the sensitivity of trace element constituents to the earthquake. Furthermore, we suggest that more long-term continuous monitoring and research of trace elements in Beijing and Zhangjiakou-Bohai Fault Zone should be considered to explore the response mechanism of groundwater geochemistry to earthquakes in the future.

Assessment of Thiruvarur region groundwater samples using Physicochemical parameters

Groundwater is one of the most important sources of water for drinking and irrigation purpose in the world. So water quality analysis is important one. Hence we choose to determine physicochemical parameter of Thiruvarur region groundwater. In this study, 10 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed various physicochemical parameters such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+, pH, TDS, etc., and compare with BIS limit value for determine the drinking water quality. From the research Results the groundwater sample numbers S3, S5, S6, S7 and S8 was slightly alkaline in nature, because these region groundwater has slightly excess of TDS and Total Alkalinity (TA) compare than BIS limit. However, all the water samples has low hardness, SO4-, NO3-, etc., Hence, we are concluded the collected groundwater samples is suitable for drinking and irrigation purpose.

Evaluation of Water Quality Index (WQI) in and around Dhaka City Using Groundwater Quality Parameters

Groundwater quality deterioration due to anthropogenic natural activities and its immense utilization in various sectors is considered a great concern. The aim of this study is to determine the groundwater quality parameters at various sources in and around Dhaka city and compare them with Bangladesh drinking water standards. In this study, six groundwater quality parameters (pH, DO, COD, TS, TDS, and arsenic) and ten groundwater samples are analyzed to determine the water quality. The collected samples have maximum and minimum pH values of 6.9 and 6.4, respectively. Maximum and minimum DO values are 0.3 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. The arsenic concentration is 0 mg/L for all collected groundwater samples. The maximum and minimum COD values are 0.3 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. The maximum and minimum TS values are 4 and 1 mg/L, respectively. The obtained values are then compared with the Bangladesh drinking water quality standards. Finally, the water quality index (WQI) values are calculated to determine the suitable uses of groundwater in and around Dhaka city. Based on WQI values, the groundwater quality is excellent in the study area.

Virus impacted community adaptation in oligotrophic groundwater environment revealed by Hi-C coupled metagenomic and viromic study

Viruses play a crucial role in microbial mortality, diversity and biogeochemical cycles. Groundwater is the largest global freshwater and one of the most oligotrophic aquatic systems on Earth, but how microbial and viral communities are shaped in this special habitat is largely unexplored. In this study, we collected groundwater samples from 23 to 60 m aquifers at Yinchuan Plain, China. In total, 1920 non-reductant viral contigs were retrieved from metagenomes and viromes constructed by Illumina and Nanopore hybrid sequencing. Only 3% of them could be clustered with known viruses, most of which were Caudoviricetes. Coupling 1.2 Tb Hi-C sequencing with CRISPR matching and homology search, we connected 469 viruses with their hosts while some viral clusters presented a broad-host-range trait. Meanwhile, a large proportion of biosynthesis related auxiliary metabolism genes were identified. Those characteristics might benefit viruses for a better survival in this special oligotrophic environment. Additionally, the groundwater virome showed genomic features distinct from those of the open ocean and wastewater treatment facilities in GC distribution and unannotated gene compositions. This paper expands the current knowledge of the global viromic records and serves as a foundation for a more thorough understanding of viruses in groundwater.

Prediction of Groundwater Quality Index Using Classification Techniques in Arid Environments

Assessing water quality is crucial for improving global water resource management, particularly in arid regions. This study aims to assess and monitor the status of groundwater quality based on hydrochemical parameters and by using artificial intelligence (AI) approaches. The irrigation water quality index (IWQI) is predicted by using support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) classifiers in Matlab’s classification learner toolbox. The classifiers are fed with the following hydrochemical input parameters: sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate level (HCO3), chloride concentration (Cl), and sodium concentration (Na). The proposed methods were used to assess the quality of groundwater extracted from the desertic region of Adrar in Algeria. The collected groundwater samples showed that 9.64% of samples were of very good quality, 12.05% were of good quality, 21.08% were satisfactory, and 57.23% were considered unsuitable for irrigation. The IWQI prediction accuracies of the classifiers with the standardized, normalized, and raw data were 100%, 100%, and 90%, respectively. The cubic SVM with the normalized data develops the highest prediction accuracy for training and testing samples (94.2% and 100%, respectively). The findings of this work showed that the multiple regression model and machine learning could effectively assess water quality in desert zones for sustainable water management.

