Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Union Councils Ratokot &amp; Khairpur Juso, Pakistan, for Drinking Water Usage through Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) and Water Quality Index (WQI): A Case Study.

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4330643/v1

Download PDF

Research Article

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Union Councils Ratokot & Khairpur Juso, Pakistan, for Drinking Water Usage through Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) and Water Quality Index (WQI): A Case Study.

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4330643/v1

This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License

Version 1

posted

You are reading this latest preprint version

The degradation of groundwater quality has emerged as a significant global concern, impacting regions worldwide, including Pakistan. Thus, this study aimed to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes in UC Ratokot and Khairpur Juso. A total of twenty-five groundwater samples were collected from various villages within these regions, and both on-site and laboratory-based physicochemical analyses were conducted. Parameters such as color, odor, taste, sulfate (SO4), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were assessed, with each sample's results compared against WHO standards.

Analysis using two models, namely the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI), revealed insights into groundwater quality. Findings indicated that all samples exhibited no discernible external color or odor, with turbidity below 5 NTU. However, the taste of 68% of samples from 17 villages was notably bitter, rendering them unsuitable for consumption. Overall, results showed that 100%, 88%, 72%, 68%, 60%, 52%, and 52% of samples exceeded WHO limits for EC, TDS, Mg, Cl, Ca, TH, and SO4, respectively.

Assessment based on the SPI revealed that 40%, 48%, 8%, and 4% of samples were classified as highly contaminated, unfit for drinking, slightly contaminated, and moderately contaminated, respectively. Similarly, the WQI categorized 12%, 36%, 40%, and 12% of groundwater samples as unfit for drinking water, very poor water, poor water, and good water, respectively.

Environmental Engineering

Groundwater

WQI

SPI

Water stands as a fundamental element for sustaining life and fostering socio-economic development. It serves as a vital resource essential for the survival of humans, animals, and plants. Water exists in various forms, including surface water found in streams and groundwater stored within aquifers. While both sources are viable for drinking and irrigation purposes, groundwater predominates in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas where it serves as the primary drinking water source. Solangi et al. (2019) noted that globally, approximately thirty-three percent of available groundwater aquifers are utilized for domestic and agricultural needs.

However, the critical importance of water is challenged by issues of scarcity and declining quality, attributed to factors like climate change, urbanization, and human activities (Jamali et al., 2022). The scarcity of safe drinking water poses a significant threat to human health, exacerbated by the release of harmful industrial waste, untreated sewage, and hazardous trash into water bodies. Additionally, inadequate knowledge, outdated treatment methods, and insufficient water quality monitoring contribute to the worsening state of drinking water quality (Kalair et al., 2019). Monitoring and proper management of contaminants such as pathogens, microorganisms, industrial waste, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and other pollutants are imperative (Piazza et al., 2020; Hazbavi et al., 2020; Abdul et al., 2020; Kolli et al., 2022; Kumar et al., 2018).

Pakistan, like many countries, grapples with the challenge of providing safe drinking water facilities. Minister of Climate Change, Miss Sherry Rehman, warned of an impending water shortage by 2025, highlighting the urgent need for effective water management policies and plans (Ebrahim & Z.T., 2019). Rural areas, particularly in Sindh, Punjab, and Baluchistan provinces, suffer the brunt of contaminated water supplies, resulting in significant loss of lives and widespread waterborne diseases (Daud et al., 2017). Arsenic contamination further exacerbates health issues, affecting millions of people across the country (Guglielmi & G., 2017). Recent statistics reveal alarming rates of infant mortality and water-related ailments, underscoring the urgent need for action (Nabi et al., 2019).

Currently, only a fraction of Pakistan's population has access to safe drinking water, with the majority forced to consume contaminated water tainted by various anthropogenic activities such as chemical use in agriculture and sewage contamination (Ilyas et al., 2019). This study is proposed to assess the suitability of drinking water amidst these challenges.

2.1 A brief description of the study area

Ratokot and Khairpur Juso are adjacent areas situated near the Larkana district of Sindh province, positioned on the right side of the N55 highway in Pakistan. These regions constitute rural extensions of Larkana city, comprising several villages. Agriculture and manual labor form the primary sources of livelihood for the inhabitants, with the entire population reliant on groundwater for drinking purposes. As per the 2017 census, the combined population of Khairpur Juso and Ratokot stands at approximately 12,000 individuals. Larkana's population, according to the 2019 census, is estimated to be around 364 thousand. Khairpur Juso's earth coordinates are 27.518764985112632 N, 68.04645862870512 E, while Ratokot's coordinates are 27.544189475735020 N, 68.07822520869325 E.

