Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 30, No.

1 (2021), 141-153
DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/120765 ONLINE PUBLICATION DATE: 2020-07-13

Original Research
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using
the Water Quality Index (WQI), the Synthetic
Pollution Index (SPI) and Geospatial Tools
in Lianhuashan District, China

Tian Hui1,2,3*, Liang Xiujuan2,3, Sun Qifa1, Liu Qiang1, Kang Zhuang1, Gong Yan1
Shenyang Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Shenyang 110034, China
1

2
Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University,
Changchun 130021, China
3
College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China

Received: 5 February 2020

Accepted: 18 April 2020

Abstract

Due to the impact of human agricultural production and climate and environmental changes,
the applicability of groundwater for drinking purposes has attracted widespread attention. In order to
quantify the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Lianhuashan and evaluate its suitability
for assessing water for drinking purposes, 71 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed.
The results show that groundwater in aquifers in the study area is weakly alkaline. The abundance
is in the order HCO3->Cl->SO42- for anions, and Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+ for cations. Groundwater chemical
types were dominated by HCO3-Ca, HCO3-Ca• Mg, and HCO3-Ca • Na. The Factor analysis, and PCA
analysis show that ion exchange, and rock weathering are the main reasons affecting the water chemical
composition in Lianhuashan. The analysis of water samples based on the WQI model revealed that about
69.09%, 25.45%, 1.81%, and 3.63% of the water samples were excellent, good, very poor, and unsuitable
for drinking purposes, respectively. The analysis of water samples based on the SPI model showed that
18.30%, 66.19%, 7.04%, and 8.45% of the water samples were suitable, slightly polluted, moderately
polluted, and highly polluted, respectively. The spatial distribution maps of the water quality index and
the synthetic pollution index show that most of the groundwater resources in the study area are clean
and suitable for drinking, despite the risks in the north and southwest of the study area.

Keywords: WQI, groundwater quality assessment, hydrochemistry, SPI, China

*e-mail: 359585977@qq.com
142 Hui T., et al.

