Majority Of Groundwater Samples Research Articles

Human health risk and water quality assessment due to fluoride and nitrate around Cauvery River basin, southern India.

Good quality water for human consumption, irrigation, and industrial use is very important. Today, around the world, water is contaminated by natural processes and human activities. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation, identifythe source of fluoride and nitrate contamination, and assess thehuman health risks around the Cauvery River basin in southern India. A total of 30 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for hydrochemical parameters, including EC, TDS, pH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, Cl, SO4, NO3, and F-. The majority of groundwater samples in the study area are used for drinking and irrigation. The pH of groundwater in the study area was observed to be dominantly alkaline. The levels of TDS, Ca, Na, K, F, and TH exceeded the permissible limits recommended by BIS and WHO. Fluoride and nitrate levels in groundwater exceeded the permissible limits for drinking purposes in 43% and 50% of the samples, respectively. The excessive concentration of fluoride and nitrate in groundwater could pose serious human health problems. Fluoride and nitrate concentrations in groundwater vary between 0.1 and 2mg/l and 12 and 95mg/l, respectively. Based on the computation of the drinking water quality index, about 73% of groundwater samples were classified asexcellent to good. Health risk was assessed for infants, children, and adults using non-carcinogenic risk indices such as hazard quotients (HQ), hazard indexes (HI), total hazard indices (THI), and carcinogenic risk indices (CR). Infants, children, and adults have different total hazards indexes ranging from 1.508 to 5.733, 1.579 to 6.003, and 0.011 to 0.046, respectively. Health risk assessment results indicatedthat the hazard index and hazard quotient were above the recommended limit of > 1 in most of the samples for infants and children. Non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risks were more likely to affect infants and children rather than adults through ingestion of contaminated water.

Quality assessment using water quality indicators with geospatial analysis of groundwater quality El-Oued region, Northern Sahara, Algeria

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to assess groundwater quality in two layers (Albian and complex terminal) intended for irrigation, to identify their original chemical composition and overall risk by different attack techniques in the province of El-Oued. Eleven physico-chemical parameters were measured at 16 locations. Emphasis was placed on the selection of irrigation water quality index (IWQI) inputs through the application of multivariate statistical analysis, the estimation of various classical irrigation indices, and the integration of geographic information systems. The results of the IWQI, sodium adsorption ratio, Kelly index, permeability index, residual sodium carbonate and magnesium hazard showed that the majority of groundwater samples were classified for irrigation purposes in the following categories: severely restricted (100%), low sodium and excellent (100%), good (93.75%), marginally safe (100%), good (100%) and suitable (81.25%), respectively. In addition, the majority of selected samples were classified as “good to eligible for irrigation” based on %Na as shown in the distribution map. Whereas the principal component analysis results show that the four factors together explain 72.74% of the total variance according to the Kaiser rule. Cluster analysis divides the parameters into three groups. In summary, the combination of the geographic system and irrigation quality indices is useful for identifying irrigation zones.

Distribution characteristics, source identification and health risk assessment of trace metals in the coastal groundwater of Taizhou City, China

This study was carried out to evaluate and analyze the fluctuations in groundwater for certain trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, Cd, Cr, Pb, As, and Se) in Taizhou City over three years (2020–2022), evaluate the potential human health risks due to the consumption of groundwater. To quantify the spatiotemporal changes in groundwater trace metals, the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) were utilized. Furthermore, multivariate statistical methods were utilized to distinguish the sources of trace elements. Deterministic health risk assessment and Monte Carlo health risk simulation methods were employed to evaluate human health risks associated with exposure to trace metals. The results indicate that areas with higher pollution are in the south-central region, with low HPI increasing from 50% to 75% and low HEI from 68.75% to 81.25%, reflecting improved water quality. Correlation matrix analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) pinpointed anthropogenic sources as major trace metal contributors. Cr and As concentrations were associated with farming activities, Cd and Pb concentrations showed links to local industries such as e-waste recycling and shipbuilding. Furthermore, Cu levels in groundwater was influenced by the combined effects of industry, agriculture, and urban sewage discharge. Based on the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) calculations, the majority of groundwater samples did not exceed the reference values, indicating acceptable noncarcinogenic risks for both adults and children. However, the analysis of carcinogenic risk (CR) and uncertainty revealed an overall decreasing trend in carcinogenic risk, with Cr and Cd possessing the highest potential for causing carcinogenic risks. The sensitivities were 46.3%, 53.3%, and 70.3% for Cr, and 18.8%, 27.6%, and 9.3% for Cd.

