Assessment of natural and anthropogenic influences on regional groundwater chemistry in a highly industrialized and urbanized region: a case study of the Vaal River Basin,South Africa

The Vaal River Basin is an economically significant area situated in the interior of South Africa (SA), where mining, industrial, domestic and agricultural activities are very intense. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of geology and anthropogenic activities on groundwater chemistry, and identify the predominant hydrochemical processes in the basin. Data from seventy groundwater sites were retrieved from the national database, and attention was paid to fifteen water quality parameters. Groundwater samples were clustered into seven hydrochemically distinct groups using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and three samples treated independently. A Piper plot revealed two major water types, Ca–Mg–HCO₃ and Ca–Mg–SO₄-Cl, which were linked to dissolution of the underlying geology and mine pollution. The Ca?+?Mg vs HCO₃?+?SO₄ plot indicated that reverse ion exchange is an active process than cation exchange in the area. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the main natural and anthropogenic processes causing variation in groundwater chemistry. Four principal components were extracted using PCA that explains 82% of the total variance in the chemical parameters. The PCA results can be categorized by four components: (1) evaporites and silicates weathering enrichment of Na, K, Cl, SO₄ and F, and anthropogenic Cl; (2) dissolution of dolomite, limestone and gypsum; (3) agricultural fertilizers (4) wastewater treatment. This study reveals that both natural and anthropogenic activities are the cause of groundwater variation in the basin.     

Hydrochemical characterization of groundwater using multivariate statistical analysis: the Maritime Djeffara shallow aquifer (Southeastern Tunisia)

Worldwide, groundwater resources have been considered as the main sources of drinking, domestic uses, industrial and agriculture water demands, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Accordingly, the monitoring of the groundwater quality based on different tools and methods becomes a necessity. The aim of this study was to apply several approaches to assess the water quality and to define the main hydrochemical process which affect groundwater of the Maritime Djeffara shallow aquifer. In addition to the hydrochemical approach, two multivariate statistical analyses, hierarchical clusters analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), were carried out to identify the natural and the anthropogenic processes affecting groundwater chemistry. Hydrochemical approach, based on 47 analyzed groundwater samples, shows that most of samples present a sulfate to mixed chloride, with sodi-potassic tendency facies. According to their chemically composition, the HCA revealed three different groups (C1, C2 and C3) according to their electrical conductivity (EC) values: C1 (average EC = 4500 µS/cm), C2 (average EC = 7040 µS/cm) and C3 (average EC = 9767 µS/cm). Furthermore, PCA results show two principal factors account 84.05% of the total variance: (1) F1 represents the natural component, and (2) F2 symbolizes the anthropic component. Moreover, the groundwater quality map of the Maritime Djeffara shows three categories: suitable, doubtful and unsuitable water for irrigation. These different results should be taken to protect water resources in arid and semiarid regions, especially at the alluvial coastal regions. Also, they help to make a suitable planning to manage and protect the groundwater resources.     

Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical analysis techniques: a case study from Ghrib dam,Algeria

This study explores the water quality status and pollution sources in Ghrib Dam, Algeria. It allows us to obtain more accurate information on water quality by applying a series of multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA)/factor analysis (FA), hierarchical cluster analysis (CA), and multiple regression analysis (MRA). On 19 physicochemical parameters dataset over 5 years and from 6 different sites located in and around the lake. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the statistically considerable spatial and seasonal differences. The results of ANOVA suggest that there exist a statistically significant temporal variation in the water quality of the dam for all parameters. On the other hand, only organic matter has a statistically significant spatial variation. In the multiple linear models, an association between organic and inorganic parameters was found; their origin comes from the mechanical erosion process of agricultural lands in the watershed. The PCA/FA identifies five dominant factors as responsible of the data structure, explaining more than 94.96% of the total variance in the water quality dataset. This suggests that the variations in water compounds’ concentration are mainly related to the multiple anthropogenic activities, as well as natural processes. The results of cluster analysis demonstrate that the sampling stations were divided in two similar groups, which indicates spatial homogeneity. While seasonal grouping has showed that the source of pollution was related to the level of runoff in the seasons.     

