Hydrochemistry and groundwater quality assessment of Gujarat, India: A compendious review

This review aims to assess the sustainability of groundwater in Gujarat, India, which is a crucial natural resource for drinking and irrigation purposes. Various factors such as changing weather patterns, environmental-climate change, droughts, human activities, increased water consumption, chemical fertilizers, poor management practices, and misconceptions contribute to the degradation of large aquifer recharge zones and groundwater quality. The focus is on evaluating the physical and chemical characteristics of groundwater, assessing its quality, analyzing hydrochemical data using different methods, and highlighting the hydrochemistry status in the state. The information is divided into six parts: groundwater quality assessment, seawater intrusion, fluoride contamination, evolution of geothermal spring water, presence of heavy metals, and the impact of human activities on groundwater. By considering these parameters, a comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical properties of groundwater, suitable indicators of water quality, hydrochemical facies assessment, diagram-based evaluation, multivariate statistical analysis, and irrigation indices can be obtained to determine the suitability of groundwater for irrigation. This review serves as a valuable resource for examining and addressing the challenges related to groundwater in Gujarat, providing guidance to researchers, policymakers, and administrators in ensuring its sustainability.