Groundwater contamination apportionment in Beida-Bordj rural territory, northeast Algeria, using the nitrate pollution index (NPI) and groundwater pollution index (GPI)

Most of the time, too much use of artificial fertilizers in rural areas, especially nitrogen fertilizers used to make crops grow faster, causes nitrate levels in groundwater to rise. In the Beida-Bordj area in northeast Algeria, groundwater is the main source of water for agriculture and drinking. Because of this, the quality of groundwater is very important. Therefore, nitrogen pollution in groundwater, which is one of the most important environmental problems, needs to be looked into. Therefore, evaluating groundwater contamination to protect human health was the primary focus of this investigation. As a result, 111 samples were taken in May 2022 from wells in different parts of the study area for physical and chemical research. Therefore, the nitrogen pollution index (NPI) and the groundwater pollution index (GPI) have been used to measure how clean groundwater is. The results show that the groundwater in the area that was tested is alkaline. Based on their average values, the abundance of cations and anions is as follows: Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+; and SO42− > Cl− > HCO3− > NO3−, in that order. The estimated NPIs ranged from – 1 to 4.5, with 0.92 being the average. Overall, the NPI data showed that only 25% of groundwater samples were clean, and the other 75% were dirty. The GPI readings ranged from 6.3 to 0.4, with an average of 1.2. This means that only 54% of the samples of groundwater from the study area were safe to drink. According to analyses of water quality parameters like SAR, SSP, RSC, PI, MH, and KR, the majority of groundwater samples from the research region are suitable for irrigation, because they fall into the "good" or "suitable" quality classes. This study's findings offer some intriguing suggestions for lowering pollution levels and bolstering groundwater management strategies for the future.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Geospatial Mapping for Assessing Groundwater Quality in West El Minia District, Egypt

The primary goal of this study is to analyze the hydrogeochemical properties and assess the groundwater quality for drinking, domestic, and irrigation purposes in West El Minia, Egypt. Major components were determined in 49 groundwater samples to evaluate water quality in the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), geostatistics, and spatial mapping were used to identify the chemical components and processes that influence groundwater quality and highlight areas of health risks. According to the TDS values, about 22% of the groundwater samples are suitable for drinking. Due to the elevated values of hardness in the examined water, none of the water samples are suitable for use in a household. The majority of groundwater samples are acceptable for irrigation based on the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelley ratio (KR), magnesium hazard (MH), and permeability index, and some can be adequately treated. The study indicated that different groundwater characteristics (such as TDS, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl−, and SO42−) do not comply with WHO requirements in some regions, which may pose a threat to human health.

Hydrogeochemical constraints on uranium contamination of groundwater for drinking water supplies and associated health risks

The groundwater quality of Punjab, India is of huge concern owing to the presence of various toxic contaminants that includes uranium and other trace elements. The focus of this study is to identify the hydrogeochemical processes responsible for uranium mobilization in groundwater and evaluation of groundwater quality in uranium contaminated zones for drinking, irrigation use along with associated health risks. The study was conducted using the water quality data obtained from 302 sampling locations covering the entire state of Punjab reported by Central Ground Water Board between 2019 and 2020. It was observed that around 50% of the samples were exceeding the drinking water acceptable limits for total alkalinity, magnesium, pH, and Total Dissolved Solids. Around 25% of the samples were above drinking water acceptable limit for uranium in groundwater. A comprehensive multiplicative water quality index (MED-WQI) well represented the consolidated perspective of all individual water quality parameters wherein 40 sampling locations in districts viz. Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Muktsar and Sangrur fall under heavily-polluted water quality class due to high levels of uranium, alkalinity, and hardness. The Piper plots and Gibbs diagram depicted that the majority of groundwater samples were characterized as Na+–HCO3−, Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3− systems driven by rock-water interactions. Speciation analysis indicates that the dominant uranium species in groundwater of U-affected regions was primarily associated with calcium and alkalinity and exist in the form of CaUO2(CO3)32−, Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq), UO2(CO3)34−, and UO2(OH)3−. Various irrigation indices depict that the groundwater in majority of the state, barring few districts in Malwa region, was suitable for irrigation. Further, a non-carcinogenic health risk assessment model showed association of high health risk with heavily-polluted water quality class. The results of this study would aid regulatory authorities in designing remedial strategies and frame policy actions toward groundwater quality improvement in the uranium-affected regions of Punjab.

