Groundwater quality assessment of Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan and Sijawal Junejo Talukas of District Qambar Shahdadkot, Sindh

The study examines the water quality of Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan and Sijawal Junejo talukas of Qambar Shahdadkot District, less affected by industrial contamination. A total of 38 groundwater samples were collected and analysed for 28 parameters. The results indicated that 57.89% samples were not suitable for drinking purpose with total dissolved solids above than maximum permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO) (1000 mg/L). The pH, total phosphate, orthophosphate and nitrite were within WHO limits. The concentration of essential metals more than half samples, fluoride in 60.52% and heavy metals 0–50% were contaminated higher than permissible limits of WHO. The statistical analysis of water quality parameters was also carried out to evaluate coefficient of determination among the parameters, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Water quality determined for irrigation based on Kelly index (KI), sodium percentage (Na%), chloride–sulphate ratio, sodium adsorption ratio, permeability index (PI), chloroalkaline indices 1 (CAI-1), residual sodium carbonate and chloride bicarbonate ratio indicated that samples (55 to 100%) could be used for irrigation purposes. The consumption of water with high concentration of salts and fluoride above the permissible limits may be a cause of a number of diseases in the area.