State of seawater intrusion and its adaptive management countermeasures in Longkou City of China

Longkou City is a coastal area,and lacks water resources.The overexploitation of groundwater causes seawater intrusion.At present,seawater intrudes an area of 68 km2.With the decrease of groundwater extraction,the seawater intrusion area has generally declined.The paper expounds the development process of seawater intrusion as well as the corresponding prevention and control measures of using groundwater replenishment and groundwater throttling in Longkou City.In view of the seawater intrusion problem in Longkou City,some adaptive management countermeasures are put forward,which include:Adjusting industrial and agricultural structure,promoting economic and social development to match water resources;improving water usage structure,optimizing the utilization of water resources;advancing the construction of a water-saving society,using water resources efficiently;implementing inter-basin water transfer,using water resources rationally;developing and utilizing unconventional water sources,making full use of water resources;strengthening water infrastructure construction,increasing the development and utilization potential of water resources;carrying out ecological restoration,protecting water resources and ecological environment;improving the management informationalization level,strengthening the capabilities of groundwater monitoring and management;increasing publicity,improving public awareness of participation.     

Spatial delineation approach to weather derivatives with three multivariate manners

The delineation of natural hazard with adequate manners is an important factor and a dominant process in designing weather derivatives. This research conducts and compares three delineation techniques with real-time weather data from 2013 to 2015, collected from monitoring stations of the Central Weather Bureau and Environmental Protection Administration in Taiwan. Three multivariate analyses are performed, including principal component analysis (PCA), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Results reveal the optimal number for temperature hazard delineation in Taiwan is three, composed of north of central Taiwan, the southwest, and southeast Taiwan; eigenvalues of the three sub-regions are greater than 1 and explanatory power of the variance accounted for temperature is 44.6%, 27.5%, and 24.7%, respectively. Though the regional delineation conducted by HCA is not as good as PCA, however, HCA is a useful technique to provide objective numbers of delineation. Analysis with PMF lacks uniqueness due to several stations having high factor loadings at distinct principal components. Additionally, PMF is not appropriate for high-dimension problems and non-uniform distributions of monitoring sites.

     

Applying the scores of multivariate statistical analyses to characterize the relationships between the hydrochemical properties and groundwater conditions in respect of the monsoon variation in Kapas Island,Terengganu, Malaysia

The different factors (seasonal changes) and variables (physicochemical) controlling the groundwater hydrochemistry of Kapas Island were identified using multivariate techniques principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA) and hierarchy cluster analysis (HCA). In the present study, the hydrochemistry of 216 groundwater samples, consisting of information concerning the in situ parameters and major ions in six monitoring boreholes, was studied and compared in two different monsoon seasons. The dominant variables derived from four components by PCA in the pre-monsoon indicated the influence of the salinity process, while the dominant variables derived from three components in the post-monsoon mostly indicated on the mineralization process. The DA gave the final variables after discriminating the insignificant variables based on the pre- and post-monsoon classifications. This provided important data reduction in terms of the mineralization process, as it only discriminated physical variables (TDS, EC, salinity, DO and temperature). Based on the HCA result, samples belonging to stations KW 3 and KW 4 were under Ca-rich water, while the remaining boreholes were grouped in Na-rich water.     

Spatial and seasonal variation of potential toxic elements in Adocia pigmentifera,seawater and sediment from Rameswaram,southeast coast of India

The concentrations of potential toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were measured in five different stations of Rameswaram (RM) coast, Gulf of Mannar (GoM), India, in coastal waters in sediments and tissues of Adocia pigmentifera. Concentration of PTEs (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) was found to be highest in sediments followed by A. pigmentifera and seawater samples collected from the different stations of RM coast. The pattern of accumulation of PTEs in the three sample types is of the following order Zn < Pb < Cu < Cd. The seasonal variation of these PTEs also followed the same pattern. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s HSD post hoc test has revealed significant differences among stations S1–S4 when compared with the station S5 which is considered as the reference site. Correlation coefficient study showed no significant correlation in the concentration of PTEs in A. pigmentifera, seawater and sediment samples. The concentration of all the PTEs in different sample types has exceeded the FAO/WHO/sediment background values, except for the concentration of Zn in A. pigmentifera and sediment sample, which did not exceed the limits. The contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (I _geo) values indicated significant contamination of PTEs in the sediments from different stations of RM coast, India. Variations found between the sample types during the studies could be due to changes in levels of pollution discharge over time, availability of PTEs for adsorption as well as variations in the sampling season. Increasing urban sprawl and release of effluents both from domestic and industrial sources are the main sources of pollution at RM coast and are the prime reasons for the loss of existing diverse ecosystem.     

