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Geospatial assessment and hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater resources of Manipur Valley, India

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Abstract

Spatio-temporal hydrogeochemical assessments of groundwater resources were carried out for the valley region of Manipur in India to investigate its quality status and suitability criteria for irrigational and potable uses. The assessment was carried out for 140 spatially distributed groundwater samples collected during 2018–2021 for pre- and post-monsoon seasons. To assess and comprehend the hydrogeochemical behavior of underlying aquifers and controlling factors for groundwater quality in the region, groundwater quality indices and statistical tools were used. Assessment of in situ parameters such as pH, TDS, salinity, and EC under field conditions reveal that the values exceed concentration in many locations. Most of the samples fall in the category of hard to very hard water. Moreover, observation of both positive and negative oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in groundwater samples indicates aquifers are of recent unstable geologic formations. Similarly, elevated concentrations of F−, Cl−, HCO3−, and Fe3+ greater than the prescribed standards of the World Health Organization in many samples indicate the unsuitability of the groundwater sources for potable uses. The geochemical interactions were found to be dominated and controlled by the rock-weathering geochemical process that contributes to HCO3−-Ca2+-type water, followed by HCO3−-Na+, Cl−-Ca2+, and mixed-type water in both seasons. Spatio-temporal geospatial vulnerable groundwater zone mapping using interpolation techniques carried out in the ArcGIS platform identifies the aquifers based on the water quality and pollution indices. The study’s significant findings can provide baseline information that can supplement the government’s planning and management initiatives to deal with the current water security challenges in the region as groundwater uses are increasing due to various hydroclimatic phenomena in the state.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors humbly acknowledge the Department of Earth Science, Manipur University, Canchipur, for providing ArcGIS software facilities for geospatial mapping and analysis.

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  1. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Manipur University, Canchipur, Manipur, India

    Yumnam Gyanendra & Wazir Alam

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  1. Yumnam Gyanendra
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Yumnam Gyanendra: sampling, sample analysis, and investigation; Dr. Wazir Alam: conceptualization, methodology, original draft preparation, reviewing and editing, project administration.

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Correspondence to Wazir Alam.

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Gyanendra, Y., Alam, W. Geospatial assessment and hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater resources of Manipur Valley, India. Environ Monit Assess 195, 1037 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11584-0

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