Integrating Water Quality Index and Advanced Geographic Information System for Groundwater Quantity and Quality Mapping: Insights from Islamabad’s Aquifer

Hina Basharat, Toqeer Ahmed (), Sheikh Saeed Ahmad, Muhammad Zahir and Miklas Scholz
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Hina Basharat: Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
Toqeer Ahmed: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Sheikh Saeed Ahmad: Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
Muhammad Zahir: Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Park Road, Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Miklas Scholz: Department of Water, RBS Wave, Mittlerer Pfad 2-4, 70499 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Groundwater management (quantity and quality) is a pressing concern in Islamabad amid the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization. This study leverages the Water Quality Index (WQI), coupled with advanced remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) applications, to provide a comprehensive assessment of groundwater dynamics in the city. Groundwater samples from 40 tube wells were analyzed using standard methods, and spatial distribution patterns of water quality variables were mapped applying an integrated GIS framework. Geological and hydrological data collected from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) supported the mapping of water table depths, bore depths, and water quality features. Key findings revealed significant hydrogeological variations, with sectors G-8, G-7, G-9, and G-11 exhibiting elevated electrical conductivity (EC) levels, peaking at 1054.5 µS/cm, surpassing permissible limits. The WQI indicated excellent to good quality of all the collected samples except one found unfit for drinking. Land use and land cover (LULC) analysis revealed extensive urbanization, exacerbating groundwater contamination risks. This study underscores the interconnectedness of urban growth, geological features, groundwater quality deterioration, and sustainability. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners to mitigate groundwater contamination and ensure sustainable resource management in Islamabad.

Keywords: groundwater management; hydrogeological dynamics; spatio-temporal analysis; remote sensing and GIS; urbanization; water quality index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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