Water Quality Characteristics and Suitability of Groundwater in Doiwala Block in Dehradun District: A Statistical Analysis

The study aims to evaluate the suitability of groundwater based on metrics related to water quality characteristics and water quality indicators. Physicochemical analysis was performed on groundwater samples obtained from all selected stations in the Doiwala district. The current status of water quality was determined through statistical analysis of 16 factors related to water quality, as well as through calculation of the water quality index. The parameters tested include pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium content, magnesium content, sodium content, potassium content, chloride content, sulfate content, bicarbonate content, nitrate content, alkalinity, and turbidity. The results were evaluated and compared against water quality standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The research revealed that the presence of various rock types with high hardness levels is responsible for groundwater pollution. Key ions in both positively and negatively charged particles include alkalinity, turbidity, iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca). The Piper ternary diagram illustrates the occurrence of Mg-Cl and CaMgCl species in groundwater samples. Based on the ICA findings, most samples were rated as excellent to good quality, indicating they were safe for consumption.