滹沱河冲洪积扇地下水硝酸盐的污染特征及污染源解析

为研究滹沱河冲洪积扇地区地下水硝酸盐污染机制,对滹沱河冲洪积扇地区地下水和地表水进行了采样监测,运用环境健康风险评价模型对研究区硝酸盐进行评价,采用水化学和多元统计方法研究了滹沱河冲洪积扇地区地下水硝酸盐污染问题。结果表明:研究区地表水NO-3污染较轻,NO-3均值为19.54 mg/L,所有水样均未超出我国地表水环境质量标准（45 mg/L）;但是,地下水已经受到了NO-3的严重污染,NO-3均值为75.84 mg/L,且有30.43%水样超出我国地下水质量标准（88. 6 mg/L）。研究区3个水文地质单元地下水硝酸盐的平均个人年健康风险分别为4.94×10-8、1.99×10-8和2.61×10-9,低于国际辐射防护委员会（ICRP）推荐的最大可接受风险水平（5.0×10-5/a）,因此,认为不会对人群构成严重危害。水文地质单元和地下水埋深对硝酸盐污染有显著影响,但是,土地利用类型对硝酸盐浓度的影响不显著。滹沱河冲洪积扇地区地下水硝酸盐的主要污染来源是生活污水和化肥。此外,强烈开采地下水也是该地区NO-3污染的诱因。     

Assessment of aquifer vulnerability based on GIS and DRASTIC methods: a case study of the Senirkent-Uluborlu Basin (Isparta, Turkey)

Aquifer vulnerability has been assessed in the Senirkent-Uluborlu Basin within the Egirdir Lake catchment (Turkey) using the DRASTIC method, based on a geographic information system (GIS). There is widespread agriculture in the basin, and fertilizer (nitrate) and pesticide applications have caused groundwater contamination as a result of leaching. According to hydrogeological data from the study area, surface water and groundwater flow are towards Egirdir Lake. Hence, aquifer vulnerability in the basin should be determined by water quality in Egirdir Lake. DRASTIC layers were prepared using data such as rainfall, groundwater level, aquifer type, and hydraulic conductivity. These data were obtained from hydrogeological investigations and literature. A regional-scale aquifer-vulnerability map of the basin was prepared using overlay analysis with the aid of GIS. A DRASTIC vulnerability map, verified by nitrate in groundwater data, shows that the defined areas are compatible with land-use data. It is concluded that 20.8% of the basin area is highly vulnerable and urgent pollution-preventions measures should be taken for every kind of relevant activity within the whole basin.     

Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability in Upper Betwa River Watershed using GIS based DRASTIC Model

Groundwater, the most vital water resource being used for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes is nowadays under severe threat of contamination. Groundwater contamination risk assessment is an effective tool for groundwater management. In the study, a DRASTIC model which is based on the seven hydrogeological parameters viz: depth of water, net-recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity was used to evaluate the groundwater pollution potentiality of upper Betwa watershed. ArcGIS was used to create the ground water vulnerability map by overlaying the seven layers. Based on groundwater vulnerability map, the watershed has been divided in three vulnerable zones viz; low vulnerability zone with 42.83 km² of area, moderate with 369.21 km² area and high having 270.96 km² of area. Furthermore, the DRASTIC model has been validated by nitrate concentration over the area. Results of validation have shown that in low vulnerable zone, no nitrate contamination has been recorded. While in the moderate zone nitrate has been found in the range of 1.6-10ppm. However, in high vulnerable zone 11-40ppm of nitrate concentration in groundwater has been recorded, which proves that the DRASTIC model is applicable for the prediction of groundwater vulnerability in the watershed and in similar areas too.     

