Seasonal variability in groundwater quality and its implications for human health risk in Guwahati City, Assam, India

Jayashri Dutta; Runti Choudhury; Pallavi Sharma; Bidyut Bikash Sharma

doi:10.63697/jeshs.2026.10090

Authors

Jayashri Dutta Department of Geological Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5303-1654
Runti Choudhury Department of Geological Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7693-6273
Pallavi Sharma Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India
Bidyut Bikash Sharma Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63697/jeshs.2026.10090

Keywords:

Groundwater quality, Cluster analysis, Principal componenta analysis, Human health risk assessment

Abstract

Groundwater quality assessment is essential for ensuring safe drinking water, given that groundwater serves as a primary water source. The quality of groundwater is deteriorating due to population growth and urbanization. This study evaluates groundwater quality in Guwahati City, Assam, India, by analyzing basic hydrochemical parameters and trace element concentrations. The findings indicate that fluoride (F^-) originates mainly from geogenic processes. Elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in one well are likely linked to local anthropogenic sources, while widespread manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) contamination across the city may result from industrial wastewater and landfill leachate. The dominant hydrochemical facies was Ca-Mg-HCO₃ during the dry, pre-monsoon, and monsoon seasons, shifting to Na-K-HCO₃ in the post-monsoon season, potentially influenced by ion-exchange processes. Cluster analysis identified poor water quality in the northeastern part of the city, and principal component analysis demonstrated that both geological and anthropogenic factors affect water quality. Human health risk assessment further revealed that children are more susceptible to non-carcinogenic health risks, whereas adults are more vulnerable to carcinogenic health risks. These findings highlight the need for targeted groundwater monitoring and pollution control to protect public health, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abou Zakhem, B., & Hafez, R. (2015). Hydrochemical, isotopic and statistical characteristics of groundwater nitrate pollution in Damascus Oasis (Syria). Environmental Earth Sciences, 74(4), 2781–2797. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4258-1

Adelana, S. M. A., Abiye, T. A., Nkhuwa, D. C. W., Tindimugaya, C., & Oga, M. S. (2008). Urban groundwater management and protection in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Applied Groundwater Studies in Africa (pp. 241–270). CRC Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203889497-16

APHA (2017). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (23rd edition). Washington DC: American Public Health Association.

Arunprakash, M., Giridharan, L., Krishnamurthy, R. R., & Jayaprakash, M. (2013). Impact of urbanization in groundwater of south Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 71(2), 947–957. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2496-7

Asadi, P., Hosseini, S. M., Ataie-Ashtiani, B., & Simmons, C. T. (2017). Fuzzy vulnerability mapping of urban groundwater systems to nitrate contamination. Environmental Modelling & Software, 96, 146–157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.06.043

Baier, K., Schmitz, K. C., Azzam, R., & Strohschön, R. (2014). Management tools for sustainable ground water protection in mega urban areas – small scale land use and ground water vulnerability analyses in Guangzhou, China. International Journal of Environmental Research, 8(2).

Bakshi, A. R., & Roy, I. (2014). Groundwater management options in Greater Guwahati area. Proc. Water Resource Day Seminar, Institute of Engineers, Guwahati, 68–80.

Balakrishnan, P., Saleem, A., & Mallikarjun, N. D. (2011). Groundwater quality mapping using geographic information system (GIS): A case study of Gulbarga City, Karnataka, India. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5(12). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST11.134

Banerjee, A. (2015). Groundwater fluoride contamination: A reappraisal. Geoscience Frontiers, 6(2), 277–284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2014.03.003

Borah, M., Das, P. K., Borthakur, P., Basumatary, P., & Das, D. (2020). An assessment of surface and ground water quality of some selected locations in Guwahati. International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences, 15(1), 93–108.

Chapman, D. (1996). Water quality assessments: A guide to the use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring. UNESCO/WHO/UNEP, Cambridge, Great Britain, 609.

