Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Heavy Metals by Using Chemical Indices Approach in Karachi, Pakistan

Aziz Ur Rahman; Haq Nawaz Abbasi; Muhammad Owais

doi:10.21743/pjaec/2021.12.14

Authors

Aziz Ur Rahman Department of Chemistry, Government Degree Boys College, 5-L, New Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Author
Haq Nawaz Abbasi Department of Environmental Science, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Owais Department of Energy and Environment, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21743/pjaec/2021.12.14

Keywords:

Geo accumulation index, Heavy metals, Industrial effluent, Korangi industrial estate, Nemerow's pollution index, Pollution load index

Abstract

Freshwater consumption has been increased because of population growth and economic development. At the same time, depletion and contamination of groundwater is subject of great concern. Karachi is the industrial hub and serves as the economic backbone of Pakistan. The research aims to investigate the heavy metal pollution in the groundwater of Korangi Industrial Area, one of the largest industrial estates in Karachi. Eighteen representative locations were selected to collect groundwater samples and study the concentrations of heavy metals Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb. Pollution load index, Nemerow's pollution index, and geo accumulation index approaches were used to interpret the basic data. The average concentrations of the measured heavy metals were 354.67 μg.L^-1, 694.33 μg.L^-1, 39.2 μg.L^-1, 12.89 μg.L^-1, 9.5 μg.L^-1, and 6.17 μg.L^-1 for Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Ni, respectively. The results showed that groundwater quality in the study area is poor and mainly contaminated by Pb and Fe