Abstract
Chemical properties and pollution of water resources were studied in the Chah basin that is located in the Hamadan province, western Iran. Water quality was characterized according to its major constituents and the geological features of the area. Chemical analysis results indicate that groundwaters show wide concentration ranges in major inorganic ions, reflecting complex hydrochemical processes. Groundwater in the studied area is, for the most part, weakly to moderately mineralized and dominated by the calcium (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (\( {\text{HCO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \)) ions. Within the basin, three different hydrogeochemical facies have been identified: Ca-HCO3, Ca-SO4 and Mg-HCO3. The predominant water type of groundwater samples is the Ca-HCO3 facies in the recharge area and has a tendency toward Mg-HCO3 and Ca-SO4 facies along the direction of water flow. The samples were classified into four groups based on chloride (Cl−) and nitrate (\( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \)) concentrations and the processes that control water chemistry has been discussed. The results explained the importance of cation exchange, mineral weathering, and anthropogenic activities on groundwater chemistry. It was indicated that cation exchange and Cl-salt inputs are the major process controlling the water chemistry of the low Cl− and high \( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \) (group 2) and high Cl− and \( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \) (group 4). Groundwaters low in \( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \) and high in Cl− (group 3) and low in \( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \) and Cl− (group 1) are mainly affected by cation exchange and mineral dissolution. Pollution of groundwaters appeared to be affected by the application of fertilizers, irrigation practice, and solubility of mineral phases and discharge of domestic sewage. Measuring and predicting the mass loading of pollutant to groundwater from specific agricultural systems seems to be useful aids in controlling pollutions in groundwater.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andre, L., Franceschi, M., Pouchan, P., & Atteia, O. (2005). Using geochemical data and modelling to enhance the understanding of groundwater flow in a regional deep aquifer, Aquitaine Basin, south-west of France. Journal of Hydrology, 305, 40–62.
Appelo, C. A. J., & Postma, D. (1993). Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution (p. 536). Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema.
Baharifar, A., Moinevaziri, H., Bellon, H., & Pique, A. (2004). The crystalline complexes of Hamadan (Sanandaj–Sirjan zone, western Iran): metasedimentary Mezoic sequences affected by Late Cretaceous tectono-metamorphic and plutonic events. C. R. Geoscience, 336, 1443–1452.
Bijay-Singh, Yadvinder-Singh, & Sekhon, G. S. (1995). Fertilizer-N use efficiency and nitrate pollution of groundwater in developing countries. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 20, 167–184.
Bouwer, H. (2000). Integrated water management: Emerging issues and challenges. Agricultural Water Management, 45, 217–228.
Bowser, C. J., & Jones, B. F. (1993). Silicate mass balances of natural waters, dissolution kinetics, clay products, and the calcium problem. Proc 10th Int Clay Conf. Adelaide, Australia.
Cardona, A., Rivera, J. J. C., Alvarez, R. H., & Castro, E. G. (2004). Salinization in coastal aquifers of arid zones: An example from Santo Domingo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Environmental Geology, 45, 350–366.
Carling, M., & Hammar, M. (1995). Nitrogen metabolism and leakage from pit latrines. University of Ludea, Report 1995:020 E, Ludea, Sweden.
Dixon, W., & Chiswell, B. (1992) The use of hydrochemical sections to identify recharge areas and saline intrusions in alluvial aquifers, southeast Queensland, Australia. Journal of Hydrology, 130, 299–338.
Garcia, M. G., del v. Hidalgo, M., & Blessa, M. A. (2001). Geochemistry of groundwater in the alluvial plain of Tucuman province, Argentina. Hydrogeology Journal, 9, 597–610.
Gimenez, E., & Morell, I. (1997). Hydrogeochemical analysis of salinization processes in the coastal aquifer of Oropesa (Catellon, Spain). Environmental Geology, 29(1/2), 118–131.
Goulding, K. (2000). Nitrate leaching form arable and horticultural land. Soil Use and Management, 16, 145–151.
Hamilton, P. A., & Helsel, D. R. (1995). Effects of agriculture on ground-water quality in five regions of the United States. Ground Water, 33, 217–226.
Hem, J. D. (1992). Study and interpretation of chemical characteristics of natural water. (3rd edn.) USGS Water-Supply Paper 2254.
Jacks, G., Sefe, F., Carling, M., Hammar, M., & Letsamao, P. (1999). Tentative nitrogen budget for pit latrines-eastern Botswana. Environmental Geology, 38, 199–203.
Jalali, M. (2005a). Nitrates leaching from agricultural land in Hamadan, western Iran. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 110, 210–218.
Jalali, M. (2005b) Major ion chemistry in the Bahar area, Hamadan, western Iran. Environmental Geology, 47, 763–772.
Jalali, M. (2005c). A survey on agricultural practices and their effects on the nitrate concentration of the vegetables and soil solution. Proceedings of International Conference on Human Impacts on Soil Quality Attributes. Iran: Isfahan.
Jalali, M. (2006). Chemical characteristics of groundwater in parts of mountainous region, Alvand, Hamadan, Iran. Environment Geology. (In press).
