Application of environmetrics statistical models and water quality index for groundwater quality characterization of alluvial aquifer of Nalagarh Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Evaluation of groundwater quality to ascertain its utility gain extra concern in the present day life. This study was carried out to reveal the various factors responsible for deterioration of water quality using environmetric techniques (principal component analysis and cluster analysis), water quality index (WQI) and conventional graphical representation such as Piper trillinear diagram in the industrial area of Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India. The analysis of parameters like pH, EC, TDS, TH and major ions concentrations such as Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻ and PO₄ ²⁻ were carried out to assess the source of pollution in the study area. The parameters like Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ are within desirable limit as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking and domestic purposes. pH, TH and Mg²⁺ exceeded the permissible limits at certain sites and about 50 % samples of EC, TDS, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were above the desirable limits which gives us caution. Piper trillinear diagram classified 93.75 and 90.63 % of groundwater samples for both seasons falls in the fields of Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃ ⁻ water type indicating temporary hardness. Results of WQI indicate majority of samples falls in poor to unfit range in both seasons. PCA and CA identifies that the groundwater chemistry were influenced by natural as well as minor anthropogenic activities. Thus, the affirmative solution will be proper groundwater development and management practices through artificial recharge to maintain both quality and quantity.