EGU24-8383, updated on 08 Mar 2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8383
EGU General Assembly 2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Assessment of the evolution of groundwater quality for the state of California, United States using weighted index overlay analysis

Anisha Das1, Dolon Banerjee2, and Sayantan Ganguly3
Anisha Das et al.
  • 1M.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India (2022cem1005@iitrpr.ac.in)
  • 2PhD Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India (dolon.20cez0004@iitrpr.ac.in)
  • 3Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India (sayantan.ganguly@iitrpr.ac.in)

One of our planet’s most significant and important widely available resources is groundwater, which is also a major global source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. Subterranean aquifers typically provide over 40% of the water consumed by California’s towns and farmers, and a substantial amount more during the drought years. Since aquifers are influenced by both natural and anthropogenic processes, groundwater pollution is a major issue worldwide. Ecosystem functions, human health, and socio-economic development, all depend on the quality of the water that it used in different sectors. In order to guarantee the safe and sustainable use of these resources for a variety of purposes, it is crucial to evaluate and monitor the quality of groundwater. In this study, the groundwater quality for the state of California, United States was evaluated using Weighted Index Overlay Analysis to establish the suitability of it for human consumption. The dataset utilized in the study was hosted by the California State Water Resources Control Board (CSWRCB).

Groundwater data collected from CSWRCB website on physiochemical parameters, such as total dissolved solids, total hardness and main cations like Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ & K+ as well as anions like HCO3-, Cl-, SO42- & NO3-  were analysed to determine the quality of groundwater in California. Using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) approach for interpolation, spatial maps were generated in ArcMap. In accordance with WHO drinking water quality guidelines, weights have been allocated to several physiochemical characteristics for the Weighted Index Overlay Analysis (WIOA).  California's groundwater quality's temporal variation is assessed for last 15 years to investigate the evolution of groundwater usability for drinking in the state.

                                                     

                           Figure 1. Flowchart showcasing WIOA working procedure for groundwater quality assessment for drinking purpose

 

 

How to cite: Das, A., Banerjee, D., and Ganguly, S.: Assessment of the evolution of groundwater quality for the state of California, United States using weighted index overlay analysis, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8383, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8383, 2024.