Assessment and mapping of the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution: an example from Keritis River Basin (Northwestern crete, Greece)

Due to the geological and hydrogeological characteristics, the carbonate aquifers are frequently vulnerable to natural and/or anthropogenic polluting sources. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution of the Keritis River Basin (northwestern Crete, Greece). The huge amount of the flowing groundwater represents a strategic water resource to be allocated to drinking water purpose and to agricultural activities, too. The studied groundwater are characterized by quality degradation processes represented by the anthropogenic and natural pollution such as olive oil farming, agriculture activities, industrial waste and salt water intrusion. For a better management and protection of the water resources, the assessment and mapping of groundwater vulnerability to pollution are very important. From this investigation, the Keritis Basin showed an intrinsic vulnerability degree from extremely high to very low. This study allows to define the strategies which will permit a proper safeguard criteria, against the pollution sources of the Keritis Basin groundwater resources.     

Groundwater quality of porous aquifers in Greece: a synoptic review

Greece is dependent on groundwater resources for its water supply. The main aquifers are within carbonate rocks (karstic aquifers) and coarse grained Neogene and Quaternary deposits (porous aquifers). The use of groundwater resources has become particularly intensive in coastal areas during the last decades with the intense urbanization, tourist development and irrigated land expansion. Sources of groundwater pollution are the seawater intrusion due to over-exploitation of coastal aquifers, the fertilizers from agricultural activities and the disposal of untreated wastewater in torrents or in old pumping wells. In the last decades the total abstractions from coastal aquifers exceed the natural recharge; so the aquifer systems are not used safely. Over-exploitation causes a negative water balance, triggering seawater intrusion. Seawater intrusion phenomena are recorded in coastal aquifer systems. Nitrate pollution is the second major source of groundwater degradation in many areas in Greece. The high levels of nitrate are probably the result of over-fertilization and the lack of sewage systems in some urban areas.     

Spatial characteristics of surface water quality in the Haicheng River (Liao River basin) in Northeast China

Spatial variations of the water quality in the Haicheng River during April and October 2009 were evaluated for the national monitoring program on water pollution control and treatment in China. The spatial autocorrelation analysis with lower Moran’s I values displayed the spatial heterogeneity of the 12 physicochemical parameters among all the sampling sites of the river. The one-way ANOVA showed that all variables at different sampling sites had significant spatial differences (p < 0.01). Based on the similarity of water quality characteristics, cluster analysis grouped the 20 sampling sites into three clusters, related with less polluted, moderately polluted and highly polluted sites. The factor analysis extracted three major factors explaining 76.4 % of the total variance in the water quality data set, i.e., integrated pollution factor, nitrogen pollution factor and physical factor. The results revealed that the river has been severely polluted by organic matter and nitrogen. The major sources leading to water quality deterioration are complex and ascribed to anthropogenic activities, e.g., domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, agricultural runoff, and animal rearing practices.     

平度市海水入侵成因及防治对策

平度市北胶莱河沿岸由于遭受海水入侵的影响,给工农业生产和人民生活造成了严重的危害。通过调查分析平度市北胶莱河沿岸海水入侵的现状和特点;针对海水入侵的演化特征分析了海水入侵的形成原因,并分析海水入侵造成的危害,提出相应的防治对策。     

