Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Industrialization and Urbanization on Groundwater Quality: A Comprehensive Review of Methodological Approaches in Ethiopia

This study assessed the degradation of groundwater quality across Ethiopia’s major hydrological basins (Blue Nile, Awash, Rift Valley, and Omo-Gibe) to identify the contamination hotspots and methodological gaps. Synthesizing 30 studies (2020–2025) using geospatial analysis, critical trends were elucidated. The Upper and Middle Awash Basins showed nitrate (62.2 mg/L) and fluoride (18.2 mg/L) levels exceeding WHO limits (50 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively). In Blue Nile Basin’s Bahir Dar city, fecal coliform levels exceeded 272 CFU/100 mL signalling microbial contamination. Industrial zones (Addis Ababa, Hawassa) showed chromium (0.12–1.8 mg/L) and lead (0.05–0.3 mg/L) levels surpassing WHO thresholds for chromium (0.05 mg/L) and lead (0.01 mg/L). The Rift Valley Basin faced persistent fluoride (1.8–6.5 mg/L) and agricultural nitrate pollution from fertilizer runoff. A spatial risk model prioritized the Awash Basin due to co-occurring arsenic, lead, and pathogens. Methodological inconsistencies, such as variable arsenic detection limits (0.01–0.05 mg/L) and limited seasonal data, hindered comparability. The analysis underscores urgent standardized monitoring in understudied basins like the Blue Nile (<15% heavy metals assessed). Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, management strategies include industrial regulation, wastewater management, and remediation in high-risk zones like Bahir Dar City.