Human health risk assessment and pollution index of groundwater in Jammu plains of India: A geospatial approach

To examine the drinking water suitability as well as to study the influence of local lithology in controlling groundwater chemistry a study has been carried out in the Jammu plains of India by using 50 groundwater samples during the post-monsoon (POM) and pre-monsoon (PRM) seasons. The groundwater samples are found to be dominated by Mg–Ca–HCO3, and Ca–Mg–HCO3, types. Besides this, the Pollution Index of Groundwater (PIG) was also calculated to assess the overall groundwater quality of the study area. As per the PIG, the groundwater quality of the study is suitable for domestic utilization except for a few samples (2%) which need conventional treatment in order to make the groundwater resources potable. Based on rock water interaction, there is a considerable variation in the POM and PRM seasons, which indicates the role of weathering and dissolution of rock minerals. The multivariate statistical analysis reveals that the lithogenic factors, such as rock-water interactions and weathering of carbonate-bearing rocks, are predominantly controlling groundwater chemistry. Further, trace elements such as As, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Zn were also analyzed to determine the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) in order to know about the carcinogenic risk in adults and children in the study area. [Display omitted] •To evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes.•To determine the PIG for understanding the impact of chemical parameters.•Evaluation of HHRA by using the trace elements in order to know the Carcinogenic Risk.•Multivariate statistical analysis reveals to find the lithogenic factors.•Spatial mapping of the groundwater quality maps.