Seawater intrusion in the Salalah plain aquifer,Oman

Salalah is situated on a fresh water aquifer that is replenished during the annual monsoon season. The aquifer is the only source of water in Salalah city. The rainfall and mist precipitation in the Jabal AlQara recharges the plain with significant renewable fresh groundwater that has allowed agricultural and industrial development to occur. In Salalah city where groundwater has been used extensively since the early 1980s for agricultural, industrial and municipal purposes, the groundwater has been withdrawn from the aquifer more rapidly than it can be replenished by natural recharge. The heavy withdrawal of large quantities of the groundwater from the aquifer has led to the intrusion of seawater. Agricultural activities utilize over 70% of the groundwater. For the study of the saltwater intrusion, the area has been divided into four strips, A, B, C and D, on the basis of land-use in the area. Water samples were collected from 18 water wells. Chemical analysis of major ions and pollution parameters in the groundwater was carried out and compared to the previous observed values. The electrical conductivity and chloride concentrations were highest in the agricultural and residential strips and Garziz grass farm. Before 1992 the aquifer was in a steady state, but presently (2005) the groundwater quality in most of the agricultural and residential strips does not meet drinking water standards. In addition, model simulations were developed with the computer code MODFLOW and MT3DMS for solute transport to determine the movement of the freshwater/saltwater interface. The study proposes the protection of the groundwater in Salalah plain aquifer from further encroachment by artificial recharge with reclaimed water, preferably along the Salalah coastal agricultural strip. This scheme can also be applied to other regions with similar conditions.     

Hydrology,hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of wetlands: a case study in Izmir Bird Paradise,Turkey

Izmir Bird Paradise is one of the most valuable wetlands in Turkey, but this area is now being threatened by the drying out of marshes and water pollution. This wetland consists of two ecosystems: fresh- and saltwater. The recharge of marshes is from rainfall, the Gediz River and groundwater from Can Suyu Pond. The water type of the river is Ca-Mg-Na-HCO₃-SO₄, whereas the groundwater is a Na-Cl water type. The reasons for the drying are long-term drought (evapotranspiration at 894 mm is >> rainfall at 546 mm), and excessive pumping of groundwater and seawater intrusion into Menemen Plain. Therefore, an additional freshwater resource is necessary. This water can be supplied from the limestone levels of Neogene sedimentary rocks in and around Izmir Bird Paradise that have a Ca-HCO₃ water type. Water pollution levels were also analysed. In the freshwater ecosystem Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn values, in the open channel in Izmir Bird Paradise Sb, Fe, Ni and Cd values, and in the river Fe, Pb and Sb values exceed the TSE 266 and EPA 2000 standards probably due to agricultural and industrial sources.     

Identifying key hydrochemical processes in a confined aquifer of an arid basin using multivariate statistical analysis and inverse modeling

Tertiary fractured permeable confined aquifer, which covered about 70 % of the studying area, played an important role in alleviating drinking water shortages. However, about 58 and 79 % of the groundwater samples exceeded the desirable limits for fluoride (1.5 mg/L) and TDS (1,000 mg/L). Two multivariate statistical methods, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA), were applied to a subgroup of the dataset in terms of their usefulness for groundwater classification, as well as to identify the key processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. In the PCA, two principal factors have been extracted, which could explain 73 % of the total data variability. Among them, factor 1 revealed the source of groundwater salinity and factor 2 explained the elevated fluoride. Two major groups were classified by HCA and Group 1 was near the groundwater recharge zone and Group 2 was mainly distributed over the groundwater discharge zone. Inverse modeling (NETPATH) results indicated that the hydrochemical evolution was primarily controlled by (1) the dissolution of mirabilite, gypsum and halite for the source of groundwater salinity; (2) the release of the adsorbed fluoride through desorption or through competition with HCO₃ ^? under alkalinity condition for the elevated fluoride in the groundwater.     