Tracking sources of groundwater nitrate contamination using nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopes at Beijing area,China

The identification of sources and behavior of contaminants is important to control and manage groundwater quality of aquifer systems in urban areas. In this study, hydrogeochemistry of major constituents and stable isotope ratios of nitrate in groundwater were determined to identify contamination sources and transformation processes occurring in soils and deeper groundwater of Beijing with intense human activities. The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of nitrate in pore water extracts from groundwater samples indicate at least three potential sources of nitrate in groundwaters at Beijing. Stable isotope analyses from this study site, which has atmospheric, chemical fertilizer and human waste nitrate sources, provide a tool to distinguish nitrate sources in a confined aquifer where concentrations alone do not. These data indicate that the most common sources of high nitrate concentrations in groundwater at Beijing are wastewater and denitrification process occurred specially in the Central area. NO₃–N and cation and anion concentrations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ Cl^? and SO ₄ ² ) showed strong correlations indicating that they originated from the same sources. This study demonstrates that a thorough evaluation of hydrodynamic and hydrochemical parameters with dual isotopes of NO₃ ^? constitutes an effective approach for identifying sources and transformation processes of NO₃ ^? in deeper groundwater systems.     

Tracing the sources of nitrate in karstic groundwater in Zunyi,Southwest China: a combined nitrogen isotope and water chemistry approach

Nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) is major pollutant in groundwater worldwide. Karst aquifers are particularly vulnerable to nitrate contamination from anthropogenic sources due to the rapid movement of water in their conduit networks. In this study, the isotopic compositions (δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻, δ¹⁵N–NH₄ ⁺) and chemical compositions(e.g., NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ⁻, K⁺) were measured in groundwater in the Zunyi area of Southwest China during summer and winter to identify the primary sources of contamination and characterize the processes affecting nitrate in the groundwater. It was found that nitrate was the dominant species of nitrogen in most of the water samples. In addition, the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values of water samples collected in summer were lower than those collected in winter, suggesting that the groundwater received a significant contribution of NO₃ ⁻ from agricultural fertilizer during the summer. Furthermore, the spatial variation in the concentration of nitrate and the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ value indicated that some of the urban groundwater was contaminated with pollution from point sources. In addition, the distribution of δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values and the relationship between ions in the groundwater indicated that synthetic and organic fertilizers (cattle manure) were the two primary sources of nitrate in the study area, except in a few cases where the water had been contaminated by urban anthropogenic inputs. Finally, the temporal and spatial variation of the water chemistry and isotopic data indicated that denitrification has no significant effect on the nitrogen isotopic values in Zunyi groundwater.     

Correlation between nitrate concentration in groundwater and parameters affecting aquifer intrinsic vulnerability

This paper is the result of a study which was carried out in order to verify if the traditional methods to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability or vulnerability related parameters, are able to clarify the problem of nitrate pollution in groundwater. In particular, the aim was to evaluate limitations and problems connected to aquifer vulnerability methods applied to nitrate contamination prevision in groundwater. The investigation was carried out by comparing NO₃ ⁻ concentrations, measured in March and November 2004 in the shallow aquifer, and the vulnerability classes, obtained by using GOD and TOT methods. Moreover, it deals with a comparison between NO₃ ⁻ concentrations and single parameters (depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input). The study area is the plain sector of Piemonte (Northern Italy), where an unconfined aquifer nitrate contamination exists. In this area the anthropogenic presence is remarkable and the input of N-fertilizers and zootechnical effluents to the soil cause a growing amount of nitrates in groundwater. This approach, used in a large area (about 10,000 km²) and in several monitoring wells (about 500), allowed to compare the efficiency of different vulnerability methods and to verify the importance of every parameter on the nitrate concentrations in the aquifer. Furthermore it allowed to obtain interesting correlations in different hydrogeological situations. Correlations between depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input to the soil with nitrate concentrations in groundwater show unclear situations: in fact these comparisons describe the phenomenon trend and highlight the maximum nitrate concentrations for each circumstance but often show wide ranges of possible nitrate concentrations. The same situation could be observed by comparing vulnerability indexes and nitrate concentrations in groundwater. These results suggest that neither single parameters nor vulnerability methods (GOD and TOT) are able to describe individually the complex phenomena affecting nitrate concentrations in soil, subsoil and groundwater. In particular, the traditional methods for vulnerability analysis do not analyze physical processes in aquifers, such as denitrification and nitrate dilution. According to a recent study in the shallow unconfined aquifer of the Piemonte plain, dilution can be considered as the main cause for nitrate attenuation in groundwater.     