Kenoyer, G. J., & Bowser, C. J. (1992). Groundwater chemical evolution in a sandy silicate aquifer in northern Wisconsin: 1. Patterns and rates of change. Water Resources Research, 28, 579–589.
Kim, K., Rajmohan, N., Kim, H. J., Hwang, G. S., & Cho, M. J. (2004). Assessment of groundwater chemistry in a coastal region (Kunsan, Korea) having complex contaminant sources: A stoichiometric approach. Environmental Geology, 46, 763–774.
Komor, S. C., & Anderson, H. W. (1993). Nitrogen isotopes as indicators of nitrate sources in Minnesota sand-plain aquifers. Ground Water, 31, 260–270.
Kung, K. J. S. (1990). Preferential flow in a sandy vadose zone: 1. Field observation. Geoderma, 46, 51–58.
Lasaga, A. C. (1984). Chemical kinetics of water–rock interactions. Journal of Geophysical Research, 89(B6), 4009–4025.
Magaritz, M., Nadler, A., Koyumdjisky, H., & Dan, N. (1981). The use of Na/Cl ratio to trace solute sources in a semiarid zone. Water Resources Research, 17, 602–608.
Merrikhpour, H., & Jalali, M. (2005). Effect of land use of wastewater on movement of some cations and anions through repacked soil columns. Proceedings of International Conference on Human Impacts on Soil Quality Attributes. Iran: Isfahan.
Olajire, A. A., & Imeokparia, F. E. (2001). Water quality assessment of Osun river: Studies on inorganic nutrients. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 69(1), 17–28.
Pacheco, J., & Cabrera, S. (1997). Groundwater contamination by nitrates in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Hydrology Journal, 5(2), 47–53.
Reuss, J. O., & Johnson, D. W. (1986). Acid deposition and the acidification of soil and waters (p. 119). New York: Springer.
Rhodes, A. L., Newton, R. M., & Pufall, A. (2001). Influences of land use on water quality of diverse New England watersheds. Environmental Science & Technology, 35, 3640–3645.
Ritcher, B. C., & Kreitler, W. C. (1993). Geochemical techniques for identifying sources of groundwater salinization. New York: CRC Press, ISBN 1-56670-000-0.
Rivers, C. N., Hiscock, K. M., Feast, N. A., Barrett, M. H., & Dennis, P. F. (1996). Use of nitrogen isotopes to identify nitrogen contamination of the Sherwood sandstone aquifer beneath the city of Nottingham, UK. Hydrology Journal, 4(1), 90–102.
Rodvang, S. J., Mikalson, D. M., & Ryan, M. C. (2004). Ground water quality, changes in ground water quality in an irrigated area of Southern Alberta. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33, 476–487.
Rowell, D. L. (1994). Soil Science: Methods and applications. Longman Scientific and Technical.
Sabziparvar, A. A. (2003). The Analysis of Aridity and Meteorological Drought Indices in the west of Iran. Research Report. Hamadan, Iran: Bu-Ali Sina University.
Sami, K. (1992). Recharge mechanisms and geochemical processes in a semi-arid sedimentary basin, Eastern cape, South Africa. Journal of Hydrology, 139, 27–48.
Sepahi, A. (1999). Petrology of the Alvand plutonic complex with special reference on granitoids. PhD Thesis. Tehran, Iran: Tarbiat-Moallem University (in Persian).
Sinclair, A. J. (1976). Application of probability graphs in mineral exploration. Rexdale, Ontario: Association of Exploration Geochemists.
Smolders, A. J. P., Hudson-Edwards, K. A., Van der Velde, G., & Roelofs, J. G. M. (2004). Controls on water chemistry of the Pilcomayo river (Bolivia, South-America). Applied Geochemistry, 19, 1745–1758.
Stites, W., & Kraft, G. J. (2001). Nitrate and chloride loading to groundwater from an irrigated North-Central U. S. Sand-Plain vegetable field. Journal of Environmental Quality, 30, 1176–1184.
Thorstenson, D., Fisher, D., & Croft, M. (1979). The geochemistry of the Fox Hills–Basal Creek aquifer in South-Western North Dakota and Northwestern South Dakota. Water Resources Research, 15, 1479–1498.
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) (1999). Global environment outlook 2000. UK: Earthscan.
Vengosh, A., & Keren, R. (1996). Chemical modifications of groundwater contaminated by recharge of treated sewage effluent. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 23, 347–360.
Wassenaar, L. (1995), Evaluation of the origin and fate of nitrate in the Abbotsford Aquifer using the isotopes of 15N and 18O in \( {\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} \). Applied Geochemistry, 10, 391–405.
Wayland, K. G., Long, D. T., Hyndman, D. W., Pijanowski, B. C., Woodhams, S. M., & Haack, Sh. K. (2003). Identifying relationships between baseflow geochemistry and land use with synoptic sampling and R-Mode factor analysis. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 180–190.
WHO (1993). Guidelines for drinking water quality. 1. Recommendations, (2nd edn.). Geneva: World Health Organization.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jalali, M. Hydrochemical Identification of Groundwater Resources and Their Changes under the Impacts of Human Activity in the Chah Basin in Western Iran. Environ Monit Assess 130, 347–364 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9402-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9402-7