Introduction groundwater environment is fragile, thereby effectively

using groundwater resources in the river basin.
Water is one of the natural resources necessary
for human survival and economic development.
[1]. However, in arid and semi-arid regions, uneven Study Area
distribution of groundwater and surface water resources
has become a contradiction that restricts living standards Study Area Description
and economic development [2]. Understanding the
relationship between groundwater and water demand The Lianhuashan unique area is located in the
for agricultural production is important for sustainable central part of Jilin Province in northeast China,
agricultural development [3]. Groundwater has adjacent to the southeast edge of the Songnen Plain. The
become the main source of fresh water for household, study area is between the latitudes of 43°45‘-43°57’N
agricultural and industrial uses due to its simple and the longitudes of 125°28‘-125°50’E, covering an
extraction and low cost [4]. In agricultural production area of ​​417 km2. In 2014, the permanent population was
areas, irrigation water recharges groundwater through about 59,000, and the regional GDP was 150 billion
leakage or flows directly into rivers, which has yuan. The entire area includes three towns, including
changed the hydrodynamic conditions and led to Quanyan Town in the west, Quannongshan Town in the
changes in groundwater hydrochemical conditions [5]. middle, and Sijiazi Town in the east (Fig. 1). Located in
Therefore, understanding the chemical characteristics of the temperate continental semi-humid monsoon climate
groundwater and its influencing factors is critical to the of the northern hemisphere, Lianhua Mountain has four
protection and management of groundwater resources distinct seasons [16].
and the sustainable use of groundwater [6]. The average precipitation over the years is between
The Songnen Plain is one of the most important 500 and 600 mm, mainly concentrated in June
grain and grass production bases in China [7]. Hailen is to August. The multi-year average temperature is
an important part of the northeast of the Songnen Plain 4.9-5.5ºC, and the average evapotranspiration is
and plays an important role in agricultural production. 1741 mm. The altitude is between 190-280 meters.
After 1995, grain production increased significantly, The terrain slopes from southeast to northwest. The
especially rice production. At the same time, with landform is divided into wavy terraces in the west,
the increase of rice yield, groundwater irrigated area low hills in the middle, and Shitokoumen reservoir in
increased rapidly [8]. The contradiction between the the east. Shitoukoumen Reservoir is the largest source
uneven distribution of water resources and the demand of water for Changchun City, with a water area of
for irrigation water has become increasingly prominent, 98 km 2. The Wukai River, Quannong River, and Liusha
and farmers have to extract groundwater from aquifers River flow through the area, indicating that surface
for dryland irrigation. In the end, it will lead to a series water resources are abundant [17]. The study area
of environmental and geologic problems, such as soil mainly produces rice and corn, and is the core area
secondary salinization [9], the core of depression [10- of agricultural production. Groundwater and surface
11], wetland degradation [12-13], and water quality water are mainly used for agricultural irrigation
deterioration [14-15]. Therefore, the hydrogeochemical and domestic drinking. Over the past few decades,
characteristics of groundwater and drinking water quality in the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in
the Lianhua district urgently need to be identified. This may agricultural production, as well as the overexploitation
restrict the protection and proper use of groundwater of groundwater and the discharge of domestic sewage,
resources, especially the drinking water safety issues of have led to prominent environmental and geologic
local residents. problems in the region.
In order to study the hydrochemical status and
the quality of groundwater in Lianhuashan, and Geology and Hydro-Geology
quantitatively analyze the applicability of groundwater
for drinking, 71 groundwater samples were collected Under the control of geomorphology and geological
from Lianhuashan between June and October in 2018. conditions, there are obvious differences between the
Using GIS and SPSS software, the hydrochemical quaternary strata and the Cretaceous strata in the study
properties and evolution of groundwater in the study area between the eastern hilly area and the western
area were characterized. The special purpose of this undulating platform (Fig. 1b).
study is to (1) explore the hydrochemical characteristics Below the wavy platform area in the west,
of groundwater; (2) understand the evolution of Quaternary alluvium and Cretaceous strata are widely
groundwater through Factor Analysis, and PCA distributed. The Cretaceous Quantou Formation has
analysis; (3) evaluate the applicability of groundwater the lithology of mudstone and siltstone interaction
as drinking water using WQI and SPI models and the formations, with small thickness and poor water
parameters recommended in the WHO guidelines. The content. The daily output of a single well is
results of the study help local governments strengthen 300-500 tons/day, which is the target layer for
management and governance in places where the groundwater extraction in this area. Quaternary strata,
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using... 143

a)

b)

Fig. 1. a) Location of the study area with sampling points; b) Hydrogeological profile A-A`.

the upper part of which is silty clay and the lower Materials and Methods
part is a thin layer of gravel. The formation has poor
water content and poor permeability of groundwater, Sampling and Measurements
and the daily output of a single well is less than
300 tons/day [18-19]. According to the research plan, a total of 71
Below the hilly areas in the east, the aquifers are groundwater samples were collected in two batches
andesite, galena and granite. The thickness of the from June to October 2018, which lasted 4 months.
weathering shell is usually 30-40 m. Groundwater exists Groundwater samples were taken from wells
in the weathering zone, but the amount of groundwater mainly used for water supply and irrigation in rural
is small. The daily output of a single well is less than areas, and their distribution is shown in Fig. 1a). The
300 tons/day, and the groundwater level is less than spatial distribution of sampling points is consistent with
10 m. The spring water in the area is exposed, and most the distribution of water intake wells in each village,
of the spring water flow is less than 0.1L/S [20]. which can objectively reflect the characteristics
In summary, the hydrogeological conditions in the of groundwater in the study area. During the
Lianhuashan area are relatively complex, lacking thick sampling process, in accordance with the Chinese
aquifers and water storage structures, and lacking hydrogeological survey standard, each pumping well
groundwater resources. Loose rock diving has the was pumped for 10 minutes before sampling. The
characteristics of large distribution area and easy sampling process is divided into three steps. In the first
exploitation. Although the water content of the gravel step, the vial was rinsed 3 times with well water, then
aquifer in the wave platform area is small, it can meet bottled and sealed. In the second step, the groundwater
the needs of emergency situations. sample was stored in a 4ºC incubator. The third step is
144 Hui T., et al.

