Suitability Of Water For Drinking Research Articles

Integrated GIS-based and water quality index for evaluation of groundwater quality in the coastal slum settlements of Lagos, Nigeria

This study aimed to identify drinking water suitability through a statistical and water quality index (WQI) approach in coastal slum settlements in Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 250 borehole groundwater samples collected for drinking purposes during the wet (125) and dry (125) seasons were analysed for their physical and chemical properties from 2019 to 2020. The physical and chemical characterisation of the region was conducted based on the correlation matrix, scree plot, PCA, Q-mode HCA, and ROC curve to identify the types of weathering, the influence of rock on precipitation and evaporation, and types of reactions that affect groundwater composition. The analytical mean concentration results revealed that SO4, Cl, TH, NO3, TDS, and PO4 surpassed the USEPA and WHO permissible limits in both seasons. The WQI results demonstrate that 7.6% and 6.7% of water samples fall into the excellent category, while 12.4% and 11.5% are moderately tolerable. In contrast, for both seasons, >100% of the samples fell into the unsuitable drinking category across SA1-SA5, SB1-SB5, SC1-SC5, SD1−SD5, and SE1−SE5. Groundwater quality mainly deteriorates due to anthropogenic activities and climatic variability. The spatial variation map indicates that groundwater quality is primarily affected during the wet season and, to a lesser extent, in a few slums during the dry season. Seawater influx in coastline areas has been identified as the main factor threatening the quality and availability of groundwater resources. As a result, the groundwater quality is mostly poor to unsuitable, and this study confirms its unsuitability for drinking. Hence, this study serves as a guide for effective action in sustainable groundwater management.

EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY BY USING CORRELATION COEFFICIENT AND WATER QUALITY INDEX IN SHARURAH GOVERNORATE, SAUDI ARABIA

This study is the first to be conducted in Sharurah governorate, Saudi Arabia, on groundwater. In this study, correlation analysis and water quality index WQI were used to analyze thirty data points of groundwater in some fields (15wells) in Sharurah city and its outskirts. The correlation analysis utilized the correlation coefficient to study the relationship between different physicochemical parameters such as Hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity (Turb), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), chloride (Cl-), sulfate (SO\(_4^{2-}\)), fluoride (F-), total iron (Fe) nitrite (NO\(_2^-\)) and nitrate (NO\(_3^-\)), of groundwater at studied wells for Sharurah city. On the other hand, water quality index provides a useful tool for monitoring of water quality, it uses the values of different water parameters in a mathematical equation to produce a value that rates water quality, and determines the suitability of water for drinking. The study came out with the results that there are several statistically significant correlations between water parameters. Whereas water quality index WQI result reflects that 80% of the samples are of excellent and good quality.

Water quality and health risk assessment of heavy metals in groundwater of Ranbir Singh Pura tehsil of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Groundwater is one of the important sources available for drinking, agricultural, domestic, and various other purposes in the study area. Study area is having agricultural importance and is famous for Basmati rice production in the world. In order to assess water suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes, 25 sampling sites were selected and water samples were collected from handpumps, borewells and motors from May 2022 to June 2022. Fifteen physico-chemical parameters and water quality index (WQI) was calculated to assess the drinking water suitability. The results obtained then compared with the BIS (2012) and WHO drinking water guidelines. For irrigation water suitability, irrigation water quality index (IWQI) and other indices were calculated. Heavy metal health risk assessment was also evaluated using target hazard quotient (THQ), carcinogenic risks (CR), non-carcinogenic risks, heavy metal pollution index (HPI), etc. Study found 60% of water samples under poor category of WQI. All water samples were found suitable for irrigation purposes according to different indices except for permeability index for which only 32% samples were found suitable. IWQI classifies 52%, 32%, and 12% of water samples under moderate, low, and no restriction category respectively. Groundwater of the study area found to be contaminated with copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) while low contamination of zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As) was found according to heavy metal evaluation index (HEI). High contamination of chromium (HPI= 9740.8) and lead (HPI=188) was recorded as per HPI. HQ value for men, women, and children in case of zinc were found safe while HQ values for copper and lead in all population groups were found at risk. Overall, the study area was found highly contaminated with the lead, copper, and chromium concentrations. Thus, study recommends regular monitoring of the groundwater of study area as well as treatment before using this water for drinking purposes.

