Evaluation of water quality and its non-cancer risk in the rural environment of Bundelkhand region: geochemical and statistical approaches

The Bundelkhand region of Central India has been facing increasing severity droughts, water-level depletion and deterioration in water quality. In this perspective, an attempt made for a qualitative evaluation surface groundwater resources belonging to the rural environment understand contaminant’s source probable human health risk due intake available water. samples collected from were analysed pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, hardness (TH), major anions (F−, Cl−, HCO3−, SO42−, NO3−) cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+). observations revealed near-neutral slightly alkaline nature studied samples. computed quality index implies that around 82% are good excellent category drinking uses. Turbidity, TDS, TH NO3− identified as parameters which violate limits Geochemical investigations association with multivariate statistical analysis identify carbonate weathering coordination ion-exchange process hydrogeochemical mechanism controlling solute chemistry concentrations TH, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+ Na+. On contrary NO3−, SO42− K+ strongly associated anthropogenic activities. Water at most locations expresses positive saturation indices respect calcite dolomite minerals, inferring precipitation these mineral phases. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) percent sodium (%Na) values show low alkali hazard can be used safely irrigation purposes. However, high salinity 39% makes it unfit application agricultural fields. non-carcinogenic (HI) calculated by adding quotient F− child, adult male female population more than 64% deemed consumption.