A graphic expression of salinization and pollution of groundwater The case of Israel's groundwater

 Anthropogenic activities create various contaminated leachate, which can migrate downward from the vadose zone to groundwater, transferring contaminants, including some hazardous ones. When these various sources of contamination influence the groundwater aquifer simultaneously, the effects of contamination are enhanced. The major concern of this study has been to determine whether the shape of a groundwater chlorograph might be the result of such deterministic effects as accumulation of one or more particular processes of groundwater contamination, and how this might relate to specific hydrological situations. This study proposes a classification of groundwater contamination on the basis of properties of the main components of groundwater quality graphs and the corresponding hydrogeological/environmental situation. The study further suggests that contamination of groundwater in any hydrogeological situation (e.g. sea water) may be graphically expressed. A variety of chlorographs and nitrographs, representative of various groundwater aquifers sampled from a number of wells throughout Israel attest to this. The study thus indicates that groundwater quality graphs may be considered as a complementary tool for groundwater quality control and better understanding aquifer situations.     

Geochemical process regulating groundwater quality in a coastal region with complex contamination sources: Barka,Sultanate of Oman

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the geochemical processes regulating groundwater quality in a coastal region, Barka, Sultanate of Oman. The rapid urban developments in Barka cause depletion of groundwater quantity and deterioration of quality through excessive consumption and influx of pollutants from natural and anthropogenic activities. In this study, 111 groundwater samples were collected from 79 wells and analysed for pH, EC, DO, temperature, major ions, silica and nutrients. In Barka, water chemistry shows large variation in major ion concentrations and in electrical conductivity, and implies the influence of distinguished contamination sources and hydrogeochemical processes. The groundwater chemistry in Barka is principally regulated by saline sources, reverse ion exchange, anthropogenic pollutants and mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions. Due to ubiquitous pollutants and processes, groundwater samples were classified into two groups based on electrical conductivity. In group1, water chemistry is greatly influenced by mineral dissolution/precipitation process and lateral recharge from upstream region (Jabal Al-Akdar and Nakhal mountains). In group 2, the water chemistry is affected by saline water intrusion, sea spray, reverse ion exchange and anthropogenic pollutants. Besides, high nitrate concentrations, especially in group 2 samples, firm evidence for impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality, and nitrate can be originated by the effluents recharge from surface contamination sources. Ionic ratios such as SO₄/Cl, alkalinity/Cl and total cation/Cl indicate that effluents recharged from septic tank, waste dumping sites and irrigation return flow induce dissolution of carbonate minerals, and enhances solute load in groundwater. The chemical constituents originating from saline water sources, reverse ion exchange and mineral dissolution are successfully differentiated using ionic delta, the difference between the actual concentration of each constituent and its theoretical concentration for a freshwater–seawater mix calculated from the chloride concentration of the sample, and proved that this approach is a promising tool to identify and differentiate the geochemical processes in coastal region. Hence, both regular geochemical methods and ionic delta ensured that groundwater quality in Barka is impaired by natural and human activities.     

