Evaluating the Suitability of Groundwater for Drinking Purposes by the Use of Statistical Techniques and the Utilization of a Water Quality Index

Abstract

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water and, its quality directly affects human health. 24 groundwater samples were taken from Nalanda, Bihar, to evaluate the quality of the drinking water. Residents rely on groundwater as their main source of drinking water, so it is imperative to assess its condition in the research area. Physiochemical characteristics namely pH, Temperature, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Sulphate, Chloride, Electrical Conductivity, and Dissolved Oxygen were determined and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) & Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS10500:2012). Their measurements were conducted using standard methods. To assess the factors influencing the distribution of groundwater quality, several statistical approaches such as correlation analysis were employed, along with the usage of a water quality index. Several physiochemical measurements exceeded the specified BIS restrictions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduced the initial set of 12 variables to 4 significant components, which collectively account for 82.864% of the total variance in the data. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrates that groundwater quality is impacted by the interaction between rocks and water, the redox environment, weathering, leaching, and human activities. The Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates that 63% of the samples are deemed appropriate for drinking, while the remaining 27% are classified as poor and unsuitable. This study emphasizes the patterns of groundwater pollution. Overall Groundwater quality is suitable for drinking purposes. Comprehensive regulation and integrated groundwater management is essential to prevent future degradation of groundwater quality.