Physico-chemical parameters of surface and ground water and their environmental impact assessment in the Haripur Basin, Pakistan

• Physical and chemical parameters were found within the WHO permissible limit.
• Lead concentration in a dug well exceeded the WHO permissible limit.
• Higher amounts of heavy metals were found in surface and shallow ground water.
• Health risks of heavy metals via drinking water were found to be < 1.
• High amounts of heavy metals are caused by anthropogenic activity.

The present work is a comprehensive evaluation of surface and ground water quality of Haripur basin (comprising an industrial estate), Pakistan. Heavy metals, trace elements (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, Mn, As and Hg) and physical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC) were investigated in 98 sampling points and compared with the WHO guidelines for drinking water. The average metal concentrations in surface and ground water were found in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Pb > Co > Cr > Cu > Cd > As > Hg and Zn > Fe > Pb > Mn > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd > Co > As > Hg respectively. Furthermore, chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) were also calculated. HQ was found to be < 1 for all the heavy metals and trace elements, suggesting no health risk. The multivariate techniques (i.e., correlation, principal component analysis and cluster analysis) for the interpretation of the metal data obtained during the monitoring programme revealed that there is an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals and trace elements in surface water and shallow water relative to deep water. This can be correlated with the discharge of effluents from the existing industries into the stream water in the basin.