to return the sample to a qualified laboratory for testing. can be used as a reliable tool for groundwater quality
Groundwater samples were tested in a laboratory of the assessment [22]. Specifically, the WQI model can be
Shenyang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources divided into four steps, including relative weight (Wi)
within three days. calculation, the quality rating (qi) calculation, the
The laboratory test index includes TDS, TH, K, Na, subindex of parameter (SIi), and the result of WQI.
Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4, HCO3, Fe, Mn, NO3, NO2, Cr, and Pb. Step1: The relative weight (Wi)
The concentration of NO2 and NH4 was obtained using
gas phase molecular absorption spectrometry (GMA-
3376). The concentrations of major anions (Cl, SO4, (1)
and NO3) were determined in the laboratory using ion
chromatography (ICS-3000) and the concentration of ...where Wi is the relative weight of each parameter, n
major cations (Ca, Na, K, and Mg) was determined refers to the number of parameters. The weight (Wi)
in the laboratory using plasma spectroscopy (ICP- and relative weight (Wi) of each chemical parameter
6300). TDS and pH were measured in the field using are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, the weight
a calibrated multi-parameter water quality analyzer (Wi) and relative weight (Wi) of each parameter are
(HACH-HQ40D). according to WHO standards [23].
Step2: The quality rating scale is the concentration
Drinking Water Quality Index (WQI) of ions in the groundwater sample divided by the
respective standard (WHO 2008 version) and multiplied
Water quality index (WQI) was a simple and by 100.
useful approach for determining the overall quality of
groundwater and its suitability for drinking purposes,
and it has been widely used over the world [21]. The (2)
WQI was originally invented by Brown in 1970, and
then improved by Backman in 1998. The World Health ...where Ci is the concentration (mg/L) of ion chemical
Organization (WHO) report (2008) emphasized that the parameters in the sample, and Si is the limit value
WQI model helps to identify the impact of individual (mg/L) of the corresponding chemical parameter in the
parameters of water quality and their combination guidelines issued by the World Health Organization
on drinking water quality. Therefore, the WQI model [24].

Table 1. The weight (wi) and relative weight (Wi) of each chemical parameter.
Relative
Parameters Units Weight (Wi) Limit values References
weight (Wi)
TDS mg/L 4 0.063 500 [43]
TH mg/L 4 0.063 500 [43]
PH - 2 0.032 6.5–8.5 [43]
COD mg/L 5 0.079 10 [43]
Na mg/L 4 0.063 200 [43]
Ca mg/L 3 0.048 300 [43]
Mg mg/L 3 0.048 30 [43]
HCO3 mg/L 1 0.016 120 [43]
Cl mg/L 4 0.063 250 [43]
SO4 mg/L 3 0.048 250 [43]
NO3 mg/L 5 0.079 50 [43]
NO2 mg/L 5 0.079 3 [43]
Fe mg/L 5 0.079 1 [44]
Mn mg/L 5 0.079 0.3 [22]
Pb mg/L 5 0.079 0.01 [43]
Cr mg/L 5 0.079 0.05 [43]
SUM - ∑wi  =  63 ∑wi  = 1 -
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using... 145

Table 2. Water quality classification based on WQI classification Step3: The synthetic pollution index (SPI)
standards [26].
Range (WQI) Type of groundwater
(7)
<50 Excellent water
50≤WQI<100 Good water
In equations (5), (6), and (7), n is the number of
water quality parameters for analysis, and Si is the
100≤WQI<200 Poor Water threshold value of each parameter according to the
200≤WQI<300 Very poor water WHO guidelines. According to SPI classification
standards, water quality can be divided into five
≥300 Unsuitable for drinking/Irrigation purpose categories, as shown in Table 3.

