Groundwater quality assessment for drinking, irrigation, and human health hazards with special emphasis on Nitrate pollution in Uddanam area, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study's goal is to evaluate the Uddanam region's groundwater quality for drinking, agricultural use, and potential health risks to people, with a focus on nitrates. From the research region, 50 groundwater samples were taken in both pre- and post-monsoons and analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, TH, TA, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO3, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, F−, and Si, among other physic-chemical parameters, TDS, total hardness, nitrates and silica are the highest ions among all chemical parameters. May's findings indicate that kidney illness is a result of higher above said parameters. In addition, the chemical data intensity is represented using spatial interpolation techniques in Arc GIS 10.1 software, and intensity maps of the research region are prepared. The irrigation metrics salt absorption ratio (SAR), Kelley's ratio (KR), and percent sodium (%Na) are all within the research area's allowed limits.In the study area, pre and post-monsoon nitrate total hazard index (children, men, and women) affected percentages are 94%, 53%, 37% and 94%, 51%, 29% respectively, whereas the dermal there is no significant effect on the human body. The Gibbs diagram shows that the disintegration of rock formations is responsible for the groundwater chemistry and is further supported by scatter plots. Chemical elements are generated in the study due to geology such as Khondalite and alluvial soil disintegration. The excess silica percentage may lead to affect kidney-born disease in the study area and hence adequate water treatment is required prior to use.