Mapping and Quantifying of Groundwater Quality and Depth of Sher Kira Using a GIS Approach

Waseem M, Khan MI and Khan MA

Published on: 2025-11-28

Abstract

This research focuses on analyzing the quality and depth of groundwater in Sher Kira using Geographic Information System (GIS). Groundwater quality plays a crucial role in the sustainability of human health and regional ecosystems. The rising pollution of groundwater due to human activities has raised significant concerns, particularly in urban and suburban areas such as Sher Kira. The methodology involved collection of groundwater samples from 25 distinct sites in Sher Kira, laboratory analysis for physicochemical parameters, and spatial interpolation using ArcGIS. Parameters such as pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Alkalinity, Chlorides, Hardness, and Conductivity were evaluated against international and national standards. The study generated groundwater quality maps to identify contamination hotspots and depth variations across the region. The results revealed that although several sampling sites exhibited alkalinity levels exceeding the permissible limits, posing potential health risks to local communities, most of the other water quality parameters including turbidity, pH, and hardness, remained within the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). These findings highlight the critical need for regular groundwater monitoring and the implementation of sustainable water resource management practices in rural areas such as Sher Kira.

Keywords

Groundwater quality; GIS; Sher kira; Spatial analysis; Water contamination; ArcGIS

Introduction

Groundwater serves as an essential water source for household, agricultural, and industrial purposes, particularly in water-scarce regions. In developing countries like Pakistan, groundwater serves as the primary source of potable water for a significant segment of the population. However, due to industrialization, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management practices, groundwater contamination has become a pressing issue. Sher Kira, a semi-urban area in the Peshawar region, faces serious challenges regarding the quality and depth of its groundwater resources. Bacterial and chemical contamination are widespread, leading to public health concerns such as diarrhea, fluorosis, and other water-borne diseases. This study aims to map and evaluate the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters and quantify groundwater depth using GIS tools, thereby providing an underlying principle for sustainable management of water resources in the area.

Literature Review

The issue of ensuring access to safe drinking water persists worldwide, particularly in developing countries where rapid growth of cities and poor management of water resources have intensified groundwater contamination. It is estimated that, in Pakistan, 50% of all diseases and 40% of all deaths are due to poor water quality [1]. Studies conducted in the Peshawar Valley revealed that approximately 55% of the groundwater is safe for drinking, while the remaining 45% is contaminated, indicating a serious threat to public health [2]. The over pumping of underground water increased due to rapid urbanization in the Peshawar Valley declining the underground water table by 30 feet in last six years [3].

Groundwater quality depends on physicochemical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, hardness, and alkalinity. According to the World Health Organization [4], TDS below 1000 mg/L and pH between 6.5 - 8.5 are suitable for drinking. While alkalinity is not assigned a strict limit, values above 200 mg/L can affect taste and digestion [5]. Exceeding these thresholds can cause health issues, as observed in several rural areas of Pakistan.

Recent studies highlight the effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in assessing groundwater contamination. GIS allows the integration of field data with spatial interpolation to map contamination patterns and identify vulnerable zones [6]. Such tools are increasingly used in Pakistan to support sustainable groundwater management and ensure safe water access in rural regions [7] like Sher Kira.

Methodology

The research was conducted in the Sher Kira area, located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region of Pakistan. Groundwater samples were gathered from various sites within the area and examined following the WHO standards for drinking water. Measurements were taken for parameters including pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity, Hardness, Alkalinity, and Chloride levels. The collected data were incorporated into ArcGIS to create spatial maps of groundwater quality. Interpolation techniques such as Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) were used to illustrates the distribution of contamination levels. Groundwater depth data were also recorded and spatially assessed to determine depth variations across the study area.

Figure 1: Study Area.

Results and Discussions

The results show significant variations in groundwater quality and depth across different sampling locations. The spatial distribution of groundwater depth shows that approximately 24% of the study area is characterized by a very deep water table exceeding 50 m. About 64% of the area lies within the deep category, with depths ranging from 20 to 50 m, whereas nearly 12% of the area exhibits a moderately deep water table ranging between 10–20 m. The pH values varied from 6.8 to 8.4, indicating slightly alkaline conditions within the study area. Alkalinity levels reached up to 450 ppm, surpassing the acceptable range recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which could lead to digestive and stomach-related issues among local inhabitants. However, all other measured parameters were within WHO’s permissible limits, indicating that the groundwater in most parts of Sher Kira is potable and suitable for domestic use under typical conditions.

Table1: Results of parameters.

S. No	E.C (ms)	Hardness (mg/L)	pH	Cl (mg/L)	Turbidity (NTU)	TDS (mg/L)	Alkalinity (mg/l)	Ca (mg/l)	Mg (mg/l)
1	1.04	20	6.9	73.48	0.45	417	230	41	18
2	1.2	36	6.7	89.78	0.28	370	287	51	23
3	0.72	45	7.5	93.55	0.22	335	307	56	25
4	0.51	32	8.1	66.76	0.48	391	355	77	26
5	0.85	49	6.8	70.85	0.65	385	137	73	28
6	0.58	40	7.3	55.75	0.29	327	306	68	16
7	1.21	29	8.2	73.82	1.63	625	118	75	21
8	0.43	13	7.8	29.99	0.89	224	170	109	27
9	0.86	22	7.4	65.43	1.21	415	137	76	37
10	0.96	27	6.7	63.56	0.99	410	320	68	28
11	0.89	15	7.6	65.89	0.87	458	343	95	33
12	0.55	47	7.8	53.98	0.08	282	450	79	29
13	0.83	26	6.7	56.88	0.79	289	342	58	41
14	1.51	35	6.9	71.82	1.35	374	410	45	23
15	0.89	44	8.2	42.72	0.89	300	137	88	29
16	1.12	20	7.5	70.15	1.27	278	245	67	26
17	0.87	37	7.8	87.34	0.87	312	256	83	18
18	0.99	15	6.8	58.13	0.98	427	407	56	33
19	0.78	36	8.1	75.23	0.76	376	389	45	27
20	0.97	19	7.7	45.54	1.87	291	122	71	19
21	1.65	30	7.5	71.15	0.37	384	318	43	26
22	0.76	48	6.8	90.89	0.07	428	445	57	25
23	0.85	29	6.6	55.61	0.28	617	289	45	26
24	0.93	20	7.8	67.68	0.77	689	146	67	32
25	0.64	31	6.9	75.81	0.29	458	325	59	30