Spatial analysis of groundwater quality in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Geogenic and anthropogenic contributions

Over-exploitation of groundwater owing to urbanisation and industrialisation compromises its quality, spatially and temporally. The objective of this study was to analyse the spatial groundwater quality due to geogenic and anthropogenic activities in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Eighty boreholes were mapped and sampled for selected water quality parameters. The groundwater quality parameters that were adopted in this study were the temperature, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, bicarbonate alkalinity, chloride, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulphates, chlorides, potassium, iron, nitrates, fluoride, phosphates, arsenic, aluminium, zinc, strontium, barium and manganese. Groundwater samples were evaluated for drinking water suitability as per the 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Prediction of groundwater quality parameters at unsampled points was achieved by using the Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation method using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. Population, land use and geological data were superimposed onto the groundwater quality to generate integrated maps. There were noticeable distinctions in groundwater quality within different geological areas, particularly for fluoride, arsenic, sodium, calcium, chloride and strontium, signifying natural groundwater contamination. High levels of nitrate were detected near agricultural areas and in medium to high-density residential areas suggesting possible contamination from nitrogenous fertilizers and leakages from wastewater infrastructure respectively. The application of GIS to spatially map water quality, can be used by hydrogeologists and local authorities in planning, monitoring and protecting groundwater resources.

Application of Water Quality Index and Water Suitability for Drinking of the Euphrates River within Al-Anbar Province, Iraq

In this study water quality was indicated in terms of Water Quality Index that was determined through summarizing multiple parameters of water test results. This index offers a useful representation of the overall quality of water for public or any intended use as well as indicating pollution, which are useful in water quality management and decision making. The application of Water Quality Index (WQI) with ten physicochemical water quality parameters was performed to evaluate the quality of Euphrates River water for drinking usage. This was done by subjecting the water samples collected from seven stations within Al-Anbar province during the period 2004-2010 to comprehensive physicochemical analysis. The ten physicochemical parameters included: pH value, Alkalinity (ALK), Orthophosphate (PO4-3), Nitrate (NO3-),Sulphate (SO4-2), Chloride (Cl-), Total Hardness (TH), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The average annual overall WQI was found to be 107.59 through the study period. The high WQI obtained is a result of the high concentrations of Orthophosphate and Magnesium which can be attributed to the various human activities taking place along the river banks. From this analysis the quality of the Euphrates River is classified as "very poor quality" ranging poor water at the river upstream near station (E1) and unsuitable for drinking at the river downstream near station (E7) with an annual minimum WQI of 89.34 in 2008 and maximum 112.44 in 2009. The present study demonstrated the application of WQI in estimating and understanding the water quality of Euphrates River. WQI appears to be promising in water quality management and a valuable tool in categorizing pollution sources in surface waters

Groundwater vulnerability assessment for drinking water suitability using Fuzzy Shannon Entropy model in a semi-arid river basin

Groundwater protection against geogenic and anthropogenic diffuse pollutants are of preeminent importance for convoying groundwater-dependent hydro-aquatic ecosystems and safeguarding human health by securing a safe and sustainable water security plan. Mapping groundwater vulnerability to pollution represents a topical area of research where traditional models suffer from inherent prejudices. A novel approach to identify groundwater vulnerable zones is thus presented in this study by combining Fuzzy Shannon Entropy (FSE) with a decision support algorithm to replace DRASTIC, GOD and other related methods. We proposed a contemporary “FSE-GVI″ framework for assessing aquifer vulnerability, which for the first time expands and redesigns the seven original geological and hydrogeological parameters with geochemical and anthropogenic factors. Applying such technique weights of 13 geo-environmental and hydrogeological factors (slope, soil, pH, recharge), and anthropogenic factors (land use land cover, population density, groundwater based schemes for irrigation) has been optimized. The computed map has been categorized into very high (10.82%), high (23.20%), moderate (29.29%), low (25.02%) and very low (11.64%).The groundwater of the river basin is rated on a scale of excellent, good, poor, very poor and unfit for consumption. The model is compared to 74 groundwater quality data, and the findings demonstrate an excellent correlation between water quality index (r = 0.84), Total dissolve solids (70%), iron (72%), hardness (85%) and alkalinity levels (75%).The findings of the research reveals 27.3 % of the sampling sites (villages) under poor water quality and 23.21% of very high vulnerable zone which requires competent planning, development, managerial technique to safeguard groundwater resources.

