*4.1. Water Quality Index*

The water quality index is represented in Table 1. Water quality classification based on WQI value. If the WQI value is between 0 and 25, it can be considered excellent, and it is good if it falls between 26 and 50. Some other ranges, including 51–75 (poor), 76–100 (very poor), and >100 (Unfit for consumption). The calculated WQI of this area is 900, and it is way beyond the recommended value.



The descriptive statistics presented in Table 2 reflect different mean values for each variable in this dataset. The cadmium concentration ranges from 0.17 to 0.183 ppm with a mean of 0.18, chromium concentration from 0.00048 to 0.023 ppm with a mean of 0.014 ppm, copper concentration from 0.000873 ppm to 0.004 ppm with a mean value of 0.001 ppm, potassium concentration observed to be from 2.704 to 17.202 ppm, with a mean value of 8.964 ppm. The mean value of the manganese concentration was found to be 0.0023 ppm. The Ni concentration ranges from 0.00049 to 0.0044 ppm with a mean value of 0.001 ppm. The Pb concentration ranges from 0.289 to 0.490 ppm with an observed mean value of 0.412 ppm, and the Zn concentration ranges from 0.000357 to 0.051 ppm with a mean value of 0.003 ppm. The mean concentration of Ba and Al is 0.166 and 0.990 ppm, respectively.




Hence, correlation analysis is presented in Figure 3. The correlation analysis was done to investigate the relationships between the parameters measured. *Water* **2022**, *14*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 20

### **Figure 3.** Correlation table. **Figure 3.** Correlation table.

Cadmium is negatively correlated with Cr, K, Pb, TDS, and EC and positively correlated with Mn, Zn, As, and pH. This shows that the heavy metals with pH other than Cd are affecting the Cd concentrations and this can be due to anthropogenic causes. Cr is positively correlated with Cu, K, Ba, Temp, and EC and negatively correlated with Mn, As, NO3, and HCO3. This shows that the increase in Cr concentration is associated with the other heavy metals (Antropogenic) along with the EC and temperature (Natural Process). Cu is positively correlated with Zn, Ba, NO3, Ni (Anthropogenic), EC, HCO3, and Temp. K exhibits a positive correlation with Mn, Ni, Pb, Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and a negative correlation with Zn, Ba, Temp, and pH. Mn positively correlates with Al and As and negatively correlates with Ba and Temp. Ni is positively correlated with Pb, The degree to which two variables are allied is weighed by a correlation coefficient, indicated by the letter r. This coefficient, named after its discoverer, Pearson, measures linear association used in statistics and education. It is necessary to utilize alternative, more though measures of the correlation if a curved line is required to describe the relationship. The correlation coefficient can be measured from + 1 to −1 and is expressed as a percentage. The degree of complete correlation between two variables is represented by the numbers + 1 or −1, respectively. Correlations are positive when one variable increases in response to another's increase and negative when one variable reduces in response to the other increases. The number zero represents the complete absence of association.

Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Zn and pH. Pb is positively correlated with Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Zn, Ba, Temp, and pH. Zn is positively correlated with Al and pH and negatively correlated with Temp and EC. Ba is positively correlated with Temp, pH, and EC and negatively correlated with Al, As, TDS, and HCO3. Al is positively correlated with As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp and pH. As is positively correlated with TDS, NO3, SO4, HCO3, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp and pH. TDS is positively correlated with NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with HCO3, Temp, and pH. NO3 is positively correlated with SO4, HCO3, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp and pH. SO4 exhibits a negative correlation with HCO3, Temp, and pH and positively correlates with EC. HCO3 is negatively correlated with pH and EC. The observed cadmium value is 0.18 ppm in the study area. This water might not suit agriculture, irrigation, and drinking purposes. The increase in cadmium levels can be due to sewage sludge, fertilizers, battery alloys, and cigarette smoking. The increased levels of Cd can damage kidneys. Due to this, there will be disruption of the endocrine system and inhibition of sex hormones in humans. Long-time exposure to Cadmium may cause Itaiitai in humans. The recommended chromium standard in drinking water is 0.1 ppm (EPA) and 0.05 ppm (WHO). The maximum value of chromium in the water sample is 0.023, which is well within the permissible limits. Cu (0.004), Mn (0.01), Zn (0.051), Ba (0.457), NO3 (2.4), SO4 (45), Temperature (32.6), pH (7.19), and bicarbonates are within the normal Cadmium is negatively correlated with Cr, K, Pb, TDS, and EC and positively correlated with Mn, Zn, As, and pH. This shows that the heavy metals with pH other than Cd are affecting the Cd concentrations and this can be due to anthropogenic causes. Cr is positively correlated with Cu, K, Ba, Temp, and EC and negatively correlated with Mn, As, NO3, and HCO3. This shows that the increase in Cr concentration is associated with the other heavy metals (Antropogenic) along with the EC and temperature (Natural Process). Cu is positively correlated with Zn, Ba, NO3, Ni (Anthropogenic), EC, HCO3, and Temp. K exhibits a positive correlation with Mn, Ni, Pb, Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and a negative correlation with Zn, Ba, Temp, and pH. Mn positively correlates with Al and As and negatively correlates with Ba and Temp. Ni is positively correlated with Pb, Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Zn and pH. Pb is positively correlated with Al, As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Zn, Ba, Temp, and pH. Zn is positively correlated with Al and pH and negatively correlated with Temp and EC. Ba is positively correlated with Temp, pH, and EC and negatively correlated with Al, As, TDS, and HCO3. Al is positively correlated with As, TDS, NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp and pH. As is positively correlated with TDS, NO3, SO4, HCO3, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp and pH. TDS is positively correlated with NO3, SO4, and EC and negatively correlated with HCO3, Temp, and pH. NO<sup>3</sup> is positively correlated with SO4, HCO3, and EC and negatively correlated with Temp

and pH. SO<sup>4</sup> exhibits a negative correlation with HCO3, Temp, and pH and positively correlates with EC. HCO<sup>3</sup> is negatively correlated with pH and EC.

The observed cadmium value is 0.18 ppm in the study area. This water might not suit agriculture, irrigation, and drinking purposes. The increase in cadmium levels can be due to sewage sludge, fertilizers, battery alloys, and cigarette smoking. The increased levels of Cd can damage kidneys. Due to this, there will be disruption of the endocrine system and inhibition of sex hormones in humans. Long-time exposure to Cadmium may cause Itai-itai in humans. The recommended chromium standard in drinking water is 0.1 ppm (EPA) and 0.05 ppm (WHO). The maximum value of chromium in the water sample is 0.023, which is well within the permissible limits. Cu (0.004), Mn (0.01), Zn (0.051), Ba (0.457), NO<sup>3</sup> (2.4), SO<sup>4</sup> (45), Temperature (32.6), pH (7.19), and bicarbonates are within the normal range specified by WHO and US EPA. The EC values are at 3003, and it is problematic. Pb (0.49), As (0.028), and Al (1.45) are high in the water samples collected from the study area. The concentration of Cadmium in the observed samples is 0.184 (0.183984), and this is higher than the WHO recommended value of 0.003 mg/L. The concentration of lead observed in the groundwater samples is 0.4905 mg/L against 0.01 mg/L (WHO). The concentration of Aluminum in the samples analyzed is 1.4502 and is higher than the WHO recommended value of 0.9 mg/L.