Distribution, pollution levels, and health risk assessment of heavy metals in groundwater in the main pepper production area of China

Abstract Heavy metal pollution of groundwater can have severe potential impacts on human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution, pollution, and health risk of heavy metals in groundwater in the main pepper production area of China. A total of 67 groundwater samples were collected, and the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) elements were analyzed. The results indicated that the average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn in groundwater are lower than the limits of the Standard for Groundwater Quality of China (Class III). However, the maximum concentrations of Mn, Cd, and Ni surpass the Standard for Groundwater Quality of China. The spatial distribution patterns of the concentrations and pollution levels of the six heavy metals in groundwater to be substantially heterogeneous. Furthermore, the pollution level of heavy metals in groundwater decrease in the following order: Mn &gt; Cd &gt; Ni &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Cu, and the collected groundwater samples are found to be slightly polluted by heavy metals. Overall, the non-carcinogenic risk of the investigated metals, instigated primarily by oral ingestion of groundwater, are found to be higher than the acceptable range for children, and Cd poses the most significant health risk among the investigated metals.

Study of the quality index of groundwater (GWQI) and its use for irrigation purposes using the techniques of the geographic information system (GIS) of the plain Nekor-Ghiss (Morocco)

Groundwater is an indispensable source of water for drinking water supply, agriculture and industry worldwide. In arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater has seriously deteriorated in recent decades due to environmental changes, anthropogenic activities and marine intrusion. A total of 79 groundwater samples from the Nekor-Ghiss plain were sampled for major chemical ion analysis. These analyzes showed that the water samples were highly mineralized (&amp;gt;1,500 mg/L), with hardness (83.5% of the samples were very hard) and high concentrations of chemical elements, such as Cl−, Mg2+, Na+ and SO42-. To assess the quality of water in the study area for irrigation and consumption purposes, we used the quality index (GWQI) as well as a multi-criteria analysis based on “geographic information system” by assigning a weight to the different water quality parameters. Also, Piper and Durov diagram was investigated. The results of the study were focused on the water quality parameters of the collected groundwater samples, such as the sodium adsorption rate (SAR), the percentage of soluble sodium (Na%), the Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) and Permeability Index (PI) Majority of water samples in the study area are suitable to be used for irrigation. Magnesium Risk (MH) and Kelley’s Ratio Kelly ratio. 51.9% unsuitable samples to 59.49% good samples for irrigation purposes. Monitoring the quality and quantity of groundwater is crucial for the effective and sustainable management of this valuable resource. According to the results obtained, it appears that 92% of all the samples are located in the domain of frequent recharge waters of limestone and dolomitic aquifers, namely, Ca-Mg-HCO3. About 8% of the samples measured have a composition of the Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3 type.

Natural Radioactivity in Drinking Water in the Surroundings of a Metamorphic Outcrop in Hungary: The Hydrogeological Answer to Practical Problems

Groundwater quality constantly evolves through rock–water interactions, which can enrich groundwater with undesirable elements such as naturally occurring radionuclides. The aim of this study was to understand the cause of gross alpha activity exceeding the screening value of 0.1 Bq L−1 measured in groundwater-derived drinking water in the vicinity of a metamorphic outcrop in Hungary. As groundwater quality is strongly dependent on the properties of groundwater flow systems, environmental tracers (δ2H and δ18O composition, 226Ra, 222Rn, total U activity concentration, and 234U/238U ratio) and hydraulic evaluation were applied to understand groundwater dynamics. The collected groundwater samples had total U activities up to 540 mBq L−1, which translates into an indicative dose below the drinking water parametric value. However, in the presence of dissolved uranium, the δ2H (−52.6–(−83.4)) and δ18O (−7.17–(−11.96)) values led to the conclusion that local flow systems were sampled that are known to be most vulnerable to any changes in their recharge area. The results confirm that the groundwater flow system approach involving environmental tracers and hydraulic evaluation is a powerful tool for identifying the cause of natural radioactivity in groundwater-derived drinking water.

