Monitoring the groundwater chemical composition and identifying the presence of pollutants is an integral part of any comprehensive groundwater management strategy. The present study was conducted in a part of West Tripura, northeast India, to investigate the presence and sources of trace metals in groundwater and the risk to human health due to direct ingestion of groundwater. Samples were collected from 68 locations twice a year from 2016 to 2018. Mixed Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Ca–Cl and Ca–Mg–Cl were the main groundwater types. Hydrogeochemical methods showed groundwater mineralization due to (1) carbonate dissolution, (2) silicate weathering, (3) cation exchange processes and (4) anthropogenic sources. Occurrence of faecal coliforms increased in groundwater after monsoons. Nitrate and microbial contamination from wastewater infiltration were apparent. Iron, manganese, lead, cadmium and arsenic were above the drinking water limits prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Water quality index indicated 1.5% had poor, 8.7% had marginal, 16.2% had fair, 66.2% had good and 7.4% had excellent water quality. Correlation and principal component analysis reiterated the sources of major ions and trace metals identified from hydrogeochemical methods. Human exposure assessment suggests health risk due to high iron in groundwater. The presence of unsafe levels of trace metals in groundwater requires proper treatment measures before domestic use.

监测地下水化学成分并确定污染物的存在是任何综合地下水管理策略的一个组成部分。本研究在印度东北部西特里普拉邦的部分地区进行，旨在调查地下水中微量金属的存在和来源，以及直接摄入地下水对人类健康的风险。 2016年至2018年，每年两次从68个地点采集样品。混合Ca-Mg-HCO ₃ 、Ca-Cl和Ca-Mg-Cl是主要地下水类型。水文地球化学方法显示地下水矿化归因于（1）碳酸盐溶解、（2）硅酸盐风化、（3）阳离子交换过程和（4）人为来源。季风过后，地下水中粪便大肠菌群的数量增加。废水渗透造成的硝酸盐和微生物污染很明显。铁、锰、铅、镉和砷均超出印度标准局规定的饮用水限值。水质指数显示，水质较差的占1.5%，尚可的占8.7%，一般的占16.2%，良的占66.2%，优的占7.4%。相关性和主成分分析重申了通过水文地球化学方法确定的主要离子和痕量金属的来源。人体暴露评估表明地下水中铁含量较高会带来健康风险。地下水中存在不安全水平的微量金属，需要在家庭使用前采取适当的处理措施。