Hydrogeochemical Mechanism Associated with Land Use Land Cover Indices Using Geospatial, Remote Sensing Techniques, and Health Risks Model

Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch, Wenjing Zhang (), Baig Abdullah Al Shoumik, Anam Nigar, Adil A. M. Elhassan, Ali. E. A. Elshekh, Maaz Osman Bashir, Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Salih Ebrahim, Khalaf alla Adam Mohamed and Javed Iqbal
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Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Wenjing Zhang: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Baig Abdullah Al Shoumik: Soil, Water and Environment Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Anam Nigar: School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China
Adil A. M. Elhassan: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Ali. E. A. Elshekh: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Maaz Osman Bashir: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Salih Ebrahim: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Bisha University, P.O. Box 67711, Bisha 61361, Saudi Arabia
Khalaf alla Adam Mohamed: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Bisha University, P.O. Box 67711, Bisha 61361, Saudi Arabia
Javed Iqbal: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: Land is a vital component of nature around the world and is essential for humans, terrestrial plants, and animals. However, urbanization is growing worldwide and the groundwater quality in urban areas is declining due to rapid development, industrialization, and pollution. Hence, it is important to determine the hydrogeochemistry and changes concerning land use and land cover (LULC). This study was conducted to investigate the hydrogeochemical mechanism of Sargodha, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing cities, during 2015 and 2021 under two different LULC indices named normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI). Forty-eight groundwater samples were collected in 2015 and 2021 to assess groundwater quality for domestic use and irrigation. The Piper diagram revealed that (Ca 2+ +Mg 2+ –HCO 3 − +CO 3 2− ) and (Na + +K + –SO 4 2− +Cl − ) were the main components of hydrogeochemistry in both years. The Gibbs plot and silicate weathering of groundwater samples indicated that rock dominance and silicate weathering played a major role in aquifers. Additionally, the results showed that 4% of the groundwater in 2015 and 21% of the groundwater samples in 2021 were unfit for human consumption. However, 37% and 40% of samples were considered not fit for irrigation in 2015 and 2021, respectively. The LULC, NDVI, and NDBI clearly revealed higher urban areas in 2021 compared to 2015. The relationship between groundwater parameters and land use land cover indices (NDVI and NDBI) explained that none had a major relationship. The non-carcinogenic risk showed health quotient HQ < 1, indicating no severe health risk due to nitrate (NO 3 − ) exposure in the city. The current study suggests conducting future investigations considering a larger scale to recommend efficient management strategies, urbanization planning, and ensuring safe irrigation and drinking water to prevent groundwater pollution.

Keywords: groundwater; hydrogeochemistry; land use; NDBI; NDVI; health risks model; non-carcinogenic risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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