SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN GROUND WATER OF SHEIKHUPURA DISTRICT PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Spatial distribution of heavy metals in ground water of industrial area of district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan during 2010 was investigated using Geographic Information System (GIS). To check heavy metals, 235 ground water samples were collected along with the latitude and longitude coordinate values. Samples were analysed for irrigation quality parameters i.e. electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC). Nineteen samples were selected randomly for five heavy metals (Cd, Co, As, Cu and Mn) and analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). An area about 107 square kilometers comprising six villages namely Wandala Nasir, Pindi Das, Purab, Noon, Shamke and Zia Abad was investigated. Prediction maps were developed which illustrate that the extreme eastern and western sides of area of interest have fit ground water including the Zia Abad and Wandala Nasir villages. More than 50% area has unfit ground water on the basis of EC and RSC. Regarding heavy metals, results of prediction maps match with ground realities. Most of the area along Motorway to Muridkey road is dense with varied nature of industries. Cluster analysis showed that 52, 45 and 20% of total area has higher Cadmium, Cobalt and Manganese concentrations, respectively than maximum permissible limits for irrigation purpose. However Arsenic and Copper concentrations were within the safe limits except few patches.