Suitability assessment of groundwater quality near Bandhwari dumpsite, Haryana, India through statistical and index-based approaches

Groundwater quality is crucial for sustaining its essential role in providing drinking water, facilitating farming practices, and supporting industrial processes. The current study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and seasonal variations of groundwater near the Bandhwari dumpsite, Haryana, India. In total, 156 groundwater samples were collected during pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) seasons and evaluated for 13 different physicochemical parameters. Various water quality indices (WQI, PI, SSP, Na%, MH, SAR, KR, RSC, CR) and foaming potential were applied to assess groundwater suitability. Additionally, multivariate statistical tools, including cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), were employed to explore the spatial and seasonal variations in groundwater quality. Cluster analysis categorized the water samples into three water types, predominating high-salinity water clusters. While PCA extracted three major components accounting for 72.88% and 78.02% of the total variance in groundwater quality for PRM and POM, respectively. The irrigation water quality index ranged from 4.03 to 61.37 (PRM) and 6.98 to 69.05 (POM), indicating moderate water quality, with spatial variations revealed by the IWQI-based mapping. Analysis of corrosion and foaming potential has revealed that around 50% of groundwater samples during PRM exhibit low to negligible scaling and corrosive potential as compared to the POM season. Overall, the study revealed moderate groundwater quality, indicating limited yet potential usability for irrigation, industrial, and drinking purposes. Moreover, the findings of the research offer valuable guidance for stakeholders and policymakers toward informed groundwater management and protection strategies.