Haridwar once regarded as the holiest city of India has fast assumed the garb of an industrial destination after the establishment of the integrated industrial estate (IIE) Haridwar in the year 2000. IIE Haridwar is flanked by the Rajaji National Park and rural/agricultural areas in addition to urban residential, commercial and other industrial areas. Five heavy metals Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) were monitored monthly at 18 groundwater locations for a year in and around IIE Haridwar. Co was detected in 94 %, Fe in 99 % and Cr in 98 % samples; and Ni in 90 % and Zn in 99 % of the 216 samples. Co, Cr, Fe and Ni were found to exceed standard guideline limits in 196/216, 199/216, 71/216 and 147/216 samples, respectively. Two-way ANOVA showed main effects of season on concentrations of Fe and Zn. Significant correlations were identified between metal pairs Co–Cr and Fe–Zn. PCA identified two principal components, the anthropogenic pollution factor with loadings on Co and Cr and geogenic factor with loadings on Zn and Fe. HCA supported the findings of PCA and formed three clusters. Health risk assessment showed non-carcinogenic risk at all 17/18 locations due to Cr indicating adverse impact of industrial activity on human health.
