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

Abstract

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.

Deciphering Hydrochemical Characteristics and Formation mechanism of Groundwater in the Pongo Iron Mine Area, Peru

“…Nitrate (NO3 -) is a widespread groundwater pollutant, and its concentration has been observed to increase globally in various regions such as America (Burow et al, 2010), Canada (Capone＆Bautista, 1985, India (Adimalla et al, 2018), and others. The primary sources of NO3 -can be attributed to the agricultural use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers (Khan et al, 2021), untreated domestic sewage (Widory et al, 2004), industrial wastewater (Wakida ＆Lerner, 2005), discharge of livestock and poultry manure (Thorburn et al, 2003), as well as leaching from expanding landfill sites (Panneerselvam et al, 2023). Due to its association with anthropogenic groundwater contamination, nitrate has garnered considerable attention as a crucial indicator (El Mountassir et al, 2022).…”

Geochemical characterization and WQI based assessment of groundwater health risk using GIS in tropical river basin: Case study in Kirama-ara River basin, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

“…To fulfill the constantly rising demands of the agricultural, industrial, and residential sectors, groundwater supplies are essential (Karunanidhi et al, 2021). Studies reveal that the quality of groundwater has considerably worsened recently in a number of countries (Kandil et al, 2022;Panneerselvam et al, 2022). The quality of the world's water supply is quickly deteriorating as a result of expanding human use, increased agricultural inputs, industrial effluents, and other natural processes (Tolera et al, 2020).…”

Geochemical Characterization and Water Quality Index Based Assessment of Groundwater Quality Using GIS In Tropical River Basin: Case Study in Kirama-Ara River Basin, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

“…Groundwater supplies are critical to meet the ever-increasing demands of the agricultural, industrial, and residential sectors (Karunanidhi et al, 2021). According to studies, the quality of groundwater has recently deteriorated in countries all over the world (Kandil et al, 2022;Panneerselvam et al, 2022). As a result of growing human consumption, greater agricultural inputs, industrial effluents, and other natural processes, the quality of the world's water supply is rapidly degrading (Tolera et al, 2020).…”