The current study was focused on the characterization of recharge, weathering processes and to check the aptness of groundwater for household and agriculture utility in the Chhaprola industrial area located in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples (n = 33) were analyzed for major cations and anions from which (n = 22) were analyzed for stable isotopic records (δ2H and δ18O). Solute chemistry revealed neutral to moderately basic nature (pH ranged 6.4–8.8) and showed a higher (ranged 552–3130 µS/cm) of electrical conductivity. Isotopic signals ranged from − 8.7 to − 3.3‰ for δ18O and − 60.1 to − 37‰ for δ2H. Bivariate plot of stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) showed that majority of the samples fell below the global meteoric water line (GMWL) and local meteoric water line (LMWL) of New Delhi, indicating enrichment of heavier isotopes in the aquifers, which explain that recharging water, has undergone evaporation before recharging the aquifer. Monsoonal precipitation was observed as the major source of aquifer recharge in the surveyed area. Vertical hydraulic connectivity of the aquifer layers was traced with the help of isotopic record which exhibited a more negative intercept for shallow depth tube well than the middle depth tube well. About 76% of the samples exhibited negative Schoeller index thereby indicated cation-anion exchange reactions while the remaining samples depicted the Base Exchange Reactions. Sodium-normalized Ca versus Na-normalized Mg and HCO3, indicated an equal contribution of silicate and carbonate type weathering on global-average weathering system. About 52% of the groundwater samples fell into the Ca-HCO3 - water type while remaining samples fell into 33% and 15% of Na-HCO3 and Mg-HCO3 type, respectively. Water quality indices (viz. residual sodium carbonate, Kelly index, permeability index, magnesium hazard, and Chloroalkaline indices) revealed unsuitability of the groundwater for drinking and irrigation purpose at few locations.