Groundwater quality in Zagora southeast of Morocco by using physicochemical analysis and geospatial techniques.

Groundwater in Morocco is restricted because of the semiarid to arid climatic conditions; it is under threat from organic and inorganic pollution. Furthermore, it is considered the only source of potable water as well as having different usages, making its quantitative and qualitative protection an urgent priority. The present study focused mainly on the anthropogenic impact on the natural resources and groundwater quality around Zagora city. Fifteen samples were collected from wells during rainy and dry seasons in 2years 2020-2021 and the analysis of the groundwater quality of studied stations. The suitability of the aquifer Fezouata was investigated using drinking and irrigation water quality indices. The results showed that sulfate and chloride are the dominant anions in the groundwater samples. While the mean abundance of major cations is Na + > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, the sodium ion is dominant and K + is the least abundant. The physicochemical parameters show that conductivity, nitrate, and sulfate exceed the limit fixed by WHO.Hydrogeochemical plots indicate that 93% of samples belong to Na-Cl facies and only 7% are mixt Cl-Mg-Ca in 2021, the results are similar except for two samples which are 13% belong Cl-Mg-Ca.The Water Quality Index suggests that 28.55% are good quality water, 23.90-47.55% are poor and very poor quality water, respectively, and 40.24% are unsuitable in 2020. Furthermore, the WQI of the 2021 campaign showed that only 17.48% were considered good quality water and 38.94% (43.58%) were poor or very poor quality water, respectively. However, 33.21% are unsuitable. Based on irrigation indices, the majority of groundwater samples can be used for agricultural purposes, notably those of the upstream part of the study area.

Characterization of groundwater aquifers using hydrogeophysical and hydrogeochemical methods in the eastern Nile River area, Khartoum State, Sudan

The primary goals of this research are to detect the spatial variation of the hydrogeological characteristics and evaluate the groundwater quality in the eastern Nile River, Khartoum state, Sudan, using geophysical and hydrochemical methods. Thirteen Vertical electrical soundings (VES), using Schlumberger configuration, were measured along three profiles to characterize the groundwater aquifer. VES findings denoted that the study area comprises two hydraulically connected aquifers. The upper aquifer of sand has an average thickness of 50 m, and the lower aquifer is composed of sandstone of a thickness of up to 300 m. The results of VES inversion were further used to measure aquifer characteristics, including transverse resistance, longitudinal conductance, hydraulic conductivity, and transmissivity. The detected average values of these parameters were 6690 Ωm2, 1.4 Ω−1, 264 m2/d and 4 m/day, respectively. In addition, regression analysis was performed to suggest local relationships for estimating aquifer characteristics within the study area. On the other hand, total longitudinal conductance was used to predict the protective strength of the hydrogeological columns, ranging from 1.7 to 5.8 Ω−1; as a result, the protective capacity of the aquifer ranged from good to very good, suggesting potable water quality. This result was subsequently confirmed by the groundwater quality index (GWQI) model. Eleven physiochemical parameters analyzed for nine boreholes were used in GWQI estimation to assess groundwater quality in the study area. The primary analysis of the hydrochemical parameters indicated that almost all parameters are below permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The computed GWQI varies between 34.8 and 148, and the majority of groundwater samples, precisely 55.5%, are good water types, while 22.2% of the samples are in an excellent quality state. This research concluded that the groundwater aquifer in the study area is ideal for groundwater exploitation. However, applying a detailed geophysical and hydrochemical survey is recommended to reduce the uncertainty of the resulting models.

