Groundwater quality,nitrate pollution and irrigation environmental management in the Neogene sediments of an agricultural region in central Thessaly (Greece) |
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| Authors: | G Stamatis K Parpodis Α Filintas Ε Zagana |
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| Institution: | (1) Institute of Mineralogy-Geology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece;(2) Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece;(3) Institute of Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26110 Rio-Patras, Greece |
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| Abstract: | The degradation of groundwater quality, which has been noted in the recent years, is closely connected to the intensification
of agriculture, the unreasonable use of chemical fertilizers and the excess consumption of large volumes of irrigation water.
In the hilly region of central Thessaly in Greece, which suffers the consequences of intense agricultural use, a hydrogeological
study is carried out, taking groundwater samples from springs and boreholes in the Neogene aquifers. The aim of this study
is the investigation of irrigation management, water quality and suitability for various uses (water supply, irrigation),
the degradation degree and the spatial distribution of pollutants using GIS. The following hydrochemical types prevail in
the groundwater of the study area: Ca–Mg–HCO3, Mg–Ca–Na–HCO3 and Na–HCO3. In the above shallow aquifers, especially high values of NO3
− (31.7–299.0), NH4
+ (0.12–1.11), NO2
− (0.018–0.109), PO4
3− (0.07–0.55), SO4
2− (47.5–146.5) and Cl− (24.8–146.5) are found, particularly near inhabited areas (values are in mg L−1). The water of shallow aquifers is considered unsuitable for human use due to their high polluting load, while the water
of the deeper aquifers is suitable for human consumption. Regarding water suitability for irrigation, the evaluation of SAR
(0.153–7.397) and EC (481–1,680 μS cm−1) resulted in classification category ‘C3S1’, indicating high salinity and low sodium water which can be used for irrigation
in most soils and crops with little to medium danger of development of exchangeable sodium and salinity. The statistical data
analysis, the factor analysis and the GIS application have brought out the vulnerable-problematic zones in chemical compounds
of nitrogen and phosphates. The groundwater quality degradation is localized and related exclusively to human activities.
Based on 2005 and 2008 estimates, the annual safe yield of the region’s aquifers were nearly 41.95 MCM. However, the existing
situation is that 6.37 MCM of water is over extracted from these aquifers. |
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