Data_Sheet_1_Groundwater Quality Characterization for Safe Drinking Water Supply in Sheikhpura District of Bihar, India: A Geospatial Approach.docx

Groundwater quality due to geogenic factors, aggravated by anthropogenic activities, is a significant threat to human wellbeing and agricultural practices. This study aimed at mapping the spatial distribution of low and high groundwater-contaminated regions in the Sheikhpura district of Bihar for safe drinking and irrigation water availability. To account for spatial distribution, groundwater quality parameters, such as fluoride, iron, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and pH, were analyzed using integrated interpolation, geographical information systems, and regression analysis. A total of 206 dug wells and bore wells were analyzed for in-situ observations in the Sheikhpura district of Bihar, India. The analysis indicated that the periphery south of Chewara and Ariari blocks, i.e., about 9.16% of district area, is affected by fluoride content (1.55–2.32 mg/l) which is highly unsuitable for consumption, as recommended by the WHO and BIS standards. However, the remaining area (90.84%) is within the permissible limit of fluoride content (0.37–1.54 mg/l). In most areas, iron content is beyond WHO permissible limits (>0.1 mg/l), except 3.1% area in the eastern region with 0.06–0.12 mg/l iron, although iron concentrations in groundwater are under the acceptable limit (

由地质因素引起的水质问题，因人类活动加剧而成为对人类福祉和农业生产的重要威胁。本研究旨在绘制比哈尔邦谢赫普拉地区地下水污染区域的空间分布图，以确保饮用和灌溉用水的安全可用。为考虑空间分布，采用综合插值法、地理信息系统和回归分析等方法，对氟化物、铁、总溶解固体、浑浊度和pH值等地下水质量参数进行了分析。在印度比哈尔邦谢赫普拉地区，共分析了206个井和钻井，以进行现场观察。分析结果表明，切瓦拉和阿里阿里区块以南的周边区域，即约占总区域面积的9.16%，受到氟含量（1.55–2.32 mg/l）的影响，其含量远超世界卫生组织（WHO）和印度标准局（BIS）的推荐标准，不适合饮用。然而，剩余区域（90.84%）的氟含量（0.37–1.54 mg/l）在允许范围内。在大多数地区，铁含量超出WHO允许上限（>0.1 mg/l），除东部地区3.1%的区域铁含量在0.06–0.12 mg/l，且地下水中的铁浓度处于可接受范围内。