Influence of COVID-19 lockdown on river water quality and assessment of environmental health in an industrialized belt of southern Western Ghats, India.

The COVID-19 pandemic and sudden lockdown have severely hampered the country's economic growth and socio-cultural activities while imparting a positive effect on the overall fitness of the environment especially air and water resources. Increased urbanization and rapid industrialization have led to rising pollution and deterioration of rivers and associated sectors such as agriculture, domestic and commercial needs. However, various available studies in different parts of the country indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the entire ecosystem. But it is noted that studies are lacking in the southern Western Ghats region of India. Therefore, the present study attempts to investigate how the continuous lockdowns affect the River Water Quality (RWQ) during lockdown (October 2020) and post-lockdown (January 2021) periods in the lower catchments (Eloor-Edayar industrialized belt) of Periyar river, Kerala state, South India. A total of thirty samples (15 samples each) were analyzed based on drinking water quality, irrigational suitability, and multivariate statistical methods to evaluate the physical and chemical status of RWQ. The results of theWater Quality Index (WQI) for assessing the drinking water suitability showed a total of 93% of samples in the excellent and good category during the lockdown, while only 47% of samples were found fit for drinking during the post-lockdown period. Irrigational suitability indices like Mg hazard, KR, PI, SAR, and Wilcox diagram revealed lockdown period samples as more suitable for irrigational activities compared to post-lockdown samples with site-specific changes. Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated EC and TDS with a strong positive correlation to Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, TH, SO42-, and Cl- during both periods as well as strong positive correlations within the alkaline earth elements (Ca2+ and Mg 2+) and alkalis (Na+ and K+). Three significant components were extracted from principal component analysis (PCA), explaining 88.89% and 96.03% of the total variance for lockdown and post-lockdown periods, respectively. Variables like DO, BOD, Ca2+, NO3-, and Cl- remained in the same component loading during both periods elucidating their natural origin in the basin. The results of health risk assessment based on US EPA represented hazard quotient and hazard index values below the acceptable limit signifying no potential noncarcinogenic risk via oral exposure except As, suggesting children as more vulnerable to the negative effects than adults. Furthermore, this study also shows rejuvenation of river health during lockdown offers ample scope to policymakers, administrators and environmentalists for deriving appropriate plans for the restoration of river health from anthropogenic stress.

Evaluation of the Suitability of the Euphrates River water for Drinking and Irrigation purposes in Haditha City, Western Iraq

The supply of freshwater is essential to life, socio-economic development, and political stability in the Middle East. Recently, Iraq's rivers have experienced extreme shortage water scarcity as a result of climate change, as evidenced by the rarity of rainfall and high temperatures. To assess the Euphrates river water for drinking and irrigation uses in Haditha city, Ten water samples were collected in the study region and analyzed for major ions. It was established that water samples in the study region are considered freshwater, low enrichment of salts, and slightly alkaline water. Piper diagram indicates the overall samples belong to class1 (Mg 2+, Ca 2+, SO4 2-, Cl -) and category I (Ca 2+ - Mg 2+ and SO4 2- - Cl -), calcium chloride type (permanent hardness). The Water Quality Index shows that water samples are suitable for drinking purposes. All water sample is suitable for irrigation in the study region. 

Fuzzy logic-based health risk assessment of fluoride in groundwater used as drinking source in Sira region, Tumkur, India.