Integration of Geochemical Modeling, Multivariate Analysis, and Irrigation Indices for Assessing Groundwater Quality in the Al-Jawf Basin, Yemen

Water quality monitoring is crucial in managing water resources and ensuring their safety for human use and environmental health. In the Al-Jawf Basin, we conducted a study on the Quaternary aquifer, where various techniques were utilized to evaluate, simulate, and predict the groundwater quality (GWQ) for irrigation. These techniques include water quality indices (IWQIs), geochemical modeling, multivariate statistical analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). Physicochemical analysis was conducted on the collected groundwater samples to determine their composition. The results showed that the order of abundance of ions was Ca2+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; Na+ &gt; K+ and SO42− &gt; Cl− &gt; HCO3− &gt; NO3−. The assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation based on indices such as Irrigation water quality index (IWQI), sodium adsorption ratio(SAR), sodium percent (Na%), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), potential salinity (PS), and residual sodium carbonate RSC, which revealed moderate-to-severe restrictions in some samples. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model was then used to predict the IWQIs with high accuracy during both the training and testing phases. Overall, these findings provide valuable information for decision-makers in water quality management and can aid in the sustainable development of water resources.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in and around the Solid Waste Dump Site using Multivariate Plot Analysis

&lt;p&gt;Groundwater sources play an important role in meeting the day today needs of the present generation. Frequent monitoring of the ground water source plays an important part. The aim of this study is to analyze the quality of the ground water in and around the solid waste dumpsite near Sathyamangalam town in Erode district and to identify the variation in concentration with respect to time. Groundwater samples were collected from twenty-one locations and analyzed for pH, Electrical conductivity, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Total Dissolved solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Chlorides, Sodium, Potassium, Nitrates and Sulphates. The collected groundwater samples were analysed using “Weighted Arithmetic Index” and the water quality was indicated using WQI - a number used to identify the water quality easily by the general public. From the results obtained, it is inferred that Water Quality Index changes with respect to pre-monsoon and post monsoon seasons and different time periods for the same location. The changes in water quality are not fully influenced by the open dump site and it may be due to weathering of rocks, use of fertilizers in agricultural lands. Majority of the samples are of poor quality with respect to drinking water quality index. Gibb’s plot, Wilcox diagram and United States Salinity Laboratory diagram are used to assess the suitability of groundwater samples for irrigation purpose. Most of the samples are good for agricultural use. Hence frequent and continuous monitoring of the groundwater quality is necessary to identify its suitability for drinking and agricultural purpose.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

Characteristics of groundwater microbial communities and the correlation with the environmental factors in a decommissioned acid in-situ uranium mine.

Microorganisms play an important role in the bioremediation process for the decommissioned acid in-situ leaching uranium mine. It is crucial to understand the original microbial community characteristics before the in-situ bioremediation. However, there are limited studies on the groundwater microbial characteristics in the decommissioned acid in-situ uranium mine. To this end, we collected groundwater samples, including the groundwater that originally residual in the borehole (RW) and the aquifer water (AW), from a decommissioned acid in-situ uranium mine in the southern margin of Ili Basin in Xinjiang, China. The occurrence characteristics of the groundwater microbial communities and their correlation with environmental factors were systematically studied based on the high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing data and geochemical data. Results found that the AW samples had higher alpha- and beta- diversity than the RW samples. The relative abundance of Sporosarcina, Sulfobacillus, Pedobacter and Pseudomonas were significantly different in the AW and RW samples, which had significant correlation with pH, metals, and sulfate, etc. A series of reducing microorganisms were discovered, such as sulfate reduction (e.g., Desulfosporosinus) and metal reduction (e.g., Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, and Rhodanobacter), which have the potential to attenuate sulfate and uranium in groundwater. In addition, we found that pH and redox potential (Eh) were the dominant environmental factors affecting the microbial composition. This study extends our knowledge of microbial community structure changes in the decommissioned acid in-situ uranium mine and has positive implications for assessing the potential of natural attenuation and bioremediation strategies.