Arsenic enrichment in the north Gangetic Plains of Laksar, Uttarakhand, India

This study reports new data on arsenic contamination in groundwater in Laksar, a pristine and semi-rural region of India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Based on a systematic investigation of hydrogeochemical parameters influencing arsenic mobilisation, the most plausible mechanism of arsenic release into groundwater has been proposed. The groundwater in the research area is mostly homogeneous, with the Ca–Mg–HCO3 facies accounting for 87.5 percent of groundwater samples. The combined effect of silicate weathering, and the dissolution of carbonate minerals predominantly influence Laksar groundwater composition, as evident from bivariate plots of Mg/Na vs. Ca/Na and HCO3−/Na vs. Ca/Na. The statistical analysis (PCA and correlation analysis) performed on the geochemical data indicates that natural processes such as carbonate weathering, reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn minerals together with anthropogenic activities such as the utilization of fertilizers in agricultural fields, human and animal waste disposal, exert control on the major ion chemistry, and As enrichment in groundwater. The study area has extremely high arsenic concentrations, ranging from 0.60 to 91.21 μg/L (mean: 15.63 μg/L), with majority of groundwater samples (>50%) having arsenic contents exceeding the WHO permitted limit (10 μg/L). Analysis of the Eh-pH diagram shows that As(III) species (H3AsO3) accounts for 79% of samples, whereas As (V) species (HAsO4−) accounts for the remaining. The observed arsenic enrichment in groundwater can be attributed to As desorption from iron oxide/hydroxide minerals via reductive dissolution mechanism under reducing groundwater conditions, which is supported by negative Eh values and high levels of Fe and comparatively low levels of sulphate and nitrate.

Understanding urban groundwater pollution in the Upper Gangetic Alluvial Plains of northern India with multiple industries and their impact on drinking water quality and associated health risks

Udham Singh Nagar district is having various industries like paint, textile, sugar, petrochemical, paper and automobile which produces different kind of contaminants including heavy metals in the environment and pollute groundwater. Therefore, in the present study, fifty groundwater samples were collected from this region and analyzed for 7 physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate, nitrate), 4 metals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) along with 6 heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr). Heavy metal pollution level in the groundwater was assessed by calculating and analysing heavy metal pollution indices (heavy metal pollution indices -HPI, m-HPI; heavy metal evaluation index- HEI) and risk assessment parameters (hazard quotient - HQ and hazard index - HI). Multivariate statistical analysis was also done to identify the sources of heavy metals and categorize groundwater quality. Concentration of Fe, Mn and Cr in 14%, 16% and 18% water samples exceeded the desirable limit. Piper diagram suggested that majority of groundwater samples were Ca–Mg–HCO3 type. HPI calculation indicated that no groundwater sample fall under high category of pollution. HEI and m-HPI indicated that 90% and 82% groundwater samples were found suitable for potable purpose respectively while on the basis of m-HPI, 3 groundwater samples were found under the unacceptable category. Non-carcinogenic hazards were observed which might be due to high chromium content. According to principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), geogenic, anthropogenic and industrial activities were responsible for groundwater pollution. The values of HQ for Cr for both adult (13 samples) and younger people (9 sampling sits) surpass the unity. HI values indicated that groundwater samples from 14 sites were not suitable for drinking purpose. This is the first attempt of analyzing heavy metal pollution and health risk in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand.

Shallow Groundwater Quality and Human Health Risk Assessment in Holte, a Town in Southern Ethiopia

Groundwater quality and human health risk assessment are critical for the long-term usage of household water supplies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate groundwater quality and human health risk in Holte, a town in the Derashe Special Woreda in southern Ethiopia. Water samples from seven shallow groundwater wells were taken and examined for hydrogeochemical properties. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was developed to assess the suitabilityof groundwater for drinking. Groundwater hydrochemistry types and evolutionary processes were investigated. The results suggested that the typical pH of groundwater samples had an average pH of 7.99. The values of electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate (HCO3) and total dissolved solid (TDS) in all samples were above the recommended upper limit of World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. Based on the hydrochemical findings, the orders of cationic abundance and anionic abundance in the groundwater were Ca²⁺ < Mg²⁺ < K⁺ < Na⁺ and F⁻ < SO₄²⁻ < Cl⁻< HCO₃⁻, respectively. According to the Piper Tri-linear Diagram, the majority of groundwater samples were found to have Mixed Ca-Na-HCO3. The Gibbs fields results showed that evaporation dominated groundwater quality, whereas chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals dominated the remaining samples. The calculated WQI result showed that 57.1% (4 handpumps) of groundwater samples from the town had acceptable water quality, but 42.9% (3 handpumps) had poor water quality. The finding of this study suggests that groundwater quality parameters should be tested and monitored on handpumps at sample locations 1, 2, and 3 in the town to minimize human health risks and ensure long-term socioeconomic development.