Fluoride contamination in drinking water is a serious public health concern across the world, and more than 90 million people in India are affected by health risks associated with fluoride. Though the fatality due to fluoride chronic toxicity is uncommon, the exposure to fluoride at different concentration levels shows various adverse health effects such as dental and skeletal fluorosis, multiorgan failure, cognitive and behavioural effects. Hence, the objectives of the present study are to understand the hydrogeochemistry and drinking water suitability of groundwater of the Sira region, Karnataka, India, and to understand the occurrence of fluoride and its health risks using the United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) method and fuzzy logic concepts. Forty-six samples were collected from each pre and post-monsoon season. The hydrogeochemistry studied through Chadha's diagram and Gibb's diagram indicated that the groundwater in this region is of Na-Cl type and the hydrogeochemistry is majorly controlled by rock-water interaction and followed by evaporative dominance. Water quality parameters were compared with drinking water standards guidelines, and the results showed that around 50% of the samples were contaminated with fluoride. The occurrence of high levels of fluoride in the study region is associated to the presence of granitic rocks and it is influenced by high pH and low calcium dissolution in the groundwater. Based on US EPA method, the order ofpopulation group under the risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis, is children > adolescents > adults. A fuzzy inference system model is developed to assess the health risk due to fluoride and its output gives severity levels of each type of health risk, i.e. dental caries, dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. The results of the application of the fuzzy inference system model in the Sira region showed that the children (< 8Yr.) are more susceptible to the moderate risk of dental caries, dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. Whereas adolescents (8-18Yr.) and adults (> 18Yr.) are less susceptible to low-very low risk. Hence, health risks associated with fluoride can be better addressed with the help of a fuzzy inference system model which can be used for more reliable and grounded results to improve the quality of decision-making.

Human health risk assessment and pollution index of groundwater in Jammu plains of India: A geospatial approach

To examine the drinking water suitability as well as to study the influence of local lithology in controlling groundwater chemistry a study has been carried out in the Jammu plains of India by using 50 groundwater samples during the post-monsoon (POM) and pre-monsoon (PRM) seasons. The groundwater samples are found to be dominated by Mg–Ca–HCO3, and Ca–Mg–HCO3, types. Besides this, the Pollution Index of Groundwater (PIG) was also calculated to assess the overall groundwater quality of the study area. As per the PIG, the groundwater quality of the study is suitable for domestic utilization except for a few samples (2%) which need conventional treatment in order to make the groundwater resources potable. Based on rock water interaction, there is a considerable variation in the POM and PRM seasons, which indicates the role of weathering and dissolution of rock minerals. The multivariate statistical analysis reveals that the lithogenic factors, such as rock-water interactions and weathering of carbonate-bearing rocks, are predominantly controlling groundwater chemistry. Further, trace elements such as As, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Zn were also analyzed to determine the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) in order to know about the carcinogenic risk in adults and children in the study area.

Experimental assessment of productivity and sustainability of nanoporous Cr-Mn-Fe oxide nanocoating in solar-powered desalination

Solar-powered desalination is a cost-effective technology to produce drinkable, potable water using energy from the sun. However, its use in domestic and industrial applications is minimal because of its low daily production. This study produced a novel nanoporous Cr-Mn-Fe oxide nanocoating by modulable chemical oxidation at a temperature of around 90 ℃ in an acidic mixture of 21–34 wt% conc.H2SO4, 37.5–53 wt% distilled water & 15–30 wt% sodium dichromate salt on a mirror-polished SS202 sheet to act as a basin liner for the nanocoated solar still (NCSS). The optical characterization of nanostructure coating was done using Cary 5000 spectrophotometer and FTIR spectrophotometer for absorptivity (90%) and emissivity (14.4% at 300 ℃), respectively. It was found that the nanocoated solar still (NCSS) produced 36.36%, 28.62%, and 26.27% more distillate yield when compared with conventional solar still (CSS) for 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm depth of water, respectively. Enviro-economic studies, energy matrices evaluation, and water quality analysis were performed to compute greenhouse gases emissions, carbon dioxide mitigation, carbon credit gained, energy-payback time (EPT), energy production factor (EPF), life cycle conversion efficiency (LCCE), and suitability of distilled water for drinking. The cost per liter (CPL) of desalinated water for NCSS was inferred to be 15.6% more economical than for a CSS and 81% more economical than packaged drinking water in India.

