ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN NORTH HO CHI MINH CITY USING GWQI INDEX AND IDW INTERPOLATION

Abstract

Groundwater plays a crucial role as a resource, providing water for domestic use and supporting socioeconomic development. The northern region of Ho Chi Minh City  (HCMC) is under significant pressure from industrialisation, which has required to a growing demand for water, while surface water sources are declining in both quantity and quality. This study applies a Groundwater Quality Index in conjunction with the Inverse Distance Weighting spatial interpolation method to assess, zone, and determine the quality level of groundwater. Research data were collected from the HCMC  Department of Agriculture and Rural Development over the period of 2019 - 2023. The results indicate that the majority of monitoring points have a mean water quality index ranging from medium to very good (146.7-41). Groundwater quality remains good to very good across the three main aquifers: the Middle-Upper Pleistocene (qp_2-3), Lower Pleistocene (qp₁), and Middle Pliocene (n₂²). These aquifers are generally less affected by anthropogenic pollution sources. From 2021 to 2023, groundwater quality in most areas showed marked improvement, thereby contributing to overall improvement in the study area.