Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater from semiarid region of western India for drinking and agricultural purposes with special reference to water quality index and potential health risks assessment

Abstract

Increase in demand for water for domestic, agricultural and industrial needs has led to overexploitation as well as contamination; hence, it is unremittingly important to monitor and maintain the health of waters. In view of this, a study was carried out wherein a total of 57 groundwater samples from Upper Bhima Basin of western India were collected and analysed for understanding the drinking and agricultural suitability with special reference to water quality index and potential health risks assessment. Analysed physicochemical parameters indicated that the groundwater quality is not suitable in most of the villages for drinking and agricultural purposes. However, pH, TDS, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻ and F⁻ parameters were below the permissible limit; conversely, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg^2+, and NO₃⁻ contents have been found more than the Indian standards (BIS). The dissemination of ions in the qualitative analysis revealed the dominance order as Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and HCO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻− > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻. Using Piper’s diagram, the groundwater types were found to be majorly Ca²⁺–HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺–Na⁺–HCO₃^_, Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–Cl⁻ and Ca²⁺–Cl⁻ groups. From the Gibbs plot, it is observed that the samples fall between rock dominance and evaporation dominance zones. Based on irrigation indices such as permeability index, residual sodium carbonate, the groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation. In addition to that, water quality index values revealed that 49% of water samples are found unfit for drinking. Further, health risk assessment study carried out using United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidelines showed that children are at higher health risk than men and women in the study region.