An integrated approach to explore the suitability of nitrate-contaminated groundwater for drinking purposes in a semiarid region of India

The main objective of the present study is to perform risk assessment of groundwater contaminated by nitrate (NO3−) and evaluate the suitability of groundwater for domestic purposes in the Palani region of South India. Thirty groundwater samples were collected in the study area. Various groundwater quality analysis parameters such as the pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+), and major anions (Cl−, SO42−, F−, CO32−, and HCO3−) were adopted in this study to evaluate the drinking water suitability according to 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Piper and Gibbs’s diagrams for the tested groundwater indicated that, due to the influence of rock–water interactions, evaporation, and reverse ion exchange, the chemical composition of groundwater varied. According to water quality index (WQI) mapping results, 46.67% of the sample locations was identified as contaminated zones via GIS spatial analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis methods, such as principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and the Pearson correlation matrix, were applied to better understand the relationship between water quality parameters. The results demonstrated that 40% of the samples could be identified as highly affected zones in the study region due to a high nitrate concentration. The noncarcinogenic health risks among men, women, and children reached 40, 50, and 53%, respectively. The results illustrated that children and women occurred at a higher risk than did men in the study region. The major sources of contamination included discharge from households, uncovered septic tanks, leachate from waste dump sites, and excess utilization of fertilizers in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, using the nitrate health hazard integrated method with the conventional indexing approach ensures that groundwater reliability can be guaranteed, contamination can be explored, and appropriate remedial measures can be implemented.

Evaluation of Different WQI Methods for Drinking Water Assessment with a Case Study of Groundwater from Vizianagaram District, AP, India

Application of Water Quality Index (WQI) to assess the water quality for drinking water suitability and intensity of contamination is in practice worldwide. Many WQI methods have been in use since their conceptualization, and some are country-specific or use-specific. A generalized and widely acceptable method that can project ground truths in non-dimensional numerical form to evaluate the water quality, especially for drinking uses, is lacking. Complexity and disagreement among different methods are adding to incongruence among the scientists. The concept and a simple calculation method of WQI are deliberated. Five different WQI methods using water chemistry results of Vizianagarm District are discussed. The WQI output obtained from these methods displays discrepancies in the proper projection of water quality. Some samples show similarities in WQI values obtained from two to four methods. However, the suitability status of water for drinking purposes could not be precisely ascertained from these indices. Since the water chemistry results and WQI values are incompatible, the output from these methods could be red herring. Few issues are identified among the studied methods which need improvisation. The use of ideal value in the weighted arithmetic index method and arbitration in assigning Weight for each parameter gives scope for speculation. Non-uniformity in the categorization of water and the suitability statuses of drinking water are discouraging factors. The WQI is an effective tool in screening the vast database for identifying and addressing the issues in water quality. Since drinking water standards and water supply are government-sponsored, an institutional intervention is required to standardize the WQI computation procedure. Such an initiative is necessary for the practical application of water quality data to contain water-borne diseases.

Bacteriological and physical quality of Fiche drinking water from households and reservoirs, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract Drinking water is the major source of bacteria pathogens in developing countries along with poor sanitation and contamination of food with a pathogen. More than half of the population of the country uses unimproved sanitation facilities while 36% of them practiced open defecation. The aim of the study was to investigate the suitability of public water for drinking. The study is designed to include a survey of 90 respondents and experimental analysis of 170 water samples from households and reservoirs. Water quality parameters, such as temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and bacteriological parameters like total coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) were determined. Many of the respondents (88.8%) remarked that the water has no smells, tastes, and color. The experimental analysis confirmed that temperature (19.7 °C), electrical conductivity (269.63 μS/cm), turbidity (1.17 NTU), and total dissolved solids (134.3 mg/L) were found to be below the prescribed limit of World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Total coliforms (9.29 CFU/100 mL) and fecal coliforms (5.07 CFU/100 mL) were detected from pipe water sources during the wet season showing non-compliance with the guidelines. The reservoir samples were free from bacterial contamination. The main point of drinking water contamination was the household, where unsafe water handling practice was a common habit in the study area. Hence, awareness conception training on safe water handling practices is highly recommended for the communities.

