<p>Groundwater contamination with heavy metals in Bangladesh poses a significant health risk. This study analyzed 40 groundwater samples from selected aquifers in Charghat Upazila, Rajshahi district, to evaluate ionic components and heavy metal concentrations for drinking and irrigation. Standard methods were used to assess pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), cations, anions, and heavy metals. Groundwater quality indices were determined for sodium absorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), total hardness (HT), and permeability index (PI). All the samples exhibited slightly neutral pH, while EC and SAR values indicated high salinity and low alkalinity. TDS categorized the samples as fresh water, and SSP rated them as excellent or good. However, RSC results showed 22.5% of the samples are suitable, 42.5% marginal, and the rest unsuitable for irrigation. Permeability index assessments deemed all samples suitable for irrigation, but hardness tests indicated hard to very hard water quality. Levels of calcium (Ca²⁺), bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), and manganese (Mn²⁺) exceeded permissible limits for continuous irrigation. Principal component analysis identified SSP, HT, SAR, Na, TDS, EC, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, RSC, and Mn²⁺ as key contributors. Health risk assessments showed an HQ value for Mn below 1 for adults, but six samples had HQ levels over 1 for children. All the samples presented a significant risk of chronic carcinogenic exposure, exceeding safe limits for both adults and children, indicating unsuitability for long-term drinking and irrigation uses.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>