Sustainability Assessment of the Groundwater Quality in the Western India to Achieve Urban Water Security

Abstract

Achieving water security and availability for all is the main agenda of the UN-Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030. To achieve the goal of water secure future in rapidly urbanizing cities, the sustainable water supplies are necessary. In the western part of India, the city of Surat is continuously growing and rapidly urbanized, which exerting massive pressure on groundwater water supply to meet increasing water demands. The study adopted the investigative approach, in which a total 33 groundwater samples were collected in and around the city from open, bore and dug wells and hand pumps. The selection of sampling sites was based on the land use signature, areas with a different depth of aquifers and different geological formations. After the hydrogeochemical analysis, the study evaluated the present state of the groundwater quality and determined the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters such as hardness, electrical conductivity, Cl −, pH, SO 4 2-, and NO 3 − concentrations. An interpolation technique, known as ordinary kriging, was used to acquire the spatial distribution of parameters of groundwater quality parameters. The result showed that the groundwater quality falls under class I (>25%) and class II (25 to75%) category. The study recommends that the groundwater in the study area is not suitable for potable purposes, especially without any improved onsite water treatment facilities but it is appropriate for the irrigation purposes in City.

Hydrochemical appraisal of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation: a case study in parts of southwest coast of Tamil Nadu, India

“…The study results also revealed that the groundwater quality in Rajshahi City area was of great concern and not suitable for human consumption without adequate treatment. The research paper by Saraswat et al (2018) provides an exploratory investigation in the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater and thereby assesses the suitability of groundwater as an alternative and reliable resource for public water supply in the Indian city of Surat. The results of this study outline the unsustainability of groundwater for direct consumption, especially without any improved on-site water treatment, but it is appropriate for irrigation purposes.…”