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Analysis of Groundwater Pollution Factors Using a Quantitative and Sampling Approach (Case Study: Mashhad)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Environmental Science, Kheradgarayan Motahar Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kheradgarayan Motahar Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran

3 Health researcher, Treatment and Research Department of Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the groundwater quality of Mashhad by examining the effects of land-use types and geographical location on physicochemical parameters, inorganic pollutants, and organic contamination indices. The research emphasizes the importance of sustainable planning and the protection of water resources.

Materials and Methods: This research was conducted during autumn 2024 across different areas of Mashhad. The experiment was designed as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with three replications, including two factors: land-use type (urban–residential, industrial, agricultural, and mixed [a combination of multiple land uses]) and spatial location (north, south, east, and west of Mashhad).

Results: In this study, the physicochemical characteristics and pollution indicators of Mashhad’s groundwater were evaluated based on land-use type and geographical position. In northern Mashhad, industrial areas exhibited the highest pH (8.2) and electrical conductivity (1.2 dS/m), whereas agricultural areas showed the lowest pH (6.82) and the highest bicarbonate (248 mg/L) and nitrate concentrations (44.8 mg/L). In the south, agricultural land-use had the highest pH (7.6), electrical conductivity (1.91 dS/m), and sulfate (156 mg/L); nitrate peaked in mixed land-use (45 mg/L), and phosphate reached its highest level in agricultural areas (1.37 mg/L). In the west, industrial areas recorded the highest electrical conductivity (1.74 dS/m) and phosphate levels (2.15 mg/L), while the greatest bicarbonate (235 mg/L) and nitrite (0.88 mg/L) concentrations were observed in urban and mixed land-uses. In the east, mixed land-use showed the highest pH (8.45) and electrical conductivity (1.89 dS/m), and the highest nitrate (44.2 mg/L) and ammonium (2.90 mg/L) values were detected in mixed and agricultural areas.

Conclusion: Overall, groundwater quality in Mashhad varies depending on land-use type (agricultural, industrial, urban, and mixed). Industrial zones generally exhibit higher acidity levels and heavy-metal concentrations, while agricultural and mixed areas tend to show elevated nutrient levels and non-metal contaminants.
 
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords

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Available Online from 13 December 2025
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