Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater under natural and anthropogenically influenced areas located in Upper Ghaggar River Basin, India

Paramjit Singh (), Madhuri S. Rishi () and Lakhvinder Kaur ()
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Paramjit Singh: Panjab University
Madhuri S. Rishi: Panjab University
Lakhvinder Kaur: Panjab University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 10, No 35, 25415-25437

Abstract: Abstract Determining groundwater quality status and hydro-geochemistry of an aquifer is crucial to ensure cleaner and safer water for human consumption. Groundwater sustainability issues are getting attraction due to global warming and complexities in land utilization. These concerns increased the challenge of gaining an appropriate comprehension of anthropogenic activities and natural processes, as well as how they influence the quality of surface water and groundwater systems. In the present investigation, 48 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed from the Panchkula district of Haryana, located in the Upper Ghaggar River Basin, to explore the sources and driving factors responsible for hydro-geochemistry of the aquifers falling under the natural and anthropogenically intervened areas. Groundwater sampling was carried out in the premonsoon (PRM) as well as postmonsoon (POM) seasons to examine the spatio-seasonal variations in its quality. The results of the study revealed that reverse ion exchange processes are mainly controlling the aquifer geochemistry in areas occupied by natural vegetation, while the nitrate and chloride content of groundwater was the result of anthropogenic activities. The mechanisms governing groundwater quality and the related hydro-geochemical processes were assessed using binary plots of different cations and anions, along with the Gibbs plot and chloro-alkaline indices (CAI). Saturation indices (SI) indicated that groundwater was over-saturated with respect to dolomite, calcite, and aragonite, while 68.75% and 50% of samples indicated under-saturation with respect to anhydride and gypsum, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were also considered to affirm the processes taking place to control the aquifer chemistry. Groundwater in the majority of the area was found suitable for drinking purposes except in the locations where high nitrate concentrations were recorded, thus suggesting the use of water treatment facilities for such areas.

Keywords: Groundwater; Hydro-geochemistry; Land use/land cover; Saturation indices; Reverse ion exchange processes; Natural processes; Anthropogenic activities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03687-y

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