Integrated hydrogeochemical and multivariate statistical assessment of groundwater quality in the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Campus, Bangladesh

Integrated hydrogeochemical and statistical approaches were applied to investigate groundwater quality in the aquifer system underlying the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus, Bangladesh. Forty-two groundwater samples were collected from seven monitoring wells during seven sampling events and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), dissolved oxygen (DO), calcium, magnesium, chloride, arsenic, total hardness (TH), iron, and copper. Most parameters complied with WHO and Bangladesh standards; however, approximately 50% of groundwater samples exceeded turbidity guidelines, with a maximum turbidity of 26.81 NTU, reflecting suspended particulate matter and seasonal recharge-induced particle mobilization. 85.7% of composite samples exceeded the iron standard, with a maximum concentration of 2.82 mg/L, attributable to weathering of iron-rich formations. Arsenic concentrations in 16.7% of samples reached 0.01 mg/L, which corresponds to the WHO guideline value, but remained below the Bangladesh standard. Collective pollution assessments revealed moderate contamination based on the Groundwater Pollution Index (1.57), Nemerow’s Pollution Index (4.29), and Total Contamination Index (13.47), while the Metal Pollution Index (6.60) indicated high contamination. MW-04 is classified as unsuitable for drinking by the Water Quality Index (127.40). Strong correlations among water hardness and salinity-related parameters indicated shared hydrochemical controls, with principal component analysis (PCA) suggesting a common geogenic influence. One-way ANOVA showed a significant difference in pH between the interannual dry seasons, indicating overall temporal stability. This study represents the first integrated hydrogeochemical and multivariate statistical assessment of drinking water quality to establish a baseline for groundwater monitoring and the sustainable management of the SUST campus's water resources.