Software
Step3: The subindex of parameter (SIi)
This article uses SPSS statistical analysis software
(3) and GIS software. SPSS19.0 is used for analysis and
statistics of the component of anions and cations in
...where qi represents the rating based on concentration water, and for principal component analysis. MapGIS6.7
of its parameter, Wi is the relative weight, SIi is the software is the basic software platform for geographic
subindex of parameter [25]. information systems independently developed by China.
Step4: The result of WQI for a single water sample MAPGIS6.7 is used to draw the location map of the
study area, the distribution map of sampling points,
(4) the water chemistry type map, WQI and SPI evaluation
map.
...where n is the number of parameters. According to
WQI classification standards, water quality can be
divided into five categories, as shown in Table 2. Results and Discussion

The Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) Groundwater hydrochemistry may be affected by

one or more factors. For example, regional geological
The SPI model can be divided into three steps, conditions, the chemical composition of precipitation,
including the constant of proportionality (K i), the weight hydrogeological conditions and water-rock interaction
coefficient (Wi), and the synthetic pollution index (SPI). (oxidation, reduction) will change the chemical
The derivation and calculation of SPI involves the properties of groundwater. Similarly, pesticide use,
following three steps [27]: fertilizer use, groundwater extraction, groundwater
Step1: The proportionality (Ki) recharge, biological and microbial effects will also
affect the composition of groundwater.

Physicochemical Characteristics
(5)
The results of statistical analysis of physical and
Step2: The weight coefficient (Wi) chemical indicators of all groundwater samples are
shown in Table 4.
The pH value of the groundwater in the study area
(6)
is between 7.21 and 8.23, with an average value of
7.66. According to WHO guidelines, the safe range of
pH value for drinking water is 6.5-8.5. The pH value
indicates that the entire water environment in the area
is weakly alkaline, and the pH value is within the
Table 3. Water quality classification based on SPI classification
standards [28]. allowable range in the entire area.
Total hardness (TH) is the result of dissolution
Range (SPI) Type of groundwater of calcium and magnesium ions in water. The total
SPI<0.2 Suitable hardness of groundwater is mainly caused by the
excessive concentrations of Ca and Mg. The value
0.2≤SPI<0.5 Slightly polluted of the TH for the groundwater in the study area is
0.5≤SPI<1.0 Moderately polluted 39.80-421.00 mg/L. According to WHO guidelines, the
allowed hardness in water is less than 500 mg / L.
1.0≤SPI<3.0 Highly polluted
The concentration of TDS in water is one of the
SPI≥3.0 Unsuitable for drinking purposes main parameters for assessing groundwater quality.
146 Hui T., et al.

Table 4. Statistics of the measured parameters for water samples.

Parameters Unit Minimum Maximum Mean SD CV (%)
TDS mg/L 40.82 1169.62 276.49 218.03 78.86
TH mg/L 60.76 748.16 229.06 128.48 56.09
pH - 6.25 7.19 6.71 0.25 3.73
COD mg/L 0.30 9.60 1.49 1.47 98.81
Ca mg/L 15.68 202.41 62.57 36.39 58.16
Mg mg/L 4.28 58.69 16.68 36.39 218.23
Na mg/L 7.87 63.69 20.92 11.33 54.16
Cl mg/L 3.45 202.50 44.18 39.67 89.80
SO4 mg/L 2.39 155.84 36.61 29.08 79.43
HCO3 mg/L 45.76 319.62 136.07 66.43 48.82
NO3 mg/L 0.02000 340.49 70.38 82.40 117.09
NO2 mg/L 0.00472 0.35 0.03 0.0520 183.46
Fe mg/L 0.02050 21.98 1.43 3.58 251.21
Mn mg/L 0.00110 3.08100 0.25158 0.60000 238.49
Cr mg/L 0.00100 0.03000 0.00714 0.00660 92.50
Pb mg/L 0.00100 0.21040 0.00816 0.02500 306.30
CV = Coefficient of variation, SD = Standard deviation