Choi, B.-Y., Yun, S.-T., Yu, S.-Y., Lee, P.-K., Park, S.-S., Chae, G.-T., & Mayer, B. (2005). Hydrochemistry of urban groundwater in Seoul, South Korea: effects of land-use and pollutant recharge. Environmental Geology, 48(8), 979–990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1205-y

Choudhury, R., Nath, B., Rahman, M. M., Medhi, S., & Dutta, J. (2024). Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater contamination in Guwahati city, Assam, India: Tracing the elemental Threads. Journal of Environmental Management, 359, 120933. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120933

Collin, M. S., Venkatraman, S. K., Vijayakumar, N., Kanimozhi, V., Arbaaz, S. M., Stacey, R. G. S., Anusha, J., Choudhary, R., Lvov, V., Tovar, G. I., Senatov, F., Koppala, S., & Swamiappan, S. (2022). Bioaccumulation of lead (Pb) and its effects on human: A review. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 7, 100094. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100094

Das, N., & Goswami, D. (2013). A geo-environmental analysis of the groundwater resource vis-α-vis surface water scenario in Guwahati City. Current World Environment Journal, 8(2), 275–282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12944/CWE.8.2.13

Das, R., Laishram, B., & Jawed, M. (2019). Perception of groundwater quality and health effects on willingness to procure: The case of upcoming water supply scheme in Guwahati, India. Journal of Cleaner Production, 226, 615–627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.097

Dewhurst, R. E., Wheeler, J. R., Chummun, K. S., Mather, J. D., Callaghan, A., & Crane, M. (2002). The comparison of rapid bioassays for the assessment of urban groundwater quality. Chemosphere, 47(5), 547–554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(02)00060-7

Dutta, J., Choudhury, R., & Nath, B. (2024). Quantification of urban groundwater recharge: A case study of rapidly urbanizing Guwahati City, India. Urban Science, 8(4), 187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8040187

Edokpayi, J. N., Enitan, A. M., Mutileni, N., & Odiyo, J. O. (2018). Evaluation of water quality and human risk assessment due to heavy metals in groundwater around Muledane area of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Chemistry Central Journal, 12, 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-017-0369-y

Ehsan, N., Dawood, A., Waheed, F., Nasir, R., Rebouh, N. Y., Rizvi, S. I., Muzamil, A., & Zaman, Q. U. (2025). Human and ecological health risks from heavy metal contamination in groundwater aquifers. Scientific Reports, 15, 22826. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02499-6

Eiswirth, M., & Hӧtzl, H. (1997). The impact of leaking sewers on urban groundwater. In: Chilton, J., et al. (Eds.), Groundwater in the Urban Environment, Vol. 1. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 399–404.

Gupta, I. D., Lee, V. W., & Trifunac, M. D. (2021). Seismic microzoning of Guwahati metropolitan area, Assam, India. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 142, 106562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106562

Handa, B. K. (1975). Geochemistry and genesis of fluoride‐containing ground waters in India. Groundwater, 13(3), 275–281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1975.tb03086.x

Hazarika, N., & Nitivattananon, V. (2016). Strategic assessment of groundwater resource exploitation using DPSIR framework in Guwahati city, India. Habitat International, 51, 79–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.10.003

Hinge, G., Bharali, B., Baruah, A., & Sharma, A. (2022). Integrated groundwater quality analysis using Water Quality Index, GIS and multivariate technique: a case study of Guwahati City. Environmental Earth Sciences, 81, 412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10544-0

Huang, L., Rad, S., Xu, L., Gui, L., Song, X., Li, Y., Wu, Z., & Chen, Z. (2020). Heavy metals distribution, sources, and ecological risk assessment in Huixian Wetland, South China. Water, 12(2), 431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020431

Izbicki, J.A., & Michel, R.L. (2004). Movement and age of ground water in the western part of the Mojave Desert, southern California, USA. Water-Resources Investigations Report, 3, 4314.

Karanth, K.R. (1987). Ground water assessment development and management. McGraw Hill Publishing Company Ltd., New Delhi.

Khan, H. H., Khan, A., Ahmed, S., & Perrin, J. (2011). GIS-based impact assessment of land-use changes on groundwater quality: study from a rapidly urbanizing region of South India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 63(6), 1289–1302. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0801-2

Kotoky, P., Sarma, B., & Kotoky, E. D. (2017). Fluoride contamination of groundwater of the Hatigaon area of Assam, India and the variation of fluoride content levels with the depth of wells. International Journal of Scientific Development and Research, 2(4), 509–516.