Given their proximity to Larkana, a subtropical region experiencing high temperatures, reaching up to 50°C during the summer season, Ratokot and Khairpur Juso witness similar climatic conditions (Jamali et al., 2022). The annual average rainfall in these areas is recorded at 104 mm, although recent trends indicate an increase in rainfall intensity. Despite this, aquifers face inadequate recharge due to urbanization and high housing density (Kori et al., 2018).

2.2 Sample Collection and Testing: For analysis, samples were randomly procured from 25 distinct locations, primarily targeting villages where complaints regarding groundwater quality were prevalent. Groundwater samples were collected in airtight polyethylene half-liter bottles solely from hand pumps, the common water source. Each sample bottle underwent thorough cleaning with water from the collection point. Samples were sealed on-site, labeled according to location and sample number (e.g., L1, L2, L3,...L25), and transported for analysis. The physicochemical analysis encompassed parameters such as color, odor, taste, turbidity, pH, total hardness (TH), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), and electrical conductivity (EC). Measurements for pH, turbidity, and TDS were conducted using respective meters, while EC was derived through EC/TDS relation. Laboratory titration methods were employed for determining the concentration of Ca, Mg, TH, and Cl. Subsequently, the analysis results for each parameter were compared against WHO-recommended values for suitable drinking water.

2.3 Evaluation based on the Synthetic Pollution Index SPI The overall drinking water quality of Ratokot and Khairpur Juso was evaluated utilizing an indexical approach. Acknowledging the complexity of summarizing water quality based on a single model, the study employed two renowned models, namely the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI). These models have been extensively used in various countries and previous research studies. The SPI, particularly, categorizes water into five classes based on contamination levels, ranging from suitable for drinking to unsuitable. By calculating the SPI value using measured concentrations of all physicochemical indicators, the study assessed the groundwater quality for domestic use in the study area. The SPI calculation involves several steps, as elaborated further.

Top of Form

I. Value of K:

K is defined as proportionality constant and its value can be determined using the following equation.

$$K= \frac{1}{{\sum }_{i=1 }^{n }\frac{1}{Ci}}$$

Where,

Ci = Allowable value of the physicochemical water quality parameter.

n = total number of physicochemical water quality variables evaluated

II. Estimation of (Wi):

Wi is the relative weight of any parameter and its value of relative can be determined by the following equation.

Wi = $\frac{K}{Ci}$ (2)

In Eq. 2 Wi represents the weight coefficient.

III. Determination of SPI value

Final value of the SPI can be calculated as.

SPI = ${\sum }_{i=0}^{n }\frac{D }{ C} Wi$ (3)

Here, D means measured concentration of each physicochemical parameter.

2.4 Evaluation based on the Water Quality Index (WQI).

The Water Quality Index (WQI) model is widely employed globally as a singular metric for assessing drinking water quality. Numerous scholars have utilized the WQI model in their research endeavors, including Lumba et al. (2011), Sener et al. (2017), Bora, M., & Goswami, D. C. (2017), and Nong et al. (2020), among others, for water quality evaluation. Models such as SPI, WQI, etc., provide an overall assessment of water quality in a specific area. In the case of WQI, a weight factor (wi) is assigned to each physicochemical parameter outlined in section 2.2 based on its impact on human health. For instance, parameters like Total Hardness (TH) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are assigned the highest weight factor of 3 due to their significant impact on human health. Conversely, factors such as Calcium, Magnesium, and Turbidity, which pose lesser harm to health, are assigned a weight of 2. Turbidity, in particular, is considered less harmful to humans compared to factors assigned a weight of 3, such as TDS.

The magnitude of the WQI is determined through the following steps:

I. Calculate relative weight (Wi)

W_i = $\frac{ wi}{{\sum }_{i=1}^{n} wi}$(i = 1, 2, 3, 4, ........, n) (4)

Where w_i is the numeric value of a weighting factor which ranges 1–5 and is and each i^th physicochemical parameter is given weight between 1 and 5.

n is the total observed water quality parameters being analyzed in this research.

