The investigation of heavy metal concentration through GIS-based approach from groundwater of Umerkot city, Sindh, Pakistan

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences Vol. 16; no. 2
• Main Authors: Jamali, Muhammad Afzal, Markhand, Akhtar Hussain, Kumar, Dileep, Arain, Asfand Yar Wali, Mahar, Mahdi Hassan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquifers; Arsenic; Biotite; Cadmium; Contamination; Drainage patterns; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Fluorides; Geographical information systems; Groundwater; Groundwater quality; Hand pumps; Heavy metals; Interpolation; Mineral composition; Original Paper; Sedimentary rocks; Spatial distribution; Spatial variations; Thematic mapping; Water quality; Water sampling; Sindh Pakistan; Pakistan; Groundwater contamination; Inverse distance weighted (IDW); Spatial distribution; Umerkot; Anthropogenic; Heavy metals
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-023-11232-4

The primary goal of this study was to determine and evaluate the concentration and contamination of heavy metals like (As, Cd, Pb, and F) in the groundwater of Umerkot city in Sindh Pakistan. The groundwater samples were collected using 22 hand pumps installed at different public locations in the Umerkot city; the latitude and longitude readings of all the sampling points were noted. The EPA ICP-MS Method 200.8 was adopted for determination of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The EPA 8029 SPADNS method was used to determine the fluoride concentration in groundwater samples; the DR-900 Multi parameter Portable Colorimeter was used. The spatial distribution thematic maps of each metal were constructed by interpolating the spatial variation of each groundwater quality indicator using the spatial interpolation IDW tool. The concentrations of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater range from 0.6 to 23 ppb and 0.6 to 3.2 mg/L, respectively. The anthropogenic factors, such as lack of drainage patterns and municipal waste, as well as the mineral composition of the subsurface strata originating from the A-type granites and ferromagnesian minerals present in sedimentary rocks (e.g., biotite and amphibole) contribute to the elevated concentration of these toxic metals in the subsurface aquifer system of the study area. Due to high concentrations of arsenic and fluoride, much of the groundwater in Umerkot city stands unsuitable for drinking.