Groundwater Resources and Quality in the Lai Catchment: A Geophysical, Hydrochemical, and Geological integration in twin cities of Pakistan
Keywords:
Aquifer, Geophysical, Geological, Hydrochemical, Lithological, Paleo-channels, Twin cities.Abstract
The population residing in the Lai River Basin has been subjected to water management issues since
long. The area is facing a surge in population due to migration of people from different cities into the twin
cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The present study integrated geophysical, geological and hydrochemical
datasets to identify the subsurface aquifer system, delineate the source of contamination and identify the
nature and type of contamination. The geophysical data comprised of 17 Audio Magneto Telluric (AMT)
profiles coupled with 30 borehole data sets and 60 water samples. The geophysical data identified numerous
shallow and deep aquifer system along with paleo channels. The lithologies were classified into high, low and
intermediate resistivity zones. It was observed that higher resistivity zones were associated with surficial clay
and silt deposits whereas low values were attributed to presence of contaminants that were seeped into
shallow paleochannels. The geological data revealed presence of sandy clay, gravel as shallow aquifer system
whereas at greater depth confined aquifer was encountered comprising of gravel and sand. It was further
observed that the slope has greater influence on localized stream deposition. Results of hydrochemical
analysis revealed the dominance of Ca²+ and Na+, whereas HCO - followed by SO ²-, respectively. Based on 3 4
this chemical composition, the river system had its origin mainly in major carbonate weathering and minor
silicate dissolution. The presence of higher concentrations of these ions is attributed to the discharge of
untreated sewage, industrial effluents and domestic waste into the Lai River. During groundwater recharge
these contaminants infiltrate into the aquifers and pose significant threat to human and environmental health
risk. This process in more concentrated in densely populated regions of Rawalpindi which lies in middle or
lower reaches of Lai River Basin (LRB) area. The present research critically analysis the subsurface water
bearing bodies and threats that are faced by those due to Lai River.
References
Abdulsalam, A., Ramli, M.F., Jamil, N.R., Ashaari, Z.H., Umar, D.A., 2022. Hydrochemical characteristics and identification of groundwater pollution sources in tropical savanna. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 37384–37398.
Adagunodo, T.A., Aremu, A.A., Bayowa, O.G., Ojoawo, A.I., Adewoye, A.O., Olonade, T.E., 2023. Assessment and health effects of radon and its relation with some parameters in groundwater sources from shallow aquifers in granitic terrains, southeastern axis of Ibadan, Nigeria. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 21, 100930.
Ahmed, Z., Ansari, M.T., Zahir, M., Shakir, U., Subhan, M., 2020. Hydrogeophysical investigation for groundwater potential through Electrical Resistivity Survey in I s l amabad, Pakistan. Journal of Geography and Social Sciences (JGSS), 2, 147–163.
Alabi, A.A., Ganiyu, S.A., Idowu, O.A., Ogabi, A.F., Popoola, O.I., Coker, J.O., 2022. Mapping of aquifer units in a complex geologic terrain using natural electric field and electrical resistivity techniques. Ife Journal of Science, 24, 419–440.
Alam, F., Azmat, M., Zarin, R., Ahmad, S., Raziq, A., Young, H.-W.V., Nguyen, K.- A., Liou, Y.-A., 2022. Identification of potential natural aquifer recharge sites in Islamabad, Pakistan, by integrating GIS and RS techniques. Remote Sensing (Basel), 14, 6051.
Ali, A., Baig, N., Iqbal, S., Begum, J., Nosheen, G., 2012. Assessment of quality of water in Kabul River, Nowshera city, Pakistan. Environmental Science archives, 6, 62–67.
Awan, M., 2019. Application of electrical resistivity method in delineating aquifer properties along with vulnerability mappingin Gujrat District and surrounding areas of Punjab province, Pakistan. Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences, 52, 106–128.
Dil, A.S., Qazi, I., Baig, M.A., 2008. National Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWG), Government of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. Islamabad, Pakistan.
Diop, S., M'mayi, P., Lisbjerg, D., 2015. Vital water graphics: An overview of the state of the world's fresh and marine waters. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme.
Egbi, C.D., Anornu, G., Appiah-Adjei, E.K., Ganyaglo, S.Y., Dampare, S.B., 2019. Evaluation of water quality using hydrochemistry, stable isotopes, and water quality indices in the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana. Environmental Development and Sustainability, 21, 3033–3063. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018- 0180-5
Ejaz, N., Hashmi, H.N., Ghumman, A.R., 2011. Water quality assessment of effluent receiving streams in Pakistan: A case study of Ravi River. Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology 30, 383–396.