Assessment of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) as a Source of Dissolved Radium and Nutrients to Moorea (French Polynesia) Coastal Waters

Previous work has documented large fluxes of freshwater and nutrients from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the coastal waters of a few volcanic oceanic islands. However, on the majority of such islands, including Moorea (French Polynesia), SGD has not been studied. In this study, we used radium (Ra) isotopes and salinity to investigate SGD and associated nutrient inputs at five coastal sites and Paopao Bay on the north shore of Moorea. Ra activities were highest in coastal groundwater, intermediate in coastal ocean surface water, and lowest in offshore surface water, indicating that high-Ra groundwater was discharging into the coastal ocean. On average, groundwater nitrate and nitrite (N + N), phosphate, ammonium, and silica concentrations were 12, 21, 29, and 33 times greater, respectively, than those in coastal ocean surface water, suggesting that groundwater discharge could be an important source of nutrients to the coastal ocean. Ra and salinity mass balances indicated that most or all SGD at these sites was saline and likely originated from a deeper, unsampled layer of Ra-enriched recirculated seawater. This high-salinity SGD may be less affected by terrestrial nutrient sources, such as fertilizer, sewage, and animal waste, compared to meteoric groundwater; however, nutrient-salinity trends indicate it may still have much higher concentrations of nitrate and phosphate than coastal receiving waters. Coastal ocean nutrient concentrations were virtually identical to those measured offshore, suggesting that nutrient subsidies from SGD are efficiently utilized.     

地下水硝酸盐中氮、氧同位素研究现状及展望

农业区内浅层地下水中硝酸盐污染普遍存在。为保证供水安全和有效治理污染的地下水体。确定硝酸盐中氮的来源及影响硝酸盐浓度的物理、化学作用尤为重要。由于不同成因的硝酸盐中δ^15N值存在差异，利用N同位素可以确定氮污染源，但有时存在多解性问题；分析硝酸盐的δ^18O值，可提高地下水硝酸盐污染的研究深度。本文综述了用硝酸盐中N、O同位素来区分地下水污染中硝酸盐的不同来源和示踪氮循环过程这两方面的研究进展，并提出一些值得重视的研究方向。     

Comparison of the AVI,modified SINTACS and GALDIT vulnerability methods under future climate-change scenarios for a shallow low-lying coastal aquifer in southern Finland

A shallow unconfined low-lying coastal aquifer in southern Finland surrounded by the Baltic Sea is vulnerable to changes in groundwater recharge, sea-level rise and human activities. Assessment of the intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater under climate scenarios was performed for the aquifer area by utilising the results of a published study on the impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge and sea-level rise on groundwater–seawater interaction. Three intrinsic vulnerability mapping methods, the aquifer vulnerability index (AVI), a modified SINTACS and GALDIT, were applied and compared. According to the results, the degree of groundwater vulnerability is greatly impacted by seasonal variations in groundwater recharge during the year, and also varies depending on the climate-change variability in the long term. The groundwater is potentially highly vulnerable to contamination from sources on the ground surface during high groundwater recharge rates after snowmelt, while a high vulnerability to seawater intrusion could exist when there is a low groundwater recharge rate in dry season. The AVI results suggest that a change in the sea level will have an insignificant impact on groundwater vulnerability compared with the results from the modified SINTACS and GALDIT. The modified SINTACS method could be used as a guideline for the groundwater vulnerability assessment of glacial and deglacial deposits in inland aquifers, and in combination with GALDIT, it could provide a useful tool for assessing groundwater vulnerability to both contamination from sources on the ground surface and to seawater intrusion for shallow unconfined low-lying coastal aquifers under future climate-change conditions.     

Nitrate source and fate at the catchment scale of the Vibrata River and aquifer (central Italy): an analysis by integrating component approaches and nitrogen isotopes

The aim of this study is to apply an integrated approach to determine nitrate sources and fate in the alluvial aquifer of the River Vibrata (Abruzzi, central Italy) by coupling the Isotope and the Component approaches. Collected data include concentration and nitrogen isotope composition of groundwater samples from the alluvial aquifer and nitrogen loads arising from agricultural and non-agricultural sources. The adopted methodology identified synthetic fertilizers as main sources of nitrate in the Vibrata alluvial aquifer. At the catchment scale, two different zones have been identified: the Upper Valley, where infiltration to groundwater is dominant and nitrogen easily migrates into the aquifer; in this area, nitrate content in groundwater is stable and normally higher than EU requirements. Moreover, streamwaters are fed by groundwater with a nitrate content likely lowered by denitrification processes occurring in the hyporheic zone. In the Lower Valley, runoff processes dominate and the nitrate content in surface waters is higher. Nevertheless, groundwater is locally affected by denitrification that breaks down the nitrate content, which often reaches values consistent with law limits.     