Geomatics-Based Modeling and Hydrochemical Analysis for Groundwater Quality Mapping in the Egyptian Western Desert: A Case Study of El-Dakhla Oasis

Groundwater is the single source of water in El-Dakhla Oasis, western desert, Egypt. The main objective of this study is an assessment of groundwater in the area for agriculture and drinking compared to Egyptian and World Health Organization criteria. Most the contamination of water in the study area comes from human and agricultural activities. Thirty soil profiles were studied in the area and we assessed soil quality. Seventy-four samples were taken from the area’s groundwater wells to assess the chemical characteristics of the groundwater. Moreover, the contamination of groundwater by farming and anthropogenic activities was assessed using a land use/land cover (LULC) map. Nine standard water criteria were determined to assess groundwater quality for agriculture. Furthermore, the resulting risk to human health and agricultural crops has been addressed. Therefore, the drinking quality of groundwater samples is graded as low as the hydrochemical study showed high TH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, and Fe2+ contents of 40.5%, 2.7%, 1.4%, 3.8%, 1.6%, 86.5%, and 100%, respectively. Human health is risked by drinking this water, which negatively affects hair, skin, and eyes, with greatest exposure to enteric pathogens. Using these criteria, the majority of groundwater samples cause harmful effects on soil types and are toxic to sensitive crops (vegetable crops). In conclusion, the output of this research is a map showing groundwater suitable for consumption and agriculture in El-Dakhla Oasis based on all indices using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model. Additionally, there was evidence of a linear relationship between soil quality and irrigation water quality (R2 = 0.90). This emphasis on tracking changes in soil/water quality was brought on by agricultural practices and environmental variables.

Hydrogeochemical Characterization, and Suitability Assessment of Drinking Groundwater: Application of Geostatistical Approach and Geographic Information System

Arsenic (As) contamination in drinking groundwater sources is a common environmental problem in Pakistan. Therefore, we collected a total of (n = 81) drinking groundwater samples from various groundwater sources, from two districts’ namely Ghotki (n = 44) and Nawab Shah (n = 37) of Sindh, Province, Pakistan. The current research aimed to investigate the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater with elevated arsenic (As), its effect on the health of local population living in the study area, potential sources of groundwater variables, and the suitability of groundwater for ingestion motive. The results showed that groundwater sample variables of both districts had moderate to high concentration levels. The cations concentrations were observed in decreasing order of Na+ > Ca+ > Mg+ > K+, for both districts, while anions abundance was HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > F− > NO3− in the Ghotki, and HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− > NO3− > F− in the Nawab Shah, respectively. Arsenic (As) had low to high concentration levels in both districts, observed with average values of 10.1 μg/L and 21.0 μg/L in the Ghotki and Nawab Shah, respectively. The water type was mixed CaMgCl type in both districts, while the groundwater sources were saturated for CO3 minerals indicated by the saturation indices results. Principal component analysis showed the geogenic source of ion exchange, dissolution of minerals, weathering of host rocks and anthropogenic input of industrial activities, agricultural practices and domestic waste for groundwater contamination. The water quality index (WQI) exhibits that majority of groundwater samples (73.6% of Ghotki and 65.7% of Nawab Shah) were suitable for drinking. The non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) values of As were (>1) in groundwater samples of the Ghotki and Nawab Shah, while a high mean HQ value (8.78 × 100) was recorded for children in Nawab Shah. The carcinogenic risk (CR) values of As were significantly higher than the maximum threshold CR value (1 × 10–4). This study emphasized that monitoring strategies are substantially needed to mitigate the As contamination to reduce the potential health risk.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater irrigation in the climate change prone areas of Cambodia

This research assesses the hydrogeochemical characteristics of irrigation groundwater to understand its quality within climate change prone areas of Cambodia. Thirteen groundwater samples were collected in Takeo province to analyze for major physicochemical properties. Both pH and TDS were below the maximum permissible limit of drinking water set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Cambodia’s standard of drinking water quality. The study finds concentrations of cations and anions in order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3 > Cl- > NO3- > SO42- > PO43-, wherein four major hydro-chemical facies (Ca-Mg-Cl, Ca-HCO3, Na-Cl and Na-HCO3 types) were identified. Application of the Gibbs diagram showed evaporation and water-rock interaction as the main factors affecting hydrogeochemical properties in the study area. Furthermore, the majority of groundwater samples were classified to be ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ for irrigation purposes, according to the value of residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium adsorption ratio, and electrical conductivity. Thus, it can be assumed that the quality of groundwater may be considered suitable for irrigation purpose and agriculture.

