Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Hydrochemical and Multivariate Approaches in Coastal Taluka Shaheed Fazil Rahu, District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan

Pakistan ranks 14th among the most water-stressed countries globally, with groundwater (GW)serving as the primary water source for both rural and urban populations. However, GW contamination is agrowing concern, driven by excessive agrochemical use, improper wastewater disposal, and toxic elements.Coastal Sindh, particularly District Badin, faces severe water scarcity and deteriorating GW quality, exacerbatedby seawater intrusion and the absence of proper water storage and supply infrastructure. This study assesses GWquality in Taluka Shaheed Fazil Rahu (SFR), District Badin, using hydrochemical and multivariate statisticalapproaches to evaluate contamination sources and freshwater availability. A total of 105 GW samples wereacquired from communal bore wells across three union councils and analyzed for physical, chemical, andmicrobiological parameters. Results showed that 65.71% of samples exceeded turbidity limits, 64.76% had highEC, and 58.1% surpassed TDS thresholds. Microbiological analysis detected total coliforms in 29.52% and E. coliin 12.38%, indicating fecal contamination. Contaminants followed the order: Cl⁻ (56.19%) > HCO₃⁻ (54.29%) >Na⁺ (37.14%) > SO₄²⁻ (31.43%) > K⁺ (25.71%) > Mg²⁺ (24.76%) > Ca²⁺ (22.86%) > F⁻ (14.29%) > As (5.71%) >NO₃⁻ (1.90%). Multivariate analysis identified salinity (EC, TDS), bicarbonate, chloride, and sodium as primaryinfluences on GW quality. WQI classification showed only 7.62% of samples as excellent, while most werecategorized as poor, with UC Tarai (38.46%) having the highest proportion. The findings highlight critical waterquality concerns and threats to public health, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring, water treatment,disinfection, and sustainable utilization of resources to ensure safe drinking water.