Investigation of discharge-area groundwaters for recharge source characterization on different scales: the case of Jinan in northern China

Discharge-area groundwater in Jinan, a typical karst region in northern China, was investigated by studying both the hydrological and chemical processes evolving from the recharge in mountainous terrains to the karst-spring outflows in the metropolitan area. Large-scale exploitation of karst groundwater has led to a disturbing trend in the ever-decreasing spring outflow rates and groundwater level. There is insufficient information about the Jinan karst aquifers, which provide the main water sources to meet human demand and to sustain spring outflow. The coupling of hydrological and chemical processes quantifies the flow system through aqueous chemistry characterization of the water sources. This approach is used to study the groundwater flow discharges in different locations and geological settings. The potentiometric data indicated limited vertical connectivity between distinct hydrogeological units and alteration of the recharge regime by the faults and by artificial exploitation. Shallow groundwater primarily belongs to the local flow system, with high nitrate concentration and enriched stable isotopic contents. Thermal groundwater has high concentrations of chloride and total dissolved solids, derived from a regional flow system with the highest recharge altitudes and long residence time. Non-thermal karst water may be attributed to the intermediate flow system, with uniform HCO₃–Ca(Mg) facies and low nitrate concentration. This work highlighted discharge as a fingerprint of groundwater flow conditions and provides a better insight into the hydrogeological system.     

Assessing the extent and sources of nitrate contamination in the aquifer system of southern Baldwin County,Alabama

A regional-scale groundwater study was conducted over a 2-year period to assess the extent of nitrate contamination and source identification for southern Baldwin County, AL. Groundwater wells were sampled and analyzed for nitrate and a host of other geochemical parameters which revealed that extensive areas within aquifer zone A2 exhibited nitrate concentrations exceeding regulatory limits. Spatial iso-concentration maps of nitrate were constructed using ArcGIS software to determine the extent and severity of contamination for the aquifers underlying southern Baldwin County with the primary interest focused on the heavily utilized aquifer zone A2. Nitrate levels in the central and northeastern portion of the study area were most extensive with maximum concentrations of 63 mg/L likely resulting from agricultural inputs. Several other small regions throughout the study area exhibited elevated levels of nitrate and chloride as high as 112 and 51.1 mg/L, respectively, and sources likely vary (i.e., residential septic systems, animal waste to agriculture). With the exception of a few groundwater samples, there was no obvious correlative relationship between chloride and nitrate concentration for data collected during the 2-year period. Collectively, a general inverse relationship between nitrate concentrations and well depth was observed for the aquifer system under investigation. The study provides an initial current data set of areas impacted or most vulnerable to nitrate contamination and initial assessment of likely sources of nitrate in the region.     

Groundwater vulnerability and contamination risk assessment of the Weining Plain,using a modified DRASTIC model and quantized pollution loading method

Groundwater resources have become more vulnerable to contamination due to rapid population growth and economic development. This study aimed to assess the groundwater contamination risk in the Weining Plain, China. Based on the specific conditions of the Weining Plain, a new model DRTSWI with a weighting scheme determined by analytic hierarchy process was developed to evaluate the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability for the study area. An integrated approach, combining the toxicity, the release possibility, and the potential release quantity of the pollutants, was used to estimate the pollution loading. The groundwater contamination risk results were obtained by overlaying the intrinsic vulnerability and pollution loading maps. These indicated that two industrial parks pose the main threat to groundwater quality, due to their unfavorable hydrogeological setting and potential pollution sources on the surface. Some areas in and around the industrial parks exhibit groundwater pollution, which was identified on the contamination risk map using buffer analysis. High risk areas are industries with high or medium vulnerability. The vulnerability and contamination risk maps developed for this study are valuable tools for environmental planning and can be used for predictive management of groundwater resources.     

