Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment in an Arid Region: A Case Study from Al Salameh Area, Shabwah, Yemen (original) (raw)
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2012
El-Bahariya Oasis is a natural topographic depression located in the heart of the Western Desert of Egypt. The Nubian sandstone aquifer represents the main water-bearing horizon. The hydrochemical characteristics of the concern aquifer are studied based on the chemical analysis of 125 groundwater samples collected from different sites. The salinity of the groundwater is relatively low (TDS vary from 108 to 632 ppm), as well as the electric conductivity and total hardness. The recorded groundwater temperature values, from Nubian sandstone aquifer in the study area, range between 15 to 45°C. The variation in temperature may be due to structures or differences in drilling depths.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2011
The Harzandat plain is part of the East Azerbaijan province, which lies between Marand and Jolfa cities, northwestern of Iran, and its groundwater resources are developed for water supply and irrigation purposes. The main lithologic units consist chiefly of limestone, dolomite, shale, conglomerate, marl, and igneous rocks. In order to evaluate the quality of groundwater in study area, 36 samples were collected and analyzed for various ions. Chemical indexes like sodium adsorption ratio, percentage of sodium, residual sodium carbonate, and permeability index were calculated. Based on the analytical results, groundwater in the area is generally very hard, brackish, high to very high saline and alkaline in nature. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Cl − >HCO − 3 >SO 2− 4 and Na + >Ca 2+ >Mg 2+ >K + . The dominant hydrochemical facieses of groundwater is Na − Cl type, and alkalis (Na + , K + ) and strong acids (Cl − , SO 2− 4 ) are slightly dominating over alkali earths (Ca 2+ , N. Aghazadeh (B) Mg 2+ ) and weak acids (HCO − 3 , CO 2− 3 ). The chemical quality of groundwater is related to the dissolution of minerals, ion exchange, and the residence time of the groundwater in contact with rock materials. The results of calculation saturation index by computer program PHREEQC shows that nearly all of the water samples were supersaturated with respect to carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite and aragonite) and undersaturated with respect to sulfate minerals (gypsum and anhydrite). Assessment of water samples from various methods indicated that groundwater in study area is chemically unsuitable for drinking and agricultural uses.
Hydrochemical Characterisation and Classification of Groundwaters in the Sana's Basin, Yemen
In the present study, physico-chemical parameters were applied to characterize and classify ground- and spring water samples collected from the Sana’a basin-Yemen. A total of 24 groundwater samples from deep wells and 13 spring water samples were collected from the Sana’a basin between September and October 2009. Major anions (Cl-, HCO3-, NO3- SO42- and Br-) and major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) were measured. Additionally, the heavy metals As, Pb, Cu, Ni, Co, Cd, Fe, Mn, Al and Zn were measured in the groundwater samples. The physical parameters, which include water temperature, electrical conductivity and pH-value, and determination of hydrogen-carbonate, were measured on site. The ground- and spring water samples collected from the Sana’a basin were classified in groups according to their major ions (anions and cations) content. The classical use of the groundwater in hydrology is to produce information concerning the water quality. The classification was based on several hydrochemical methods, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness, Sodium Absorption Ration (SAR), Magnesium hazard (MH), saturation indices (SI) and Piper diagram. To ensure the suitability of ground- and spring water in the Sana’a basin for drinking purposes, the hydrochemical parameters were compared with the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Yemen National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) standards. In order to check the suitability of ground- and spring water for irrigation purposes the samples were classified based on MH and calculated SAR. The data were plotted on the United State SALINITY LABORATORY (U.S.S.L) diagram.
Groundwater quality and hydrochemical properties of Al-Ula Region, Saudi Arabia
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2015
Groundwater quality monitoring is one of the most important aspects in groundwater studies in arid environments particularly in developing countries, like Saudi Arabia, due to the fast population growth and the expansion of irrigated agriculture and industrial uses. Groundwater samples have been collected from eight locations in Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia during June 2012 and January 2013 in order to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics and the groundwater quality and to understand the sources of dissolved ions. Physicochemical parameters of groundwater such as electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solid, and major cations and anions were determined. Chloride was found to be the dominant anion followed by HCO − 3 and SO 4 2−. Groundwater of the study area is characterized by the dominance of alkaline earths (Ca 2+ + Mg 2+) over alkali metals (Na + + K +). The analytical results show that the groundwater is generally moderately hard and slightly alkaline in nature. The binary relationships of the major ions reveal that water quality of the Al-Ula region is mainly controlled by rock weathering, evaporation, and ion exchange reactions. Piper diagram was constructed to identify hydrochemical facies, and it was found that majority of the samples belong to Ca-Cl and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl facies. Chemical indices like chloroalkali indices, sodium adsorption ratio, percentage of sodium, residual sodium carbonate, and permeability index were calculated. Also, the results show that the chemical composition of groundwater sources of Al-Ula is strongly influenced by lithology of country rocks rather than anthropogenic activities.