According to WHO guidelines, the TDS allowable value guidelines, the allowable concentration for Fe in water
for drinking water is 500 mg/L. In the study area, the is 1 mg/L, and the allowable concentration for Mn is
TDS value of groundwater was 82.10-681.00 mg/L with 0.3 mg/L. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in
an average value of 193.87 mg/L. The concentration of groundwater are generally high, indicating a
TDS in groundwater is relatively low and suitable for high concentrations of Fe and Mn in depositional
consumption. environment in the aquifer throughout the study area
The COD in the water represents the degree of [29].
pollution of the water environment. The value of According to studies, nitrate nitrogen in water
the COD for the groundwater in the study area is has a greater harmful effect on humans and aquatic
0.43-13.10 mg/L. organisms. For example, when water with a nitrate
Cations and anions show significant difference in content of greater than 10 mg/L is consumed over time,
groundwater. As shown in Table 1, the concentrations methemoglobinemia occurs. A blood methemoglobin
of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ in groundwater are observed content of 70 mg/L results in suffocation. In this study,
in the ranges of 15.68-202.41 mg/L, 4.28-58.69 mg/L, the concentration of NO3 in groundwater ranges from
7.78-63.69 mg/L, respectively. The average 0.02 mg/L to 340.49 mg/L with the mean value of
concentrations of the analyzed cations are in the order 70.38 mg/L (Figure 2a). The concentration of NO2 in
of Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+. The concentrations of SO42-, HCO3-, groundwater ranges from 0.0047 mg/L to 0.35 mg/L
and Cl- in groundwater are observed in the ranges of with the mean value of 0.03 mg/L (Fig. 2b). According
3.39-155.84 mg/L, 45.76-319.62 mg/L, 3.45-202.50 mg/L, to WHO guidelines, the allowable concentration for
respectively. The average concentrations of the NO3 in water is 50 mg/L, and the limited concentration
analyzed anions are in the order of HCO3->Cl->SO42-. for NO2 is 3 mg/L. The increase of nitrate concentration
In recent years, the concentrations of Fe and is closely related to the use of chemical fertilizers and
Mn in groundwater have received much attention the infiltration of surface nitrogen [30].
and have been included in the evaluation standards High levels of heavy metals in drinking water
for drinking water. In this study, the concentration can cause poisoning, carcinogenesis and various
of Fe in groundwater ranges from 0.0205 mg/L to diseases [31]. In this study, the concentration of Cr in
21.98 mg/L with the mean value of 1.43 mg/L groundwater ranges from 0.001 mg/L to 0.03 mg/L
(Fig. 2c). The concentration of Mn in groundwater with the mean value of 0.007 mg/L (Fig. 2e). The
ranges from 0.0010 mg/L to 3.0810 mg/L with the mean concentration of Pb in groundwater ranges from
value of 0.2515 mg/L (Fig. 2d). According to WHO 0.001 mg/L to 0.210 mg/L with the mean value of
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using... 147

0.008 mg/L (Fig. 2f). According to WHO guidelines, The Durov Diagram and Groundwater
the allowable concentration for Cr in water is 0.01 mg/L, Hydrochemical Types
and the limited concentration for Pb is 0.05 mg/L. In
summary, the concentration of Cr and Pb is within the In order to accurately reflect and describe the
limited range, which indicates that the content of heavy groundwater chemistry in the study area, a Durov
metals in groundwater is low. diagram was drawn using MapGIS 6.7 software [32].

Fig. 2. Spatial distributions of groundwater chemical indexes (NO3-, NO2-, Fe, Mn, Cr, and Pb).
148 Hui T., et al.