Hydrogeochemical characterization and suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation in Menzel Bourguiba aquifers (Northeastern Tunisia).

The aquifer system of Menzel Bourguiba, located in northeastern Tunisia, is an important groundwater resource that, for the last decades, has been a subject of excessive use by agricultural and industrial activities leading to the degradation of its water quality. To better understand the hydrochemistry of these aquifers, identify the main factors controlling their mineralization, and assess their suitability for drinking and agricultural purposes, 35 groundwater samples collected during the campaign of October 2019 were analyzed by different physicochemical methods. The results showed that the hydrochemical facies of the study area is characterized by two major types SO4-Cl-Ca and Na-Cl. The total dissolved solids (TDS) values range from 0.5 to 1.9g/L in the shallow aquifer and from 0.6 to 2g/L in the deep aquifer. The high rates are recognized downstream of the studied basin. The interpretation of multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical approaches revealed that rock-water interaction, dissolution and precipitation process, ionic exchange mechanisms, water irrigation return, and marine intrusion are the main factors controlling the mineralization of the study area groundwater. The comparison of the analytical data to the Tunisian and World Health Organization (WHO) standards unveiled that the majority of groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking because of high nitrate contents, elevated electrical conductivity (EC), TDS values, and high concentrations of some chemical parameters. In addition, the sodium absorption ratio and the sodium percent parameters indicated that most of the analyzed samples are inappropriate for irrigation uses.

Assessment of the Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Resources at some Wadis in the East of El Minia Governorate, Eastern Desert, Egypt

AbstractThe El Minia governorate lies within the Nile Valley, surrounded by calcareous plateaus to the east and west. The present study focuses on the hydrogeochemistry of the Eocene limestone aquifer at some wadis in the east El Minia governorate, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Hydrogeologically, two main aquifers are encountered in the study area, namely the Maghagha marly limestone and the Samalut chalky limestone aquifers. The Maghagha aquifer is composed of alternating layers of marly limestone and shale with thicknesses ranging from 3.49 m to 177.05 m and a groundwater depth ranging from 8.5 m to 59.27 m which reflects low groundwater potentiality. The groundwater salinity representing this aquifer ranges from 603.5 mg/L to 978.5 mg/L, reflecting fresh water type. Samalut aquifer is made up of chalky, cavernous and fractured limestone with thickness ranging from 30 m to 205 m and groundwater depth ranging from 9 m to 86.77 m, which indicates good groundwater potential. The groundwater salinity of the concerned aquifer ranges from 349.7 mg/L to 2043.9 mg/L, reflecting fresh to possibly brackish water types. Groundwater in the study area is of meteoric water origin; recent recharge is mainly controlled through the presence of fractures and their densities. The majority of groundwater samples in the study area are suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality Using Water Quality Indices: A Case Study of Paliganj Distributary, Bihar, India

Groundwater quality evaluation in the command area of Paliganj distributary of the Sone irrigation scheme in India was carried out during two different seasons in the year 2020, namely pre-monsoon, i.e. during March, and post-monsoon, i.e. during October. Forty groundwater samples were obtained from hand pumps and dug wells in the study area during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The chemical characteristics of groundwater samples were determined according to American Public Health Association approved process. Twelve parameters, namely, pH, EC, TDS, Ca, Mg, Na, F, SO4, K, Cl, and HCO3 were used to compute the water quality based on the weighted arithmetic water quality index method. In the study area, Ca2+-Mg+-HCO3−, and Ca2+-Mg+-Na+-HCO3- were the dominant hydro-chemical facies. All the samples were found to belong to the excellent to good category for drinking purposes during the pre-monsoon period. However, during the post-monsoon season, only 75% of the samples fell into the excellent to good group, while the remaining 25% fell into the poor for drinking purposes category. By analyzing through the irrigation quality index, 80% of the samples are considered highly suitable for irrigation and the remaining 20% come under the medium category. Thus, it was seen that the majority of groundwater samples are suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes, although groundwater in some portions of the area had high salinity and the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), showing that it is unsuitable for irrigation and requires adequate drainage.