地下水硝酸盐污染的同位素研究进展

土壤原生氮、无机化肥和动物粪便等氮源中15N富集程度存在差异,使得利用稳定同位素N(δ15N/14N)能有效识别地下水中NO3-的来源。但N不是一个稳定的示踪剂,地下水中NO3-的δ15N是N源的初始δ15N值、后期进入含水层的迁移路径中和地下水流运动途径中不同形态的N之间相互转化过程,如矿化、吸附、硝化和反硝化作用,发生的同位素分馏作用后的综合反映。利用地下水中NO3-的δ15N确定其来源必须首先确定分馏作用是否发生及其反应程度。本文重点探讨了判断分馏作用是否发生及其反应程度的方法,总结了N同位素判别地下水NO3-污染源方法的发展历程,并指出未来研究工作应该以硝酸盐在包气带中的迁移转化规律为重点。     

Evaluation of aquifers vulnerability to contamination in the Yarmouk River basin, Jordan, based on DRASTIC method

The existing different human activities and planned land uses put the groundwater resources in Jordan at considerable risk. There are evidences suggesting that the quality of groundwater supplies in north Jordan is under threat from a wide variety of point and non-point sources including agricultural, domestic, and industrial. Vulnerability maps are designed to show areas of greatest potential for groundwater contamination on the basis of hydrogeological conditions and human impacts. DRASTIC method incorporates the major geological and hydrogeological factors that affect and control groundwater movement: depth to groundwater (D), net recharge (R), lithology of the aquifer (A), soil texture (S), topography (T), lithology of vadose zone (I), and hydraulic conductivity (C). The main goal of this study is to produce vulnerability maps of groundwater resources in the Yarmouk River basin by applying the DRASTIC method to determine areas where groundwater protection or monitoring is critical. ArcGIS 9.2 was used to create the groundwater vulnerability maps by overlaying the available hydrogeological data. The resulting vulnerability maps were then integrated with lineament and land use maps as additional parameters in the DRASTIC model to assess more accurately the potential risk of groundwater to pollution. The general DRASTIC index indicates that the potential for polluting groundwater is low in the whole basin, whereas the resulting pesticide DRASTIC vulnerability map indicates that about 31% of the basin is classified as having moderate vulnerability, which may be attributed to agricultural activities in the area. Although high nitrate concentrations were found in areas of moderate vulnerability, DRASTIC method did not depict accurately the nitrate distribution in the area.     

Define a protected buffer zone for Ismailia Canal, Egypt using Geographic Information Systems

Ismailia Canal is the principle source of drinking water supply to Suez Canal and Sinai governorates. However, Ismailia Canal is endangered from unwise activities in the surrounding environment. Drinking water resources protection can be implemented using land-use monitoring system or through land-use controls based on hydrogeologic mapping to study the impacts of development on water quality. Our approach is to protect the direct and indirect catchment areas for surface water supply, especially the sensitive areas, those that are more vulnerable to contamination than other areas. Remote sensing and geographic information system techniques are applied to construct and integrate the hydrogeological data, inventory for potential sources of contamination and mapping the sensitive areas in order to construct the a protected buffer zone for Ismailia Canal, and to constrain the development activities in all the surrounding areas of surface water supply. The sensitive areas are delineated, where extra protection is required, based on soils properties, geology, and specific hydrogeological criteria. Industrial areas, drains, and septic tanks in the surrounding villages are the common potential sources of contamination. The hydrologic relation between Ismailia Canal and groundwater has great variations. Comprehensive plan for water protection were composed. It includes maintaining three natural protection zones of at least 300-m width along the main course of the Canal and delineating vulnerable zones depending on the aerial extension of the sensitive areas within 10 km on both sides of the Canal. Specific protection measures are recommended over the sensitive areas. The natural ecosystems of swamps around Ismailia Canal should be conserved and the processes of continuous burial prevented.     