Table 2: WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water.

S. No	Parameters	W.H.O desirable limits
1	Turbidity(NTU)	< 5
2	pH	6.5 – 8.5
3	Total hardness as CaCO3 (mg/l)	< 500
4	TDS(mg/l)	< 1000
5	Chloride (Cl)(mg/l)	< 250
6	Alkalinity	< 200
7	Magnesium (mg/l)	< 50
8	Calcium(mg/l)	< 200

Table 3: Water Depths Collected from various Sites in Sher Kira.

S. No	Latitude	Longitude	Depth (M)	Site Address
1	33.75	71.64	80	BHU Yar Ali Kalay Asho Khel
2	33.75	71.63	70	Khanwa Chock
3	33.76	71.62	65	Mohalla wali khan
4	33.77	71.62	22	Hameed khan machine
5	33.77	71.61	30	Shera Khel
6	33.79	71.63	52	Meyakhan Khel
7	33.78	71.61	58	Mohabat Khel
8	33.76	71.61	18	Thikadaran Post Office
9	33.75	71.61	37	Haji Shazad mir
10	33.74	71.6	20	Khanzada Kalay
11	33.73	71.6	35	Sher Baaz Jeton Kalay
12	33.74	71.58	29	Arhat Baba Sherkera
13	33.76	71.57	25	Kishangarh Kalay
14	33.76	71.58	42	Amin Kalay
15	33.73	71.59	45	Babak Kalay Sherkera
16	33.75	71.56	40	Mir Asghar Kalay Sherkera
17	33.74	71.54	55	Tamar Khel
18	33.75	71.54	33	Banda Bazi Khel
19	33.73	71.54	24	Zaman Kalay
20	33.74	71.56	41	Kotab Khel
21	33.74	71.57	20	Samar Gul Kalay
22	33.76	71.58	22	Sher Ali Kalay
23	33.73	71.6	25	Lal Din Kalay Sherkera
24	33.74	71.61	17	Malik Raeas khan Kalay
25	33.74	71.52	19	Amir Khel

GIS-based maps demonstrated spatial clustering of poor-quality water in low-lying areas, likely due to infiltration of polluted surface runoff. The spatial depth map indicated significant variation, with groundwater levels ranging between 17 and 80 meters across Sher Kira. The maps generated using ArcGIS effectively identified critical zones requiring immediate attention and monitoring.

Figure 2: Electrical Conductivity. Figure 3: Hardness Concentration.

Figure 4: pH Concentration. Figure 5: Chloride Concentration.

Figure 6: Turbidity Concentration. Figure 7: Total Dissolved Solids.

Figure 8: Alkalinity Concentration. Figure 9: Calcium Concentration.

Figure 10: Magnesium Concentration.

Figure 11: Interpolated Water Depths in Meters for Sher Kira.

Conclusion

This study successfully demonstrated the use of GIS in mapping and quantifying groundwater quality and depth variations in Sher Kira. The combination of laboratory testing with spatial analysis provided a comprehensive understanding of the water quality patterns in the area. The results revealed that 80% of the water samples were having alkalinity more than 200mg/l, making the water unsuitable for direct human use. It is therefore recommended that regular monitoring programs be established, along with the implementation of a centralized tube well system in areas where water table is low and must be equipped with appropriate treatment measures. Additionally, there is a need of effective water management policies to ensure the provision of safe and sustainable drinking water for the residents. GIS-based mapping emerged as an efficient tool for visualizing groundwater contamination and depth distribution, which can assist public health departments, policymakers and environmental engineers in decision-making.

Declarations

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar and the Department of Civil Engineering, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar, for their continuous guidance and laboratory facilities throughout the study. The cooperation of the residents and local authorities of Sher Kira, FR Peshawar, during field data collection and water sampling is also deeply appreciated.

Author Contributions

Muhammad Imran Khan: Supervised the GIS analysis, communicated sites for water sampling and assisted in the final manuscript.
Muhammad Arsalan Khan: Guided the overall research process and worked as a team leader.
Muhammad Waseem: Gathered water samples, worked in laboratory testing and results formation.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Availability of Data and Materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

This study did not involve human participants or animal testing. Field sampling and data collection were conducted with prior permission from local authorities and in accordance with environmental and safety regulations.

Consent for Publication

All authors have provided consent for publication of this manuscript and its findings.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgement of Tools and Software

The authors acknowledge the use of ArcGIS and Microsoft Excel for data processing, mapping, and analytical assessment. The authors also acknowledge assistance from Open AI-based language tools for improving grammatical structure and clarity of the vocabulary used in the manuscript.

References

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