Krishna kumar, S., Logeshkumaran, A., Magesh, N. S., Godson, P. S., & Chandrasekar, N. (2015). Hydro-geochemistry and application of water quality index (WQI) for groundwater quality assessment, Anna Nagar, part of Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India. Applied Water Science, 5(4), 335–343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-014-0196-4

Kullar, S. S., Shao, K., Surette, C., Foucher, D., Mergler, D., Cormier, P., Bellinger, D. C., Barbeau, B., Sauvé, S., & Bouchard, M. F. (2019). A benchmark concentration analysis for manganese in drinking water and IQ deficits in children. Environment International, 130, 104889. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.083

Kumar, P., Singh, C. K., Saraswat, C., Mishra, B., & Sharma, T. (2017). Evaluation of aqueous geochemistry of fluoride enriched groundwater: A case study of the Patan district, Gujarat, Western India. Water Science, 31(2), 215–229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsj.2017.05.002

Kuroda, K., & Fukushi, T. (2008). Groundwater Contamination in Urban Areas. In cSUR-UT Series: Library for Sustainable Urban Regeneration (pp. 125–149). Springer Japan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-78399-2_7

Lahkar, M. & Bhattacharyya, K. G. (2008). Heavy metal contamination of groundwater in Guwahati city, Assam, India. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 6(6), 1520–1525.

Lakshmanan, E., & Kannan, R. (2007). Rock–water interaction and its control on chemical composition of groundwater. In Developments in Environmental Science, 5, 229–243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-8177(07)05011-5

Nas, B., & Berktay, A. (2008). Groundwater quality mapping in urban groundwater using GIS. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 160(1–4), 215–227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0689-4

Nath, B., Jean, J.-S., Lee, M.-K., Yang, H.-J., & Liu, C.-C. (2008). Geochemistry of high arsenic groundwater in Chia-Nan plain, Southwestern Taiwan: Possible sources and reactive transport of arsenic. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 99(1–4), 85–96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.04.005

Nath, B., Ni-Meister, W., & Choudhury, R. (2021). Impact of urbanization on land use and land cover change in Guwahati city, India and its implication on declining groundwater level. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 12, 100500. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100500

Roy, G. K., Kumar, S., Alam, F., Kujur, A., Anand, S., & Srivastava, S. K. (2021). Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index in Ranchi Urban area, Jharkhand (India): in parts of Subarnrekha River Basin. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 103(17), 4970–4983. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2021.1933461

Sahariah, B., Goswami, L., Farooqui, I. U., Raul, P., Bhattacharyya, P., & Bhattacharya, S. (2015). Solubility, hydrogeochemical impact, and health assessment of toxic metals in municipal wastes of two differently populated cities. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 157, 100–109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2015.06.003

Shaji, E., Sarath, K. V., Santosh, M., Krishnaprasad, P. K., Arya, B. K., & Babu, M. S. (2024). Fluoride contamination in groundwater: A global review of the status, processes, challenges, and remedial measures. Geoscience Frontiers, 15(2), 101734. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2023.101734

Subba Rao, N. (2003). Groundwater quality: focus on fluoride concentration in rural parts of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 48(5), 835–847. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1623/hysj.48.5.835.51449

Subba Rao, N., Ravindra, B., & Wu, J. (2020). Geochemical and health risk evaluation of fluoride rich groundwater in Sattenapalle Region, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 26(9), 2316–2348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2020.1741338

Tizro, A. T., Fryar, A. E., Vanaei, A., Kazakis, N., Voudouris, K., & Mohammadi, P. (2021). Estimation of total dissolved solids in Zayandehrood River using intelligent models and PCA. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 7(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-021-00497-w

USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). (1991). Risk assessment guidance for superfund Volume I-human health evaluation manual (Part B, development of risk based preliminary remediation goals). EPA-540-R-92-003. Washington DC.

USEPA. (2004). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS), Volume I: Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part E, Supplemental Guidance for Dermal Risk Assessment). EPA-540/R/99/005. Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Washington, DC, USA.

Vystavna, Y., Diadin, D., Rossi, P. M., Gusyev, M., Hejzlar, J., Mehdizadeh, R., & Huneau, F. (2018). Quantification of water and sewage leakages from urban infrastructure into a shallow aquifer in East Ukraine. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(22). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7936-y

Wenzel, W. W., & Blum, W.E. (1992). Fluoride speciation and mobility in fluoride contaminated soil and minerals. Journal of Soil Science, 153, 357–364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-199205000-00003

Zaidi, F. K., Salman, A., Hag-Elsafi, S., & Alfaifi, H. J. (2019). Assessment of hydrological processes operating in a multi-layered sedimentary aquifer system in Saudi Arabia using integrated chemical and statistical approach. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7597-7