Evaluation of Heavy Metals Toxicity in Groundwater of Rural Areas of Palwal and their Effect on Human Health

SDG 6 which ensures everybody has access to safe water as well as sanitation is pivotal to the seventeen sustainable development goals. SDG 6 is focused on not only improving the quality of human life but also preparing the groundwork for social and economic progress. This study was aimed to investigate heavy metal distribution of heavy metals in ground water of 25 villages of Palwal district of Haryana. It seeks to determine whether this groundwater is fit for human consumption and to evaluate how it aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6). Drinking groundwater and phenols were sampled from multiple villages constituting the Palwal district during the pre-monsoon period and the post-monsoon of 2021. Heavy metals (Zn, Pb, As, Cd and Cr) in the samples were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The result was then evaluated against safe drinking water standard of WHO, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure suitability of drinking water for human consumption. The study revealed that Zn and Cd concentration in groundwater exceeded the limit given by WHO whereas Pb, As, and Cr were within the permissible limit specified by WHO. The study also showed concentration of heavy metals in groundwater samples and a decline in the post-monsoon season due to the recharge of ground aquifers in monsoons.