The main objective of the present investigation is to estimate groundwater suitability for sustainable drinking water supply and food production in a semi-urban area of south India with a focus on risk assessment for making healthy society. As urbanization and industrialization make the water unfit for water supply and crop rising in most parts of the world this study is very much significant for the fast growing Edappadi region in the southern part of India. A total of sixty-nine groundwater samples were obtained during May 2019 (summer season) and analyzed for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, potassium (K⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), sulphate (SO₄^2-), chloride (Cl⁻), and fluoride (F⁻). Fluoride and nitrate ranged from 0.38 to 3.23 mg/L and 12 to 136 mg/L with an average of 1.7 mg/L and 62 mg/L, respectively. About 36 % of samples occupying 80.74 km² area surpass the allowable limit of fluoride (1.5 mg/L). Similarly, 42 % of samples occupying 98.75 km² area surpass the allowable limit of nitrate as per WHO and BIS standards (45 mg/L). Correlation studies point out that groundwater contamination is happening due to manmade activities. The Improved Water Quality Index (IWQI) suggested that about 57% of groundwater samples can be used for drinking utility. The alkalinity of groundwater is within the suitable level for crops but groundwater salinity is high to very high in most of the areas. The Total Hazard Index (THI) showed that 72%, 59%, 33% and 29% and 86%, 77%, 51% and 43% of groundwater samples are within the non-carcinogenic health risk category based on fluoride and nitrate contents, respectively, for infants, children, teens, and adults. This study will help the decision and policymakers such as municipal corporation, pollution control board, public works department, water supply and drainage boards, agricultural and public health departments, etc., to use appropriate groundwater resources for providing safe drinking water supply and food production from crops. The findings of this study can aid in the development of appropriate management strategies by the above government departments for ensuring safe water supply and health protection measures for inhabitants.

本调查的主要目的是评估地下水对印度南部半城市地区可持续饮用水供应和粮食生产的适宜性，重点是建立健康社会的风险评估。由于城市化和工业化使世界大部分地区的水不适合供水和作物生长，这项研究对于印度南部快速增长的 Edappadi 地区非常重要。2019 年 5 月（夏季）共采集了 69 个地下水样品，并分析了总溶解固体 (TDS)、电导率 (EC)、pH、钾 (K ⁺ )、镁 (Mg ²⁺ )、钠 ( Na ⁺ )、钙 (Ca ²⁺ )、碳酸氢盐 (HCO ₃ ⁻)、硝酸盐 (NO ₃ ^- )、硫酸盐 (SO ₄ ^2- )、氯化物 (Cl ^- ) 和氟化物 (F ^- )。氟化物和硝酸盐的范围分别为 0.38 至 3.23 毫克/升和 12 至 136 毫克/升，平均分别为 1.7 毫克/升和 62 毫克/升。占地80.74 km ²区域的样品中约有36%超过了氟化物的允许限值（1.5 mg/L）。同样，42% 的样本占据 98.75 km ²面积超过 WHO 和 BIS 标准（45 mg/L）中硝酸盐的允许限值。相关研究指出，地下水污染是由于人为活动造成的。改善的水质指数 (IWQI) 表明大约 57% 的地下水样本可用于饮用公用事业。地下水的碱度在适合农作物生长的范围内，但大部分地区地下水的盐度从高到非常高。总危害指数 (THI) 显示，基于氟化物和硝酸盐含量，72%、59%、33% 和 29% 以及 86%、77%、51% 和 43% 的地下水样本属于非致癌健康风险类别，分别适用于婴儿、儿童、青少年和成人。这项研究将帮助市政公司、污染控制委员会、公共工程部门等决策者和决策者，供水和排水委员会、农业和公共卫生部门等，利用适当的地下水资源，提供安全的饮用水供应和农作物的粮食生产。本研究的结果有助于上述政府部门制定适当的管理策略，以确保居民的安全供水和健康保护措施。