Groundwater hydrochemistry and origin in the south-eastern part of Wadi El Natrun,Egypt

The demand for water is rapidly increasing in Egypt, because of high population and agriculture production growth rate, which makes research of water resources necessary. The regional multi-aquifer system of the Miocene–Pleistocene age is discharged in Wadi El Natrun area. Intensive aquifer overexploitation and agricultural development in the area are related to groundwater quality deterioration. Hydrochemical and hydrogeological data was evaluated to determine the groundwater origin and quality in the south-eastern part of wadi, which appears to be more significant for water supply owing to lower groundwater salinity. The dominance of the high mineralised Cl groundwater type was found; however, also less mineralised SO₄ and HCO₃ types were identified there. Based on the ion relations, halite and gypsum dissolution and ion exchange are the most important hydrochemical processes forming the groundwater chemical composition. The Cl dominated groundwater matches the discharge part of the regional hydrogeological system. Contrary, the presence of HCO₃ and SO₄ hydrochemical types corresponds to the infiltration and transferring parts of the hydrogeological system indicating the presence of zones conducting low mineralised groundwater. The discharge area of the over-pumped aquifer in Wadi El-Natrun lies 23 m beneath the sea level with the shoreline being at the distance of 100 km, thus there is a real risk of seawater intrusion. Using the hydrochemical facies evolution diagram, four samples in the centre of the discharge area indicate advanced seawater intrusion. The zones of the highest demand for groundwater quality protection were indicated based on a spatial pattern of hydrogeochemical composition.     

Groundwater nitrate vulnerability assessment in alluvial aquifer using process-based models and weights-of-evidence method: Lower Savinja Valley case study (Slovenia)

This paper describes the implementation of process-based models reflecting relative groundwater nitrate vulnerability of the shallow alluvial Lower Savinja Valley (LSV) aquifer in Slovenia. A spatially explicit identification of the potentially vulnerable priority areas within groundwater bodies at risk from a chemical point of view is being required for cost-effective measures and monitoring planning. The shallow LSV unconfined aquifer system consists of high-permeable Holocene and middle- to low-permeable Pleistocene gravel and sand, with a maximum thickness of about 30 m, mainly covered by shallow eutric fluvisoils or variously deep eutric cambisoil. The hydrogeological parameters, e.g. the depth to the groundwater, hydrological role of the topographic slope, etc. usually used in different point count schemes are, in the case of the lowland aquifer and shallow groundwater, spatially very uniform with low variability. Furthermore, the parametric point count methods are generally not able to illustrate and analyze important physical processes, and validation of the results is difficult and expensive. Instead of a parametric point count scheme, we experimentally used the Arc-WofE extension for weights-of-evidence (WofE) modelling. All measurement locations with a concentration higher than the value of 20 mg NO₃ ⁻ per litre of groundwater have been considered as training points (173), and the three process-based models generalized output layers of groundwater recharge (GROWA), nitrate leached from the soil profile (SWAT) and groundwater flow velocity (FEFLOW), served as evidential themes. The technique is based on the Bayesian idea of phenomena occurrences probability before (prior probability) and after consideration of any evidential themes (posterior probability), which were measured by positive and negative weights as an indication of the association between a phenomena and a prediction pattern. The response theme values describe the relative probability that a 100 × 100 m spatial unit will have a groundwater nitrate concentration higher than the training points’ limit values with regard to prior probability value. The lowest probability of groundwater nitrate occurrence is in the parts of the LSV aquifer, which are known as anoxic condition areas with very likely denitrification processes. The cross-validation of the dissolved oxygen and dissolved nitrate response theme confirmed the accuracy of the groundwater nitrate prediction. The WofE model results very clearly indicate regional groundwater nitrate distribution and enable spatial prediction of the probability for increased groundwater nitrate concentration in order to plan the groundwater nitrate reduction measures and optimize the programme for monitoring the effects of these measures.