Health risk assessment and hydrogeochemical modelling of groundwater due to heavy metals contaminants at Basundhara coal mining region, India

ABSTRACT The enrichment of heavy metals and mixing with groundwater resources, which makes a serious threat to human health and the environment. The present study was conducted to determine the enrichment of heavy metals in groundwater, geochemical modelling, and to estimate the probable health risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) of a coal mining region, in eastern India. The relative abundance of mean heavy metal concentration was in the order of Fe > Zn > Al > Ba > Mn > Sr > Ni > Ag > Cu > Pb > V > Cr > Co > Cd, and are within the WHO standards limits for drinking water values. Groundwater shows pH values as generally acidic to alkaline in nature, while Eh values indicate an oxidising environment. Principal component analysis indicates, metal concentration in the groundwater to be mainly derived from the geogenic sources and in-situ leaching of mine overburden materials. Hydrogeochemical modelling indicates heavy metals are in supersaturation to near neutral state in the groundwater with oxide and carbonate mineral phases. Based on (HPI), and (HEI) values, the majority of groundwater samples are low to moderately contaminated. The health risk assessment model based on hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values show few groundwater samples as crossing the reference limit and have non-carcinogenic health risks for both children and adults. The study identifies the chemical characterisation and potential health risks due to the presence of heavy metals in the groundwater of the coal mining region.

Impacts of seawater intrusion on groundwater quality in Htantabin township of the deltaic region of southern Myanmar

Climate change and extensive groundwater extraction threaten the sustainability of groundwater resources in Myanmar, especially in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region. Due to the lack of public water supply, an increasing population with extensive agricultural and industrial development has raised the importance of groundwater in many areas of the Ayeyarwaddy Delta. This study revealed the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and the selection of piping materials in the Htantabin township of the delta region, which belongs to the highest group of water consumption from unimproved sources. Seasonal quality changes in groundwater and the influencing factors were also studied. The findings showed that groundwater in some locations in the study area was contaminated by saltwater. Areas within 100 m of the irrigation canal were more likely to experience seawater intrusion. The majority of groundwater samples were not suitable for drinking as the examined parameters exceeded the WHO guideline values. In the summer, only 37.5% of groundwater samples were fitted into categories that were suitable for irrigation; however, a higher percentage (62.5%) became suitable during the rainy season with a reduction in salinity. Contrary to groundwater salinity, the corrosion risk for metal pipes increased during the rainy season.

Shallow Groundwater Quality and Human Health Risk Assessment in Holte, a Town in Southern Ethiopia

Groundwater quality and human health risk assessment are critical for the long-term usage of household water supplies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate groundwater quality and human health risk in Holte, a town in the Derashe Special Woreda in southern Ethiopia. Water samples from seven shallow groundwater wells were taken and examined for hydrogeochemical properties. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was developed to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking. Groundwater hydrochemistry types and evolutionary processes were investigated. The results suggested that the typical pH of groundwater samples had an average pH of 7.99. The values of electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate (HCO3) and total dissolved solid (TDS) in all samples were above the recommended upper limit of World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. Based on the hydrochemical findings, the orders of cationic abundance and anionic abundance in the groundwater were Ca²⁺ < Mg²⁺ < K⁺ < Na⁺ and F⁻ < SO₄²⁻ < Cl⁻ < HCO₃⁻, respectively. According to the Piper Tri-linear Diagram, the majority of groundwater samples were found to have Mixed Ca-Na-HCO3. The Gibbs fields results showed that evaporation dominated groundwater quality, whereas chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals dominated the remaining samples. The calculated WQI result showed that 57.1% (4 handpumps) of groundwater samples from the town had acceptable water quality, but 42.9% (3 handpumps) had poor water quality. The finding of this study suggests that groundwater quality parameters should be tested and monitored on handpumps at sample locations 1, 2, and 3 in the town to minimize human health risks and ensure long-term socioeconomic development.