Fig. 3. Durov diagram of groundwater samples.

As shown in Fig. 3, chemical differences between Factor and Principal Component Analyses
groundwater anions and cations are also reflected. The
diagram shows that HCO3 and Cl are the main anions Statistical analysis and factor analysis can
in groundwater, while Ca and Na are the main cations. help identify relationships and sources of ions in
The groundwater samples had a larger variated range groundwater. Three principal components with
of TDS content varying from 40 mg/L to 1169 mg/L, characteristic root values greater than 1 were extracted
dominated by HCO3. These 71 samples are mainly and analyzed (Fig. 4, Table 5).
controlled by HCO3-Ca, HCO3-Ca• Mg, HCO3-Ca • Na Factor 1, with a variance of about 43.42%, includes
and other water chemistry types. TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, TH, Na+, and Cl-, suggesting that TDS

Table 5. Groundwater physical and chemical parameter correlation matrix.

Parameter TDS TH PH COD Ca Mg Na Cl SO4 HCO3 NO3 NO2 Fe Mn Cr Pb
TDS 1.00
TH 0.83 1.00
PH -0.59 -0.47 1.00
COD 0.33 0.17 -0.05 1.00
Ca 0.84 0.99 -0.49 0.16 1.00
Mg 0.77 0.96 -0.40 0.18 0.93 1.00
Na 0.75 0.75 -0.44 0.40 0.72 0.73 1.00
Cl 0.79 0.93 -0.55 0.15 0.93 0.87 0.74 1.00
SO4 0.71 0.70 -0.41 0.17 0.69 0.71 0.73 0.69 1.00
HCO3 0.28 0.34 0.06 0.54 0.32 0.38 0.39 0.14 0.26 1.00
NO3 0.66 0.80 -0.46 -0.11 0.80 0.75 0.53 0.76 0.40 -0.19 1.00
NO2 0.10 -0.05 0.06 0.50 -0.06 -0.09 0.33 0.01 0.04 0.19 -0.14 1.00
Fe -0.08 -0.14 0.04 0.04 -0.19 -0.23 0.03 -0.12 -0.14 -0.02 -0.14 0.30 1.00
Mn 0.21 0.14 -0.11 0.01 0.12 0.08 0.08 0.11 0.03 -0.09 0.22 0.01 0.31 1.00
Cr 0.37 0.06 -0.29 0.37 0.08 -0.01 0.25 0.10 0.03 0.09 0.05 0.50 0.08 0.09 1.00
Pb -0.12 -0.03 0.08 -0.07 -0.04 -0.06 -0.14 -0.10 -0.07 0.12 -0.10 -0.06 0.21 0.13 -0.18 1.00
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using... 149

Fig. 6. The diagram of Groundwater TDS versus SPI.

Water Quality for Drinking Purpose

Fig. 4. PCA plot of the water (3D diagrams of factors).
The results of groundwater WQI in Lianhuashan
area are shown in Fig. 5 (Table 6). As shown in Fig. 5,
and TH content of groundwater are mainly affected
by Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the study area [33-34]. The high
correlation between Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+ indicates that
a strong exchange adsorption occurs between Ca2+,
Mg2+ and Na+ in groundwater. Factor 2 controls 19.62%
of the water chemistry parameters, including COD,
and NO2-. The high correlation between COD, and
NO2- indicates that their sources are consistent and are
closely related to the use of fertilizers. Factors 2 suggest
that groundwater in some areas has been contaminated
with agricultural chemical fertilizers, indicating that
groundwater recharged by agricultural irrigation water
is the main cause of groundwater pollution [35-36].
Factor 3 contains 14.66% of all variables, including Fe
and Mn, suggesting the amount of Fe in groundwater is
highly correlated with the content of Mn [37-38]. The
high levels of Fe and Mn are related to the areas of
groundwater and surface water flow pathways. However, Fig. 7. Spatial distribution groundwater quality maps based on
the high Fe contents are related to the interaction of the outcomes of the WQI model.
groundwater with silty mudstone and shale in the
watershed. The high Mn concentration may be related
to the high Mn content in the surrounding carbonates
and silicates, as the water flowing through the area may
be absorbing the element.