II. Calculating rating of Water quality rating (qi)

q_{i =} $\frac{Di}{Ci}$ _{x 100} (i = 1, 2, 3, 4, ........, n) (5)

Where Di is the observed value of physiochemical parameter of the sample whose suitability is being checked by the WQI. and Ci is the allowable limit of water quality parameter recommended by the WHO

III. Determine value of the WQI

WQI = ${\sum }_{}^{}Wi X qi$(i = 1, 2, 3, 4, ........, n) (6)

The Water Quality Index (WQI) serves as a comprehensive tool widely employed in research for evaluating the quality of drinking water. Scholars such as Lumba et al. (2011), Sener et al. (2017), Bora, M., & Goswami, D. C. (2017), and Nong et al. (2020) have utilized this model to assess water quality. Models like SPI, WQI, etc., offer insights into the collective water quality within a specific area. When employing the WQI, a weight factor (wi) is assigned to each physicochemical parameter outlined in section 2.2, based on its impact on human health. Parameters such as Total Hardness (TH) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are assigned the highest weight factor of 3, given their significant impact on human health. Conversely, factors like Calcium, Magnesium, and Turbidity, which pose lesser harm to health, are assigned a weight of 2, while Turbidity is considered less harmful to humans compared to factors assigned a weight of 3, such as TDS.

The WQI classifies water quality into five categories: excellent, good, poor, very poor, and unsuitable. Water is deemed excellent if the WQI value is below 50, good if it ranges from 50–100, poor if it ranges from 100–200, very poor if it ranges from 200–300, and unsuitable for drinking if the value exceeds 300.

When analyzing the groundwater samples for physicochemical parameters, it was found that most samples were colorless and odorless. However, a sensory taste test revealed that water from several locations, particularly Khairpur Juso School, Village Mohram Khan Mari, Isran Village, village Shahbeg Jamali, village Gul Muhammad Chawro, Ratokot Town, Village Hashim Khan Chawro, Yousif Shah Gilani, Chandio Village, and Kandero Mugheri, exhibited a highly bitter taste, rendering approximately 65% of samples unsuitable for drinking. Salinity in water was attributed to the overuse of agricultural fertilizers and untreated sewage discharge into streams.

Turbidity, caused by suspended substances like silt and clay, was generally absent in groundwater samples from Ratokot and Khairpur Juso, although minor instances were within permissible limits. pH levels, crucial for human health, fell within WHO guidelines, with values ranging from 6.4 to 8.4.

Salinity and bitterness were linked to Electrical Conductivity (EC), with values ranging from 7375 µS/cm to 750 µS/cm, exceeding WHO recommendations. High EC values were attributed to soil salt infiltration and domestic wastewater percolation.

Total Hardness (TH) concentrations ranged from 30.2 to 1440 mg/l, with 13 samples exceeding permissible limits. Similarly, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations ranged from 200 mg/l to 4720 mg/l, with only three samples meeting WHO standards.

Sulfate concentrations, ranging from 50 to 1800 mg/l, exceeded WHO limits in 13 samples. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations fell within permissible limits.

Using the Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI), most samples were found highly contaminated or unfit for drinking, with only a few categorized as slightly or moderately contaminated. WQI analysis revealed that the majority of samples fell into the very poor water category, indicating unsuitability for drinking.

Water, the quintessential element for life, faces degradation due to diverse factors, notably anthropogenic activities. Recognizing the criticality of this life-sustaining resource and the jeopardy posed to drinking water quality, researchers worldwide strive to assess its current status and devise effective policies safeguarding human well-being. Given the unpredictable climate and environmental pollution, diligent monitoring and management of water and natural resources are imperative to preserve them in their natural, suitable state. Thus, to safeguard lives in Sindh province and furnish pertinent insights into the present drinking water quality to executive authorities, this study was undertaken.

Analysis of groundwater samples from various locations across UC Ratokot and Khairpur Juso revealed no external color or odor, with turbidity below permissible limits. However, the taste of approximately seventeen samples from villages such as Shahbeg Jamali, Khairpur Juso, Ratokot, Hashim Khan Chawro, Kaandero Mugheri, Ghaari Mugheri, Chandio village, etc., was remarkably bitter, rendering them unsuitable for drinking. Additionally, examination of samples unveiled concentrations of Total Hardness (TH), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfate (SO4), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Chloride (Cl), and other physicochemical parameters in most villages exceeding WHO-recommended limits. Overall, nearly 100%, 88%, 72%, 68%, 60%, 52%, and 52% of samples exhibited concentrations of EC, TDS, Mg, Cl, Ca, TH, and SO4 surpassing allowable limits.

