Hydrogeochemical insights into toxic element enrichment in stream waters from parts of Jagtial District, Telangana, India

This hydrogeochemical investigation assesses the stream water quality in parts of the Jagtial district, Telangana. The area lies within a geologically diverse terrain comprising Archean high-grade supracrustals of the Karimnagar Granulite Belt, Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic granitoids (PGC-II), and Neo-proterozoic Pakhal Supergroup sediments. Stream water exhibits acceptable physical parameters, including pH (7.6–7.9) and total dissolved solids (325–596 mg/l). However, hydrochemical analysis of nine representative stream water samples revealed significantly elevated concentrations of toxic elements like arsenic (0.5–2.56 ppm), uranium (1.0–3.7 ppm), and barium (59.7–196.7 ppm), substantially exceeding both national and international water quality guidelines. These anomalies are attributed to geogenic inputs from the weathering of local lithologies. Although irrigation indices such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR: 3.94–5.86), Percent Sodium (Na%: 19.64–26.45%), and water quality assessment using SAR, EC, and Wilcox diagram indicate water suitability for agricultural use, the toxic element load raises serious concerns regarding its safety for drinking and long-term irrigation purposes. Piper diagram classification indicates all samples fall in the magnesium-bicarbonate facies, while Gibbs diagrams suggest rock–water interaction and evaporation as the primary geochemical controls. This study highlights the imperative for region-specific water governance integrating hydrogeochemical risk management.