Assessing the Groundwater Quality in the Liwa Area, the United Arab Emirates

Last period groundwater quality raises big concerns all over the world since it is a limited source of drinkable water and for agricultural and industrial use. While the suitability of the groundwater of Liwa aquifer (Abu Dhabi Emirate) for agricultural use has been previously partially studied, not all the water parameters have been taken into account. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the study of 42 concentrations series of 19 groundwater parameters. We test the hypothesis that the water parameters series recorded at different locations are similar and group the samples in clusters. The main parameters that determine the differences between the clusters are determined by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Finally, we use a quality index for assessing the water suitability for drinking. The conclusions emphasize the necessity of using more than one technique to evaluate water quality for different purposes and to cross-validate the results.

Spatial variation of groundwater quality and assessment of water table fluctuations in Plio-Quaternary aquifer formations in Doukkala Plain, Morocco

Groundwater quality and water table fluctuation baseline study were carried out along Doukkala Plain, one of largest agricultural regions in Morocco, bringing together and comparing information from 1995s to 2016s analysis. The depths of wells, the pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature of groundwater were measured in situ for 160 groundwater samples in May 2016. The study of water table fluctuation between 1995 and 2016 showed a continuous rise of the piezometric level from 0.7 to 0.8 m/year in large irrigation schemes. While in the rainfed agriculture area the piezometric level was decreased from 5 to 10 m. The obtained results showed that the level of water table was affected by seasonal variations in consequence to rainfall, irrigation water, and groundwater over-pumping. Groundwater chemistry was also carried out in this research using laboratory analyses of major cations Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ and anions Cl−, HCO3−, NO3− and SO42−. Electrical conductivity, nitrate levels, and total hardness were used as indicators to determine groundwater quality and suitability for drinking purposes. The values of these indicators were ranged from 640 to 11950 μS/cm, 0–152.10 mg/L, and from 149.2 to 2081.6 mg/L, respectively. While the suitability of groundwater for agricultural use was determined using sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and sodium percentage (Na%). SAR values ranged from 1.96 to 17.96 meq/L and sodium percentage values ranged from 22.28 to 86.09%. These results showed that the chemical composition of groundwater fell above acceptable limits recommended by WHO (2011) for drinking water suitability. In contrast, groundwater is suitable for agriculture use at most locations. The unconfined Doukkala Aquifer is under stress due to the impact of anthropogenic activities and climate change. Therefore, widely sharing these results will enable farmers, public and government departments to adopt sustainable solutions for the management of Doukkala Aquifer.

The use of GIS and water quality index to assess groundwater quality of krimat aquifer (Essaouira; Morocco)

The aim of this present study was to evaluate groundwater quality in the upstream part of the Essaouira basin. A detailed geochemical study of groundwater region is described, and the origin of the chemical composition of groundwater has been qualitatively evaluated, using multivariate statistical methods (PCA, HCA), and Water Quality Index (WQI) was used to determine the suitability of water for drinking. To attempt this investigation, 38 samples were analysed for various physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, TDS, Na, NO3, K, Ca, HCO3, Cl, Mg, and SO4. The results obtained showed that the facies characterizing the study area was a combination of Ca–SO4 and mixed Ca–Mg–Cl. Hydrochemical approach based on the bivariate diagrams of major ions indicates that the origins of groundwater mineralization are the result of (I) evaporite dissolution; (II) cation-exchange reactions; and (III) evaporation processes. The WQI values range from 82.3 to 390.9, and therefore the water samples can be categorized into five groups: excellent water to water unsuitable for drinking. In global, 61% of the groundwater sampled had poor water quality, 18% were very poor water quality, 16% are unsuitable for drinking, and just 6% represent a good quality. However, the results of this paper indicate that most water is not safe for drinking and needs further treatment.