Furthermore, an indexical approach was employed to assess all groundwater samples using the widely accepted WQI and SPI models, which provide insights into overall drinking water suitability. SPI assessment revealed ten highly contaminated samples, twelve unfit for drinking, two slightly contaminated, and only one moderately contaminated. Overall, 40%, 48%, 8%, and 4% of samples were classified as highly contaminated, unfit for drinking, slightly contaminated, and moderately contaminated, respectively. Similarly, WQI analysis indicated water unfit for drinking in three villages, very poor water in nine, poor water in ten, and good water in three. Overall, 12%, 36%, 40%, and 12% of samples were deemed unfit for drinking, very poor water, poor water, and good water, respectively.

The results underscored highly contaminated and unsuitable drinking water resources in villages such as Shahbeg Jamali, Juman Khan Siyal, Khairpur Juso, Ratokot, Hashim Khan Chawro, Kaandero Mugheri, Ghaari Mugheri, Chandio village, Gul Muhammad Chawro, Bhutto village, Ratokot, and Isran village. Contributing factors include excessive groundwater extraction, minimal aquifer recharge due to urbanization and low rainfall, and improper sewage treatment. Villages lack sewerage systems, leading to direct discharge of sewage into watercourses or infiltration into soil, thereby contaminating aquifers. Moreover, uncontrolled use of agricultural fertilizers, primarily for rice and wheat cultivation, exacerbates water quality issues. Urgent implementation of water treatment and disinfection facilities is imperative, alongside governmental attention to agricultural fertilizer overuse and sewage disposal threats. While NGOs play a commendable role, further engagement is warranted to address drinking water challenges and ensure human safety in these villages.

