Adverse health and environmental outcomes of sewage treatment plant on surrounding groundwater with emphasis on some mitigation recommendations

Abstract

Water quality deterioration hinders economic and social development in developing countries that are facing freshwater security and shortages. Based on the collection of 29 water samples, this study focused on the relationship between sewage treatment plant and groundwater system surrounding it using multidisciplinary approach that combines the characterization of groundwater system and its connection with surrounding canal and drains, using chemical and isotopic characterization revealing that there is a direct relation between the surface water system and surrounding groundwater system. About 58% of the groundwater samples and all surface water samples in the investigated area are threatened by high concentrations of trace elements. The multivariate statistical analysis elucidates that anthropogenic effect and fertilizers sewage contamination are the main causes of groundwater pollution. Nearly, 31% and 11.5% of groundwater samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk and dermal chronic risk for adult, respectively, while all surface water samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk, with no dermal hazard. The uncharged species of Fe and Al are expected to be more mobile in groundwater because they would not be attracted to the surface charge of minerals. Inorganic ligands (HCO3−, SO42−, Cl−, and NO3−) act as nucleation centers that were linked with those trace elements creating new species with higher solubility degree in water that are transported away randomly for long distances in the water path.

Influence of the industrial pollutant on water quality, radioactivity levels, and biological communities in Ismailia Canal, Nile River, Egypt

“…At the same time, Ismailia Canal sediment was dominated by a small grain size (128 μm), possibly due to clay precipitation at the canal bottom (Youssef et al 2004 ). Additionally, the Abu Za’baal region showed Oligocene basalt on the surface of the sediment, which is dominated by sands, gravel, and fractured basalt (Kandil et al 2023 ).…”

Geochemical characterization and WQI based assessment of groundwater health risk using GIS in tropical river basin: Case study in Kirama-ara River basin, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

“…To fulfill the constantly rising demands of the agricultural, industrial, and residential sectors, groundwater supplies are essential (Karunanidhi et al, 2021). Studies reveal that the quality of groundwater has considerably worsened recently in a number of countries (Kandil et al, 2022;Panneerselvam et al, 2022). The quality of the world's water supply is quickly deteriorating as a result of expanding human use, increased agricultural inputs, industrial effluents, and other natural processes (Tolera et al, 2020).…”

Geochemical Characterization and Water Quality Index Based Assessment of Groundwater Quality Using GIS In Tropical River Basin: Case Study in Kirama-Ara River Basin, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

“…Groundwater supplies are critical to meet the ever-increasing demands of the agricultural, industrial, and residential sectors (Karunanidhi et al, 2021). According to studies, the quality of groundwater has recently deteriorated in countries all over the world (Kandil et al, 2022;Panneerselvam et al, 2022). As a result of growing human consumption, greater agricultural inputs, industrial effluents, and other natural processes, the quality of the world's water supply is rapidly degrading (Tolera et al, 2020).…”