Groundwater Quality Assessment of Newly Developed Dwarka Region, New Delhi, India

Abstract

Groundwater plays a pivotal role in water management worldwide as a renewable natural resource. The issues with water management are multifaceted and are associated with quality assessment, augmentation, distribution, reuse or recycling, pollution, and its protection from depletion and degradation. To address this issue, near the newly developed region of Dwarka, New Delhi, India, this study investigates the hydrochemistry and groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation. To assess the quality of these, several water quality parameters, such as electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and other ions were determined. Based on the previous parameters, the water quality index (WQI) was determined, which indicated that 87% of samples were undesirable for drinking purposes. A very high value of some parameters, such as TDS and nitrates, was of major concern. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation was estimated using parameters such as the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and percent sodium (Na%), which showed a low alkali hazard and indicated that the water resources were suitable for irrigation. The Piper trilinear and Chadha diagrams that are used to understand the evolution of the hydrochemistry of groundwater showed the presence of permanent and temporary hardness in the groundwater. The Wilcox and Gibbs classification inferred that the majority of groundwater samples fall under the evaporation–crystallization category, partly influenced by the water–rock interactions and aquifer materials. The results of this study are significant for drinking and irrigation purposes and indicate the need for water quality control before use. This study could be helpful for local farmers, authorities, and policymakers to interpret the current groundwater conditions of the newly developed Dwarka Region. It will help in the sustainable management and implementation of water quality control programs and make them more resilient.