GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY AND SUITABILITY FOR DRINKING

The observation of groundwater quality elements is essential for understanding the classification and distribution of drinking water, hence it is of importance to know the location of groundwater sources using ArcGIS. Blantyre, MISESA Ward Area, located in the southern part of Malawi. A large amount of the water requirement of MISESA is supplied from groundwater. The quality of this groundwater was determined by taking samples from 8 of the boreholes within the study area. The purposes of this investigation were (1) to undertake a geospatial assessment on groundwater quality and suitability for drinking (2) to provide an overview of present groundwater quality and (2) to determine spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters such as, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, faecal coliform, total dissolved solids, total coliform concentrations, and (4) to map groundwater quality in the study area by using GIS and Geostatistics techniques and also to observe the groundwater potential of the area, all of this was done to analyse the suitability of drinking the water from underground. ArcGIS 10.7 and ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst were used for generation of various thematic maps and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst to produce the final groundwater quality map. A drinking water quality index was then developed to describe the overall quality of groundwater in the study area. Very poor water quality was observed in MANJE area, and KAPENI area. Excellent water quality was observed in SOCHE area. There is a significant relationship between the land use in the area and the quality of groundwater.