Hydrochemical studies and evaluation of groundwater quality of the Quaternary aquifer at Faquss, Al Sharqiya Governorate, Egypt

The Quaternary deposits represent the main groundwater aquifer in the study area. During the last few years, the problem of groundwater contamination has been intensified mainly due to natural and human-related factors. The present work aims to study the hydrochemical characteristics and quality assessment of shallow groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer at Faquss district. To achieve that, 16 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major ions, trace elements, and microbiological analysis. Constructions of water level map of the Pleistocene aquifer and distribution maps for different ions in groundwater were made by surfer software. Statistical analyses for water quality parameters were carried out. Results indicate that most of the studied area is characterized by fresh water (TDS < 1000 mg/L) with low contents of K, Na, Mg, Ca, SO4, and Cl reflecting the suitability of ground water for drinking. High contents of TDS, Na, SO4, and Cl are recorded at the northeastern parts of the area; this refers to the existence of local pollution sources resulting from the infiltration of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes in the intensive populated area. The concentrations of trace elements (chromium, copper, cadmium, etc.) in groundwater are within the acceptable limits for drinking and domestic uses. Iron and manganese are over the acceptable limits in most of the area and the groundwater is unsuitable for drinking. Low contents of iron and manganese are recorded at the north, while aluminum contents are over the acceptable limits at the same site. The results of bacteriological analyses indicate the existence of E. coli bacteria in most of shallow wells ranges between 4 and 800 ml. So, shallow groundwater should be chemically treated before drinking. Generally, the groundwater in the studied area is suitable for irrigation, except 19% of wells suffer from sodium hazards. The ratio rNa/rCl varies between 1.012 and 1.56 in most groundwater samples and indicates the continental origin of groundwater in the study area. The ratio r (K + Na)-rCl/rSO4 reflects either Na2–SO4 water type (in 75% of groundwater samples) or NaHCO3 water type of shallow meteoric origin (in 25% of groundwater samples). The presence of Na2SO4 water type in deep meteoric water genesis at shallow depth is associated with sulfate salts (MgSO4, and CaSO4) which formed more than 25% of salt combination might reflect the influence of anthropogenic activities. The dominant process determining the water composition is evaporation.

Assessment of the groundwater geochemistry from a part of west coast of India using statistical methods and water quality index

The study aims to identify the groundwater geochemistry and drinking water suitability through statistical and water quality index (WQI) approach in Kudal region of Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. Twenty-two representative groundwater samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season in 2011. The analytical results depict the dominant order of cations as Ca > Na > Mg > K and for anions, HCO3 > Cl > SO4 > NO3. Average concentration of Ca + Mg account for 65.51% in the pre-monsoon; while, in post-monsoon it is 63.84% demonstrating major cations sourced from olivine and pyroxene. Statistical analysis including cluster analysis, factor analysis and dendrogram were used to elucidate the association between water quality variables and the factors affecting water quality. WQI results show that 95.45% of samples represent excellent water; while, 4.55% indicate good water. Thus, it is confirmed that quality of groundwater is good to excellent and authenticate the suitability for drinking.

Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring System- Analysis Of Pashan Lake, Maharashtra, India

Pashan Lake in Pune, Maharashtra, India is one of the ancient man-made lakes constructed during British era majorly as a source of water supply for the neighboring colony. Over a while, the lake has switnessed severe degradation of water quality owing to heavy deforestation on neighboring hills, hyacinth formation, industrial effluents, and various anthropogenics activities. A consistent rise in pollution is reported, making the lake water non-potable. Recently, the monitoring and analysis of the lake's water quality status are under consideration to check the suitability of water for drinking. Further, this can aid in planning suitable measures to reduce pollution levels. To address such need of real-time water quality data aforementioned, this paper proposes an online portable water quality monitoring and notification system. An Internet of things(IoT) based platform has been developed with the ability to sense, record, process and wirelessly transmit water quality data. Such platforms enable remote access to data about quality status of any water resource. Further, the developed system has been deployed in Pashan Lake and the results so obtained have been discussed.