AccScience Publishing / AJWEP / Volume 22 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.36922/AJWEP025040023
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessment of groundwater quality in Borana Zone, Ethiopia: A multidimensional analysis using groundwater pollution index, nitrate pollution index, and water quality index

Dereje Diriba1,2* ,  Daniel Fitamo3
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1 Department of Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Bule Hora University, Bule Hora, Ethiopia
2 Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
3 Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
AJWEP 2025, 22(1), 99–114; https://doi.org/10.36922/AJWEP025040023
Submitted: 23 January 2025 | Revised: 26 February 2025 | Accepted: 27 February 2025 | Published: 14 March 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

This study assessed groundwater quality in Yabelo, Elewaye, Gomole, and Duduluk towns in Ethiopia, analyzing 60 samples across 19 physicochemical parameters. The groundwater pollution index (GPI), nitrate pollution index (NPI), and water quality index (WQI) were used to evaluate drinking water suitability. Results showed turbidity, pH, bicarbonate, nitrite, and copper levels were within the World Health Organization recommended limits. However, 20% of the samples had high total dissolved solids and sulfate levels. Total hardness exceeded limits in 60% of the samples, and 40% had elevated nitrate concentrations. Chromium and fluoride were elevated by 10%, while total iron and manganese exceeded standards by 20%. The GPI indicated “Insignificant pollution” in 80% of samples and “Low pollution” in 20%. Among the samples, the NPI classified 50% as “Clean”, 10% as “Low pollution”, 30% as “Moderate”, and 10% as “Very high pollution”. The WQI rated 20% as “Good”, 30% as “Very good”, and 50% as “Excellent”. This study provides valuable insights to help authorities in identifying protective measures and treatment methods for water resources.

Keywords
Borana Zone
Drinking water
Ethiopia
Groundwater
Groundwater pollution index
Nitrate pollution index
Physicochemical parameter
Water quality index
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Electronic ISSN: 1875-8568 Print ISSN: 0972-9860, Published by AccScience Publishing
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