Fig. 8. Spatial distribution groundwater quality maps based on

the outcomes of the SPI model.
Fig. 5. The diagram of Groundwater TDS versus WQI.
150 Hui T., et al.

among the 71 groundwater samples, 45 were “excellent” map of the study area was drawn (Fig. 7). The spatial
(grade 1), 20 were “good” (grade 2), 4 was “poor” (grade distribution of the water quality index shows that most
3), and 2 were “very poor” (grade 4), accounting for of the groundwater index concentration ranges in the
63.38%, 28.16%, 5.63%, and 3.63%, respectively. The study area are below the WHO guidelines and are
calculation results of WQI show that the groundwater therefore suitable for drinking. It is worth noting that
in the study area is excellent for drinking purpose, in the southwest of the study area, the WQI index of
while the groundwater in some places is not suitable for groundwater in small areas was found to be higher
drinking [39-41]. than 200. The WQI index exceeded the standard,
The results of groundwater SPI in Lianhuashan mainly due to the extremely high concentration of Fe
area are shown in Fig. 6 (Table 7). As shown in Fig. 6 and Mn in groundwater. The high concentrations of Fe
(Table 7), among the 71 groundwater samples, 13 were and Mn are not only affected by high concentrations
“suitable” (grade 1), 47 were “slightly polluted” (grade in the Cretaceous aquifer, but also affected by human
2), 5 was “moderately polluted” (grade 3), and 6 were agricultural production [42]. Therefore, the centralized
“highly polluted” (grade 4), accounting for 18.30%, water supply wells in this area should be added with
66.19%, 7.04%, and 8.45%, respectively. The calculation Fe and Mn purification devices before drinking.
results of SPI show that the groundwater in the study Overall, it was learned from this study that the
area is suitable, while the groundwater in some places is quality of groundwater complies with drinking water
slightly polluted. specifications according to WHO guidelines.
Based on the evaluation results of the water quality Based on the evaluation results of the synthetic
index model, the drinking water quality evaluation pollution index model, the drinking water quality

Table 6. Categories of groundwater based on the WQI model results.

G.W. NO. WQI Rank G.W. NO. WQI Rank G.W. NO. WQI Rank
1 27.50 Excellent 25 55.34 Good 49 37.91 Excellent
2 60.67 Good 26 27.47 Excellent 50 28.55 Excellent
3 61.61 Good 27 37.70 Excellent 51 28.55 Excellent
4 21.65 Excellent 28 107.98 Poor 52 20.58 Excellent
5 25.84 Excellent 29 45.15 Excellent 53 20.58 Excellent
6 36.95 Excellent 30 41.26 Excellent 54 21.61 Excellent
7 165.23 Poor 31 16.57 Excellent 55 282.07 Very poor
8 165.23 Poor 32 158.87 Poor 56 50.82 Good
9 18.16 Excellent 33 112.18 Poor 57 52.20 Good
10 37.76 Excellent 34 73.25 Good 58 31.66 Excellent
11 30.10 Excellent 35 18.85 Excellent 59 54.87 Good
12 30.10 Excellent 36 109.96 Poor 60 34.13 Excellent
13 64.02 Good 37 20.42 Excellent 61 34.93 Excellent
14 43.07 Excellent 38 22.34 Excellent 62 19.21 Excellent
15 30.52 Excellent 39 50.20 Good 63 222.36 Very poor
16 69.89 Good 40 50.20 Good 64 53.69 Good
17 58.37 Good 41 28.62 Excellent 65 35.38 Excellent
18 39.98 Excellent 42 37.04 Excellent 66 43.86 Excellent
19 34.55 Excellent 43 52.14 Good 67 27.73 Excellent
20 26.25 Excellent 44 31.31 Excellent 68 43.78 Excellent
21 67.59 Good 45 79.24 Good 69 17.78 Excellent
22 27.74 Excellent 46 44.98 Excellent 70 115.66 Poor
23 130.92 Poor 47 20.34 Excellent 71 18.77 Excellent
24 38.60 Excellent 48 44.05 Excellent
Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality Using... 151

Table 7 Categories of groundwater based on the SPI model results.

