Physicochemical Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Its Suitability for Drinking, Irrigation, and Industrial Use in Shahnagar Block, District Panna, Madhya Pradesh, India

1Brijnandan Mishra, 2Ankit Gupta, 3Ravi Chaurey

1,2Research Scholar (Geology), Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science & Environment

3Associate Professor (Geology), Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science & Environment

Mahatma GanSdhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.) - 485334

Abstract
Background: Groundwater is virtually the sole source of drinking water for rural communities in the Shahnagar Block of Panna District, Madhya Pradesh, yet its hydrochemical character and fitness for various uses remain poorly documented at the micro-level. Methods: Fourteen groundwater samples were collected in December 2025 from handpumps, bore wells, and dug wells distributed across the block and analysed for eleven physicochemical parameters - pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Turbidity, Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium, Fluoride, Nitrate, and Sulphate - following APHA (2017) protocols. Drinking water suitability was evaluated against BIS 10500:2012 and WHO (2017) guidelines. A Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) was computed to obtain an integrated quality score. Irrigation suitability was assessed using the Magnesium Hazard (MH) index and industrial corrosion potential through the Corrosivity Ratio (CR). Pearson correlation analysis was applied to identify dominant hydrogeochemical processes. Results: pH ranged from 7.20 to 7.71, confirming a consistently alkaline character attributable to carbonate dissolution in the Vindhyan sedimentary terrain. All samples satisfied BIS permissible limits for TDS, chloride, calcium, fluoride, nitrate, and sulphate. Turbidity, however, exceeded permissible limits at two locations - Rampur Khajuri (39 NTU) and Muhandra (85.1 NTU) - primarily due to post-monsoon surface runoff into open dug wells. WQI calculations revealed that only two samples (S/2, S/4) rated 'Good', while the bulk of samples ranged from 'Poor' to 'Very Poor', with S/3 and S/12 classified as 'Unsuitable' owing entirely to their extreme turbidity. Magnesium Hazard exceeded 50% in 11 of 14 samples, indicating widespread irrigation constraints, whereas Corrosivity Ratio remained below 1.0 across all sites, suggesting non-corrosive water. Strong positive correlations (r > 0.90) among TDS, TH, Mg, Cl, F, NO₃, and SO₄ point to mineral dissolution as the master process governing water chemistry. Conclusion: Turbidity control at open wells and awareness of magnesium-related soil constraints are the two most pressing water-management priorities for the Shahnagar Block.

Keywords: Groundwater quality; Water Quality Index; Magnesium Hazard; Corrosivity Ratio; Shahnagar Block; Panna; Vindhyan terrain; BIS 10500:2012