Fan, B.-L., Zhao, Z.-Q., Tao, F.-X., Liu, B.-J., Tao, Z.-H., Gao, S., Zhang, L.-H., 2014. Characteristics of carbonate, evaporite and silicate weathering in Huanghe River basin: A comparison among the upstream, midstream and downstream. Journal of Asian Earth Science 96, 17–26.
Farzamian, M., Paz, M.C., Paz, A.M., Castanheira, N.L., Gonçalves, M.C., Monteiro Santos, F.A., Triantafilis, J., 2019. Mapping soil salinity using electromagnetic conductivity imaging—A comparison of regional and location‐specific calibrations. Land Degradation & Development 30, 1393–1406.
Gaillardet, J., Dupré, B., Allègre, C.J., 1999. Geochemistry of large river suspended sediments: silicate weathering or recycling t racer? Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63, 4037–4051.
Gautam, B., Maskey, R., Sapkota, R.P., Dangol, D.R., 2015. Aquatic Macro-invertebrates as Bio-indicators: An Approach for Wetland Water Quality Assessment of Rampur Ghol, Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Institute of Science and Technology 19, 58–64.
Iqbal, N., Din, S., Ashraf, M., Asmat, S., 2023. Hydrological Assessment of Surface and Groundwater Resources of Islamabad, Pakistan. Pak. Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) Islamabad 76.
Jalees, M.I., Farooq, M.U., Anis, M., Hussain, G., Iqbal, A., Saleem, S., 2021 . Hydrochemistry modelling: evaluation of groundwater quality deterioration due to anthropogenic activities in Lahore, Pakistan. Environmental Development and Sustainability, 23, 3062–3076.
Jordán, M.M., Navarro-Pedreno, J., García- Sánchez, E., Mateu, J., Juan, P., 2004. Spatial dynamics of soil salinity under arid and semi-arid conditions: geological and environmental implications. Environmental Geology 45, 448–456.
Khan, A., Khan, T.A., Sheraz, K., Leghari, M., 2015. Relationship between seepage and discharge for Kabul River in district Nowshera. Pakistan Journal of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Sciences 31, 249–259.
Kresse, T.M., Warner, N.R., Hays, P.D., Down, A., Vengosh, A., Jackson, R.B., 2012. Shallow groundwater quality and geochemistry in the Fayetteville Shale gas-production area, north-central Arkansas, 2011. US Geological Survey.
Library, P.R., Islam, M.R., Bania, R., Baruah, D., Biswas, S.P., Gupta, A., Science, E., 2012. Hydro-Chemistry of Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, NE India 2, 2451–2455.
Lu, Y., Ding, H., Yang, T., Liu, Y., 2023. Geothermal Water Exploration of the Maoyanhe Hot Spring Scenic Spot in Zhangjiajie Using the Natural Electric Field Frequency Selection Method. Water (Basel) 15, 3418.
Mahanta, C., Enmark, G., Nordborg, D., Sracek, O., Nath, B., Nickson, R.T., Herbert, R., Jacks, G., Mukherjee, A., Ramanathan, A.L., Choudhury, R., Bhattacharya, P., 2015. Hydrogeochemical controls on mobilization of arsenic in groundwater of a part of Brahmaputra River floodplain, India. Journal of Hydrology, 4, 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.03.00 2.
Mapoma, H.W.T., Xie, X., Liu, Y., Zhu, Y., Kawaye, F.P., Kayira, T.M., 2017. Hydrochemistry and quality of groundwater in alluvial aquifer of Karonga, Malawi. Environmental Earth Science, 76, 335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6653-2
Niaz, A., Khan, M.R., Nisar, U. Bin, Khan, S., Mustafa, S., Hameed, F., Mughal, M.S., Farooq, M., Rizwan, M., 2017. The study of aquifers potential and contamination based on geoelectric technique and chemical analysis in Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences 50, 60–73.
Nisar, U.B., Khan, M.J., Imran, M., Khan, M.R., Farooq, M., Ehsan, S.A., Ahmad, A., Qazi, H.H., Rashid, N., Manzoor, T. 2021. Groundwater investigations in the Hattar industrial estate and its vicinity, Haripur district, Pakistan: An integrated approach. Kuwait Journal of Science, 48 (1). journalskuwait.org.
