Development and evaluation of a water quality index for groundwater quality assessment in parts of Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Groundwater is an important source for drinking water supply in Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India. An attempt has been made in this work to understand the suitability of groundwater for human consumption. The parameters of pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Sulphate (SO4), Iron (Fe), Nitrate (NO3), Chloride (Cl), Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), and Sodium (Na) were analyzed to estimate the groundwater quality. The water quality index (WQI) has been applied to categorize the water quality, which is quite useful to infer the quality of water for the people and policy makers in the concerned area. The WQI in the study area ranges from 17.90 to 176.88. According to the WQI rating, sites 1, 3, and 4 are not appropriate for drinking water or have low water quality and site 2 has moderate drinking condition, whereas site 5 has excellent drinking condition. The current study suggests that the groundwater of the area with deteriorated water quality needs treatment before consumption. HIGHLIGHTS WQI values in sites 1, 3 and 4 are 106.99, 176.88, 161.25, showing that the groundwater is not suitable for drinking purposes.; WQI value in site 5 is 17.90, showing that water is fit for drinking purposes.; Principal component analysis reveals that four parameters are responsible for the high values of WQI.; The outcome of the study will be helpful in formulating effective drinking water management measures for residents in the Jabalpur region, India.;