GW. NO. SPI Rank GW. NO. SPI Rank GW. NO. SPI Rank
1 0.32 SP* 25 0.26 SP* 49 0.22 SP*
2 0.21 SP* 26 0.13 S* 50 0.29 SP*
3 2.46 HP* 27 0.17 S* 51 0.29 SP*
4 0.21 SP* 28 0.41 SP* 52 0.47 SP*
5 0.12 S* 29 0.34 SP* 53 0.47 SP*
6 0.15 S* 30 0.42 SP* 54 0.27 SP*
7 0.40 SP* 31 0.10 S* 55 7.91 U*
8 0.40 SP* 32 0.55 MP* 56 2.31 HP*
9 0.24 SP* 33 0.12 S* 57 1.32 HP*
10 0.28 SP* 34 0.29 SP* 58 0.79 MP*
11 0.29 SP* 35 0.46 SP* 59 0.63 MP*
12 0.29 SP* 36 0.18 S* 60 0.92 MP*
13 0.35 SP* 37 0.11 S* 61 0.71 MP*
14 0.19 S* 38 0.43 SP* 62 0.17 S*
15 0.11 S* 39 0.36 SP* 63 0.59 MP*
16 0.36 SP* 40 0.36 SP* 64 2.28 HP*
17 0.20 SP* 41 0.32 SP* 65 1.07 HP*
18 0.40 SP* 42 0.33 SP* 66 1.97 HP*
19 0.11 S* 43 0.22 SP* 67 0.47 SP*
20 0.45 SP* 44 0.41 SP* 68 0.41 SP*
21 0.43 SP* 45 0.41 SP* 69 0.39 SP*
22 0.45 SP* 46 0.41 SP* 70 0.52 MP*
23 0.39 SP* 47 0.31 SP* 71 0.33 SP*
24 0.36 SP* 48 0.34 SP*
S* = suitable, SP* = slightly polluted, MP* = moderately polluted, HP* = highly polluted, US* = unsuitable

evaluation map of the study area was drawn (Fig. 8). The Relationship between WQI and SPI Models
The spatial distribution of the synthetic pollution
index shows that the groundwater indicators in most The relationship between the WQI and SPI models
areas of the study area do not exceed the WHO is established, and the water categories indicated by the
guidelines, but there are signs of groundwater pollution two models are correlated through regression analysis,
in some places. Similar to the WQI spatial distribution Eq. (8). The relationship indicates a good correlation
results, in the north and southwest of the study between WQI and SPI models (R 2 = 0.71).
area, the SPI index of groundwater in small areas was
found to be higher than 1.00. The SPI index exceeds SPI = 0.0233 × WQI - 0.5647 (8)
1.0, indicating that there is a high risk of contamination
of groundwater in these areas, mainly due to the
extremely high content of Pb in groundwater. The Conclusions
high concentration of Pb is mainly due to the impact
of human activities [43]. In this area, there are large- In this study, the factors affecting Lianhuashan’s
scale landfills, and the leakage of landfill leachate groundwater chemistry and its quality are discussed
contaminates groundwater, leading to an increase in in detail, and the groundwater hydrogeological process
Pb concentration. Therefore, in order to prevent serious is analyzed. Groundwater quality assessments were
pollution of groundwater, the leakproof layer of the also introduced to assess suitability for drinking. The
landfill should be reinforced. following three conclusions are concluded:
152 Hui T., et al.

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