Evaluation of groundwater quality in central Saudi Arabia using hydrogeochemical characteristics and pollution indices

The groundwater quality and heavy metal (HM) contamination were evaluated in palm farms, central Saudi Arabia, using pollution indices, irrigation parameters, multivariate statistical analyses. Thirty samples collected October 2020 for major anions, cations, HMs analyses interpretation. results showed that the average concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS), Ca+, Na+, K+, Cl?, SO42?, F? greater than permissible limits WHO standards drinking water. facies types Ca–Na–SO4–Cl (23 samples), Ca–Cl–SO4, (4 Ca–SO4–Cl type (3 samples). index indicated 15 good poor quality, whereas all categorized as slightly affected with low pollution, respectively. variation is attributed to increasing some ions decreasing HMs. dissolution/precipitation silicates, gypsum, carbonates soil leaching natural factors affecting chemistry, higher PO43?, NO3?, F?, Pb, Zn values may be human activities from extensive use fertilizers pesticides on investigated farms.