Arabian Journal of Geosciences
Groundwater quality of a region is often controlled by the geochemical processes that operate with respect to the aquifer-water interaction, especially in arid regions where rainfall recharge is minimal. The goal of the present research was to understand the hydrochemical processes influencing groundwater chemistry and to evaluate groundwater quality for drinking and agricultural usage in Wadi Nisah and Wadi Al-Awsat, south of Riyadh. Twenty-nine groundwater samples were analyzed for major physiochemical parameters. Ionic plots, chloro-alkaline indices, and modified Piper plots point towards reverse ion exchange. Saturation indices and correlation coefficients indicate halite, calcite, and dolomite dissolution. The Piper plot shows that most of the groundwater samples (82.76%) are of the (Ca + Mg)-(Cl-SO 4 ) type. The groundwater quality is not good for drinking due to its high total dissolved solid (TDS) content. The groundwater is found to be suitable for irrigation in terms of residual sodium carbonate, sodium adsorption ratio, soluble sodium percentage, Kelly's index, and magnesium hazard. The high salinity is unsuitable for irrigation; however, this can be overcome by using salinity-resistant crop varieties.
Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry, 2014
The Janah alluvial aquifer is located in southern Iran with an arid climate. The type of groundwater in this aquifer is dominantly of sodium chloride and total dissolved solid of groundwater samples range from 1.63 to 335 g/L which confirms that groundwater quality has been severely degraded by salinization. Hydrogeochemical and isotopic investigations were conducted to identify the source of salinity. Total dissolved solids and major ion concentrations were measured at 51 selected sampling sites including springs, wells and surface waters. In addition stable isotopic composition (oxygen-18 and deuterium) was measured in 6 sampling points. The study indicates that the sources of salinity of the Janah aquifer include dissolution of salt diapir and evaporite rocks, a geothermal spring and intrusion of the river water which function individually or together in different parts of the aquifer. Based on the hydrogeochemical and geological studies conceptual flow models were prepared for different parts of the aquifer which illustrate how each source of salinity deteriorates the quality of the alluvial aquifer. We proposed few remediation methods including construction of cemented channel and sealed basins to improve groundwater quality. These methods would prevent infiltration of low quality water into the alluvial aquifer.
Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 2018
Evaluation of groundwater quality is very important in arid regions like United Arab Emirates where high evaporation rates and absence of present-day recharge coupled with increasing groundwater extraction may limit its use for irrigation purposes. The liwa aquifer in Abu Dhabi Emirate is known for its intensive agriculture activities which depend on groundwater exploitation. The objective of the study was to determine the hydrochemical processes governing the groundwater chemistry, evaluation of groundwater quality and suitability for irrigation use. In the present study, 41 groundwater samples were collected from Liwa area in Abu Dhabi and analyzed for various physiochemical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , CO 3 − , HCO 3 − , Cl − , SO 4 2− , NO 3 and heavy metals. Electrical conductivity varies between 328 and 3003 uS/cm with an average value of 1478.5 uS/cm. Results show that changes in the groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by rock weathering, to some extent evaporation and agricultural activities. The sodium ion was the main cation with an average value of 2923.2 mg/L, while the chloride ion was the dominant anion with an average value of 5670.8 mg/L. The water in the study area is mostly saline due to the dominance of these two ions. According to piper diagram, the main groundwater type in the study area was Na-Cl-SO 4 type. The suitability for agriculture use was assessed using sodium absorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), residual sodium concentration (RSC), Kelley's ratio, and magnesium hazard. Results showed that the groundwater quality in the study area is not suitable for irrigation.
