Shallow Groundwater Quality Assessment and Its Suitability Analysis for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes
Authors:Jat Baloch, Muhammad Yousuf Zhang, Wenjing Chai, Juanfen Li, Shuxin Alqurashi, Muwaffaq Rehman, Gohar Tariq, Aqil Talpur, Shakeel Ahmed Iqbal, Javed Munir, Mamoona Hussein, Enas E.
Volume:13
Published:2021
Document Type:Article
Abstract:For shallow groundwater, hydrogeochemical processes and quality assessment must be addressed because shallow groundwater is freely available in many parts of the globe. Due to recent anthropogenic activities and environmental changes in Sakrand, Sindh, Pakistan, the groundwater is extremely vulnerable. To provide safe drinking and agricultural water, hydrogeochemical analysis is required. Ninety-five groundwater samples were analyzed using agricultural and drinking indices to determine the hydrogeochemical parameters using multivariate analysis such as Pearson correlations, principal component cluster analysis, as well as Piper diagrams and Gibbs plot for drinking and agricultural indices. An abundance of ions was observed through the statistical summary; however, cations and anions were recorded in the orders Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > F-. The hydrogeochemical process used to quantify the major reactions occurring in the groundwater system showed rock dominance; the Piper diagrams evaluated the water type. A mixed pattern of calcium, magnesium, and chloride ions (Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl- type) was observed. Additionally, the ion exchange method showed an excess of bicarbonate ions due to carbonic acid weathering. The water quality index (WQI) resulted 32.6% of groundwater being unsuitable for human consumption; however, the United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram showed 60% of samples were unsuitable for irrigation due to high salinity and the Wilcox diagram depicted 5% of samples lying in the unsuitable region. Most of the water samples were suitable for drinking; only a few samples were unsafe for drinking purposes for children due to the high hazard index.
Author Information
Corresponding Author:Zhang, WJ (通讯作者)，Jilin Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Groundwater Resources & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China.; Zhang, WJ (通讯作者)，Jilin Univ, Coll New Energy & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China.
Reprint Address:Zhang, WJ (通讯作者)，Jilin Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Groundwater Resources & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China.; Zhang, WJ (通讯作者)，Jilin Univ, Coll New Energy & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China.
Addresses:[Jat Baloch, Muhammad Yousuf; Zhang, Wenjing; Chai, Juanfen; Li, Shuxin] Jilin Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Groundwater Resources & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China; [Jat Baloch, Muhammad Yousuf; Zhang, Wenjing; Chai, Juanfen; Li, Shuxin] Jilin Univ, Coll New Energy & Environm, Changchun 130021, Peoples R China; [Alqurashi, Muwaffaq] Taif Univ, Dept Civil Engn, Coll Engn, At Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; [Rehman, Gohar] Jilin Univ, Coll Construct Engn, Changchun 130026, Peoples R China; [Tariq, Aqil] Wuhan Univ, State Key Lab Informat Engn Surveying Mapping & R, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China; [Talpur, Shakeel Ahmed; Iqbal, Javed] China Univ Geosci, Sch Environm Studies, Wuhan 430074, Peoples R China; [Munir, Mamoona] Int Islamic Univ, Dept Biol Sci, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan; [Hussein, Enas E.] Natl Water Res Ctr, POB 74, Shubra El Kheima 13411, Egypt
E-mail Addresses:engr.yousuf@yahoo.com; zhangwenjing80@hotmail.com; chaijf19@mails.jlu.edu.cn; Lishuxin97@hotmail.com; m.gourashi@tu.edu.sa; geologist.gohar11@yahoo.com; aqiltariq@whu.edu.cn; talpurshakill@yahoo.com; jvcomsian@gmail.com; mamoona.munir@iiu.edu.pk; enas_el-sayed@nwrc.gov.eg