Abdul NA, Talib SA, Amir A (2020) Removal Kinetics of Chromium by Nano-Magnetite in Different Environments of Groundwater. J Environ Eng 146:04019111
Ahmed S, Jamali MZ, Khoso S, Azeem F, Ansari AA (2022) ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN RURAL AREAS OF TALUKA DOKRI, SINDH, PAKISTAN, THROUGH PHYSICOCHEMICAL ARAMETERS. Int J Energy Environ Econ 30(3):211–226
Bhutto SUA, Ma S, Bhutto MUA (2019) Water quality assessment in Sindh, Pakistan: A review. Open Acc J Environ Soil Sci 3:296–302
Bora M, Goswami DC (2017) Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index (WQI): case study of the Kolong River, Assam, India. Appl Water Sci 7(6):3125–3135
Chandra AK, Sengupta P, Goswami H, Sarkar M (2013) Effects of dietary magnesium on testicular histology, steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and oxidative stress markers in adult rats. Indian J Exp Biol, 37–47
Daud MK, Nafees M, Ali S, Rizwan M, Bajwa RA, Shakoor MB, Arshad MU, Chatha SAS, Deeba F, Murad W et al (2017) Drinking Water Quality Status and Contamination in Pakistan. BioMed Res. Int. 2017, 7908183
Ebrahimi M, Kazemi H, Ehtashemi M, Rockaway TD (2016) Assessment of groundwater quantity and quality and saltwater intrusion in the Damghan basin. Iran Geochem 76(2):227–241
Egbueri JC, Unigwe CO (2019) An integrated indexical investigation of selected heavy metals in drinking water resources from a coastal plain aquifer in Nigeria. SN Appl Sci 1(11):1–10
Gautam SK, Maharana C, Sharma D, Singh AK, Tripathi JK, Singh SK (2015) Evaluation of groundwater quality in the Chotanagpur plateau region of the Subarnarekha river basin, Jharkhand State, India. Sustain Water Qual Ecol 6:57–74
Husain V, Nizam H, Arain GM (2012) Arsenic and Fluoride Mobilization Mechanism in Groundwater of Indus Delta and the Thar Desert, Sindh, Pakistan. Int J Economic Environ Geol 3(1):15–23
Jamali MZ, Solangi GS, Keerio MA, Keerio JA, Bheel N (2022) Assessing and mapping the groundwater quality of Taluka Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan, using water quality indices and geospatial tools. Int J Environ Sci Technol, 1–14
Jamali MZ, Khoso S, Soomro Z, Sohu S, Abro AF, GROUNDWATER IN PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY USING SYNTHETIC POLLUTION INDEX (SPI) AND WATER QUALITY INDEX (WQI) (2022) EVALUATING THE SUITABILITY OF. Int J Energy Environ Econ 30(3):311–328
Jamali MZ, Solangi GS, Keerio MA (2020) Assessment of Groundwater Quality of Taluka Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan. Int J Sci Eng Res 11(5):795–797
Kalair AR, Abas N, Ul Hasan Q, Kalair E, Kalair A, Khan N (2019) Water, energy and food nexus of Indus Water Treaty: Water governance. Water Energy Nexus 2:10–24
Kincaid DW, Findlay SE (2009) Sources of elevated chloride in local streams: groundwater and soils as potential reservoirs. Water Air Soil Pollut 203(1):335–342
Kolli MK, Opp C, Karthe D, Kumar NM (2022) Web-Based Decision Support System for Managing the Food–Water–Soil–Ecosystem Nexus in the Kolleru Freshwater Lake of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Sustainability 14, 2044
Kori AH, Jakhrani MA, Mahesar SA, Shar GQ, Jagirani MS, Shar AR, Sahito OM (2018) Risk assessment of arsenic in ground water of Larkana city. Geol Ecol Landscapes 2(1):8–14
Kumar M, Puri A (2012) A review of permissible limits of drinking water. Indian J Occup Environ Med 16(1):40
Lanjwani M, Farooque MY, Khuhawar, Taj Muhammad Jahangir Khuhawar (2020) Groundwater quality assessment of Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan and Sijawal Junejo Talukas of District Qambar Shahdadkot, Sindh. Appl Water Sci 10(1):1–18
Nabi G, Ali M, Khan S, Kumar S (2019) The crisis of water shortage and pollution in Pakistan: Risk to public health, biodiversity, and ecosystem. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:10443–10445
Qamar K, Nchasi G, Mirha HT, Siddiqui JA, Jahangir K, Shaeen SK, Islam Z, Essar MY (2022) Water sanitation problem in Pakistan: A review on disease prevalence, strategies for treatment and prevention. Ann Med Surg 82:104709
Santhiya G, Lakshumanan C, Muthukumar S (2010) Mapping of landuse/landcover changes of Chennai coast and issues related to coastal environment using remote sensing and GIS. Int J Geomatics Geosci 1(3):563576
Sasikaran S, Sritharan K, Balakumar S, Arasaratnam V (2012) Physical, chemical and microbial analysis of bottled drinking water. J Ceylon Med 57(3):111–116
Shabbir R, Ahmad SS (2015) Use of geographic information system and water quality index to assess groundwater quality in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Arab J Sci Eng 40(7):2033–2047
Shahbaz MS, Soomro MA, Bhatti NUK, Soomro Z, Jamali MZ (2019) The impact of supply chain capabilities on logistic efficiency for the construction projects. Civil Eng J 5(6):1249–1256
Singh SK, Srivastava PK, Singh D, Han D, Gautam SK, Pandey AC (2015) Modeling groundwater quality over a humid subtropical region using numerical indices, earth observation datasets, and X-ray diffraction technique: a case study of Allahabad district, India. Environ Geochem Health 37(1):157–180
Solangi GS, Siyal AA, Babar MM, Siyal P (2018) Evaluation of surface water quality using the water quality index (WQI) and the synthetic pollution index (SPI): A case study of Indus Delta region of Pakistan. Desalination Water Treat 118:39–48
Solangi GS, Siyal AA, Babar MM, Siyal P (2019) Groundwater quality evaluation using the water quality index (WQI), the synthetic pollution index (SPI), and geospatial tools: a case study of Sujawal district, Pakistan. Hum Ecol Risk Assessment: Int J
Ward, M. H., Jones, R. R., Brender, J. D., De Kok, T. M., Weyer, P. J., Nolan, B.T., … Van Breda, S. G. (2018). Drinking water nitrate and human health: an updated review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(7), 1557
WHO (World Health Organization) (2011) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality 4th Edition, Geneva, Switzerland
Wu Z, Wang X, Chen Y, Cai Y, Deng J (2018) Assessing river water quality using water quality index in Lake Taihu Basin, China. Sci Total Environ 612:914–919

The authors declare no competing interests.

Download PDF

Version 1

posted

You are reading this latest preprint version

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Union Councils Ratokot & Khairpur Juso, Pakistan, for Drinking Water Usage through Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) and Water Quality Index (WQI): A Case Study.

Status:

Version 1

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Experimental Work

2.1 A brief description of the study area

2.4 Evaluation based on the Water Quality Index (WQI).

3. Result and Discussion

4. Conclusion

References

Additional Declarations

Status:

Version 1