IMPLICATIONS OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Groundwater contamination has become a significant environmental and public health issue in the developing world, particularly in Pakistan, where rapid industrial development, intensification of agricultural production, and inefficient waste management systems exacerbate aquifer degradation. This study examines the implications of groundwater contamination for public health in Faisalabad District, Punjab, using a quantitative study approach. Primary data were obtained from 600 households using a combination of probability (simple random) and non-probability (convenience) sampling, and laboratory test results for water samples were used to validate contamination levels. The analysis was conducted using SPSS and JASP, employing descriptive statistics, Kendall's tau-b correlation, chi-square tests, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the causal relationship between the contamination signifier and health outcomes. Results indicate that mean scores for the contamination variables are significantly higher, indicating widespread deterioration in groundwater quality. Normality tests revealed that the data were not normally distributed (p < 0.05). Bivariate results showed significant positive associations between contamination variables and public health outcomes (p < 0.01). The SEM results indicated a strong positive association between groundwater contamination and public health (β = 0.993, p < 0.001), indicating that higher exposure is significantly associated with a higher prevalence of diseases. The Chi-square model comparison provided further evidence of strong model fit, corroborating the theoretical assumption that environmental exposure is a key determinant of community health status. The current study concludes that groundwater contamination is making a substantial contribution to chronic diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, fluorosis, and gastrointestinal infections.  It makes several recommendations for improved water management, public awareness, industrial control and monitoring of agricultural chemicals, and increased access to healthcare. The findings provide evidence-based inputs to support policy interventions for sustainable water management and the mitigation of health-related risks in Pakistan.