Groundwater risks driven by population growth and industrialization in metropolitan cities have become a worldwide problem. Faisalabad is Pakistan’s third largest city with a population of more than 2 million and is renowned for its diverse industries. Many factories in the area dump their untreated effluent into nearby drainage systems, having a direct negative effect on the marine ecosystem. This research focuses on the Madhuana drain and Khurrianwala industrial region of Faisalabad to investigate groundwater quality status. Sixty water samples from groundwater bore wells and open wells were obtained, and all these samples were subjected to lab experiments for physical and chemical analysis. Sixteen physiochemical parameters, namely, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, carbonate, Ca²⁺, Fe, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, SO₂⁴⁻, As, Cr, Cu, and Mn, were examined. To provide a comprehensive picture of water quality from a human perspective, we calculated the water quality index (WQI) by integrating 16 physiochemical criteria. The results revealed that a larger proportion had poor drinking quality due to direct releases of toxins by industries. It was observed that 87% of the water samples showed an unsuitable status of groundwater for drinking purposes in terms of pH, EC, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Cr. The results of this study could be used to build and construct wastewater treatment plant facilities for the Madhuana drain, reducing pollution loads on the drain and river, as well as contaminant seepage rates into groundwater. The research’s resulting maps will help policymakers to manage groundwater supplies more efficiently for sustainable development.

Groundwater pollution is considered a major concern in today’s world. Most industries in Pakistan produce untreated wastewater, extracting from and contaminating a nearby water source and the soil. This study was conducted in the Nithar Ke area of Chiniot District to assess the impact of the flow of wastewater over the area on groundwater quality. It aimed to: (1) investigate the conditions of industrial wastewater; (2) study the spatial variability of different parameters in groundwater using a GIS map; and (3) check the appropriateness of groundwater for drinking purposes using the water quality index (WQI). Physical and chemical characteristics, including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, TSS, CO₃, HCO₃, chlorides, alkalinity, total hardness, Ca, Mg, arsenic, copper, chromium, nickel, iron, manganese, and sulfate, were tested using groundwater samples, and variance in groundwater was analyzed using a GIS (geographic information system). The water quality index (WQI) was developed for the Nithar Ke area to determine the appropriateness of the groundwater for drinking purposes. WQI values were determined within the range of 41 to 89.5, which showed a poor to good water quality. It was discovered that parameters such as BOD, COD, iron, and TDS had average concentrations of 192 mg/L, 264 mg/L, 2.62 mg/L, and 6039 mg/L, respectively, in the polluted water, which exceeded the permissible limit. Iron and manganese were the most common contaminants found in that area. The biplot and correlation circle showed that iron and turbidity had a positive relationship. Further study on soil stratification and soil characteristics is recommended in this area for a detailed analysis of the causes of metal contamination.