Hydrogeological investigation of groundwater has been performed within Kasra-Nukhaib district (west Iraq). The physicochemical analyses of the groundwater samples collected from Um Erdhuma-Tayarat aquifer are used in determination of hy-drogeochemical processes, hydrochemical facies, hydrochemical ratio, and saturation indices supported by phreeqc software. The monitoring network of groundwater quality consists of twelve physiochemical variables in twenty four water wells were determined, aiming to examine the hydrogeo-chemical phenomena which are benefit in groundwater development and support the plans of future uses (exploitation) and groundwater management. A hydrogeological model was prepared to examine qualitative evaluation of aquifers media related to geochemical processes. Spatial hydro-chemical bi-models were achieved for quantitative interpretation. Various graphical plots such as Piper, Durov, and Gibbs diagrams are used in proving different geo-chemical processes. The results are correlated with standards classifications to deduce the hydrogeo-chemical phenomena. The results showed that the groundwater of Um Erdhuma-Tayarat aquifer has a property of Carbonate weathering represents the major hydrogeochemical processes. In addition, ion exchange and reverse ion exchange were two possible processes of water-rock interaction (e.g. dolomitization processes) within the hydrogeologic system. Also, the evaporation process and mixing action of recharge vadose waters, and ancient trapped fossil waters have a moderate effect on the evolution of groundwater quality. An increased salt content is observed in groundwater at different static water levels indicating mixing with various sources. The mechanism controlling groundwater chemistry is originally related to geogenic process. In addition, anthropogenic activities have not significantly altered 1157 the geochemical nature of groundwater in the aquifers system.
Geosciences Journal, 2018
Halayieb area is located at the southeastern corner on the border between Egypt and Sudan. The area has very important strategic aspects to Egypt. Groundwater is the only source of fresh water in the area. The hydrogeochemical characterizations of groundwater in the area were carried out, to assess the quality of groundwater for its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Geologically the Precambrian rocks underlain the Mesozoic sandstone and Tertiary marine sediments. The groundwater of the area is recorded at the Miocene sedimentary succession and the fractured basement aquifers with a maximum water depth of 26.5 m from the ground surface. Groundwater quality is mostly saline caused by the sources of geogenic, anthropogenic, and marine origin of the water bearing formations. The resulting groundwater is characterized by Na + > Ca 2+ > Mg 2+ /Cl − > HCO 3 − > SO 4 2− : Na + > Ca 2+ > K + /SO 4 2− > Cl − > HCO 3 − facies, following the topographical and water flow-path conditions. The hydrochemical facies in this area fall in the field of NaCl type and the hydrogeochemical signatures indicated active hydrolysis and dissolution process of Ca-bearing minerals of the basement rocks and some sodium is lost, most probably through reverse ion exchange. Enrichment of Mn + in some wells is regarded to the mining activity for manganese ores in the area. Groundwater quality is mostly not suitable for drinking purposes. For irrigation, the groundwater is mostly suitable in regard to the residual sodium carbonate and the magnesium hazard. According to the water quality assessment using United States salinity laboratory (USLL) diagram, most water samples located in category C3-S2, C3-S3, C3-S4, C4-S2 highlighting high to very high salinity hazard and medium to very high sodium content class. Most of the groundwater samples that are located away from the shoreline are suitable for livestock and poultry consumption. High salinity contents in the study area create severe problems for using water supplies and for future exploitation.
2016
Hydrogeochemical investigations of groundwater in Torbat-Zaveh plain have been carried out to assess the water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes. In this study, 190 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and major ion concentrations. The abundance of major cations and anions was in the following order: Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, and Cl− > SO2−4 > HCO−3 > CO2−3. As a result, alkaline element (Na+) exceeds alkaline earth elements (Mg2+ and Ca2+), and strong acids (Cl− and SO2−4) dominate weak acids (HCO−3 and CO2−3) in majority of the groundwater samples. Statistical analyses including Spearman correlation coefficients and factor analysis display good correlation between physicochemical parameters (EC, TDS and TH) and Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl− and SO2−4. The results display that rock-weathering interactions and ion-exchange processes play important role in controlling groundwater chemistry. Saturation index values also indicate that water chemistry is significantly affected by carbonate minerals such as calcite, aragonite and dolomite. US Salinity Laboratory(USSL) and Wilcox diagrams together with permeability index values reveal that most of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation purpose. However, in some regions, the water samples do not indicate required irrigational quality.