Integrated method of groundwater quality evaluation using pollution indices, automatic linear modelling and human health risk model in semi-arid region of India

The aim of our research is to evaluate groundwater quality in the southern part of India using novel integrated methods such as automatic linear modelling (ALM) and human health risk model (HHRM). The water samples were collected based on the industrial and population density in study region. According to the attained results, the Ca-Mg-Cl type of groundwater was found in the higher part of the study region. Nitrate pollution index results revealed that 67.92% and 64.15% of sample loca-tions were contaminated in pre and post monsoon, respectively. The results of HHRM divulged that nitrate contamination levels of all the exposed age groups (in years) of people varied in the order of 1 to 5 > 6 to 12 > above 65 > 30 to 65 > 20 to 29 > 13 to 19. The statistical analysis and ALM revealed that municipal waste disposal and synthetic fertilizers usage are the source of contamination in a north and south east zone of the study region. The present research found that sources of con-tamination such as anthropogenic activities influenced in northern, north-east, some part of south region and geogenic sources dominated in the southern and south west part of the study region.