Pacheco Castro, R., Pacheco Ávila, J., Ye, M., Cabrera Sansores, A., 2017a. Groundwater Quality: Analysis of Its Temporal and Spatial Variability in a Karst Aquifer. Groundwater 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12546
Pant, R.R., 2018. Characterization and Assessment of Water Quality Environment in the Himalaya, Nepal.
Pant, R.R., 2013. Water Quality Assessment of Nagdaha Lake, Lalitpur, Nepal. Journal of TUTA University Campus 8, 52–56.
Pant, R.R., Bishwakarma, K., Paudel, S., Pandey, N., Adhikari, S.K., Ranabhat, K., 2020. Spatial Distribution and Trend Analysis of Current Status of COVID-19 in Nepal and Global Future Preventive Perspectives, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-54139/v1
Pant, R.R., Pal, K.Bdr., Adhikari, N.L., Adhikari, S., Mishra, A.D., 2019. Water Quality Assessment of Begnas and Rupa Lakes, Lesser Himalaya Pokhara, Nepal. Journal of the Institute of Engineering 15, 113–122. https://doi.org/10.3126/jie.v15i2.27655.
Pant, R.R., Zhang, F., Qaiser, F.R., Maskey, R., 2018a. Contrasting Characteristics of Water Quality in Kali and Seti Rivers, Central Himalaya, Gandaki Province - Nepal. International Lake Conference: Sustainable Utilization of Lake Resources, Pokhara 11-13 May, 2018. Kathmandu: National Lake Conservation Development Committee (NLCDC). 7, 121–129.
Pant, R.R., Zhang, F., Rehman, F.U., Wang, G., Ye, M., Zeng, C., Tang, H., 2018b. Spatio temporal variations of hydrogeochemistry and its controlling factors in the Gandaki River Basin, Central Himalaya Nepal. Science of the Total Environment 622, 770–782.
Qaisar, F.U.R., Zhang, F., Pant, R.R., Wang, G., Khan, S., Zeng, C., 2018. Spatial variation, source identification, and quality assessment of surface water geochemical composition in the Indus River Basin, Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25, 12749–12763.
Qureshi, A.S., Gill, M.A., Sarwar, A., 2010. Sustainable groundwater management in Pakistan: Challenges and opportunities. Irrigation and Drainage 59, 107–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.455
Raza, M.H., Jabeen, F., Ikram, S., Zafar, S., 2023. Characterization and implication of microplastics on riverine population of the River Ravi, Lahore, Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30, 6828–6848.
Shabbir, R., Ahmad, S.S., 2015. Use of geographic information system and water quality index to assess groundwater quality in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Arabian Journal of Science and Engineering. 40, 2033–2047.
Si, J., Qi, F., Xiaohu, W., Yonghong, S., Haiyang, X., Zongqiang, C., 2009. Major ion chemistry of groundwater in the extreme arid region northwest China. Environmental geology.
Singh, K.P., Malik, A., Sinha, S., Singh, V.K., Murthy, R.C., 2005. Estimation of source of heavy metal contamination in sediments of Gomti River (India) using principal component analysis. Water Air Soil Pollution 166, 321–341.
Singh, D. S., Prajapati, S.K., Singh, P., Singh, K., Kumar, D., 2015a. Climatically induced levee break and flood risk management of the Gorakhpur region, Rapti River Basin, Ganga Plain, India. Journal of the Geological Society of India 85, 79–86.
Singh, D. S., Prajapati, S.K., Singh, P., Singh, K., Kumar, D., 2015b. Climatically induced levee break and flood risk management of the Gorakhpur region, Rapti River Basin, Ganga Plain, India. Journal of the Geological Society of India 85, 79–86.
Ullah, R., Malik, R.N., Qadir, A., 2009. Assessment of groundwater contamination in an industrial city, Sialkot, Pakistan. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 3.
Vinoth Kingston, J., Antony Ravindran, A., Richard Abishek, S., Aswin, S.K., Antony Alosanai Promilton, A., 2022. Integrated geophysical and geochemical assessment of submarine groundwater discharge in coastal terrace of Tiruchendur, Southern India. Applied Water Science, 12, 9.
Zheng, M., Liu, X., 2009. Hydrochemistry of Salt Lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Aquatic Geochemistry, 15, 293–320.