Intervention scenarios to manage seawater intrusion in a coastal agricultural area in Oman

The Batinah coastal plain in northern Oman has experienced a severe deterioration of groundwater quality due to seawater intrusion as a result of excessive groundwater abstraction for agricultural irrigation. Upgrading all farms to fully automated irrigation technology based on soil moisture sensors may significantly reduce the water demand and lead to recovering groundwater levels. This study compares the effects of smart irrigation technology, recharge dams, and a combination of both on seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer of the Batinah. A groundwater flow and transport model is used to simulate the effect of reduced pumping rates on seawater intrusion for various intervention scenarios over a simulation period of 30 years, and an economic analysis based on cost-benefit analysis is conducted to estimate the potential benefits. Results indicate that a combination of smart irrigation and recharge dams may prevent further deterioration of groundwater quality over the next 30 years. In conjunction with increased efficiency, this combination also generates the highest gross profit. This outcome shows that the problem of seawater intrusion needs to be tackled by a comprehensive, integrated intervention strategy.     

山东烟台大季家地区海水入侵界面划分的意义

在沿海地区划分海水入侵界线具有重大意义,在海水入侵范围内,地下水由于含盐量高,虽然工业生产、人畜生活不能利（饮）用,但深部海水可为海产品养殖业带来较高的利用价值。利用高密度电法和可控源音频大地电磁2种方法准确划分了浅、深部海水入侵界线,并根据电性特征分析探讨了海水入侵区域的由浅至深的侵入特点,推测了不同深度上岩石破碎及富水规律,为探讨沿海养殖业利用温度相对稳定或较高的深部入侵海水进行了积极、有益的探讨。     

Geological impacts on groundwater pollution: a case study in Khuzestan Province

The main aims of this study were to examine the sources of pollution with an emphasis on geogenic sources and to predict the groundwater quality with reasonable accuracy. For this purpose, factor analysis/principal component analysis and partial least squares regression were used to analyze a data set of groundwater quality containing 17 parameters measured at 45 different sampling wells in Andimeshk Aquifer during 2006–2013 time period. Factor analysis identified three factors, which were responsible for the data structure explaining 78.3 % of the total variance of the data set. There were various sources of groundwater contamination, based on factor analysis, in which geological formations next to agricultural activities had the most influential effects. Partial least squares regression could predict the quality of groundwater according to the value of water quality index. The amounts of R-squared (0.79) and MSE (0.21) using seven PLS components showed that this method has been successful in the prediction of water quality in the study area.     

Occurrence of phthalate esters around the major plastic industrial area in southern Taiwan

The increasing usage and disposal of plastic products could cause the wide distribution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in various environmental media. In this study, six PAE compounds, namely dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate, were analyzed in various samples collected from the major plastic industrial area of southern Taiwan, including soil, fertilizer and plastic products, for the purposes of identifying of the possible sources of PAEs and assessing the related health risk. The results show that PAEs in soil samples was dominated by DEHP, with the total concentrations in the range of 0.7?±?0.5, 0.2?±?0.1, and 0.3?±?0.2 mg kg^?1 for soil samples from farmland, household back gardens and the roadside, respectively. Contents of PAEs in chemical fertilizer (ND—0 0.87 mg kg^?1) were higher than that in organic fertilizer (ND—0.08 mg kg^?1), and PAEs concentrations (ND—316 mg kg^?1) in plastic mulching films were much less than those in the other types of plastic products (ND—1719 mg kg^?1), implying that major sources of PAEs in agricultural soil could be the use of chemical fertilizer and plastic products other than plastic mulching films. Health risk assessment suggested that, via the exposure to PAEs in soil, the potential non-cancer and carcinogenic risks for adults and children are minimal in most cases, except that a “moderate” carcinogenic risk for children exposure to DEHP. The results of this study can serve as a reference for further pollution prevention and environmental protection plans in relation to the industrial operation and discharge as well as the farming practices.     

Saltwater intrusion and nitrate pollution in the coastal aquifer of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dar es Salaam Quaternary coastal aquifer is a major source of water supply in Dar es Salaam City used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. However, groundwater overdraft and contamination are the major problems affecting the aquifer system. This study aims to define the principal hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater quality in the coastal strip of Dar es Salaam and to investigate whether the threats of seawater intrusion and pollution are influencing groundwater quality. Major cations and anions analysed in 134 groundwater samples reveal that groundwater is mainly affected by four factors: dissolution of calcite and dolomite, weathering of silicate minerals, seawater intrusion due to aquifer overexploitation, and nitrate pollution mainly caused by the use of pit latrines and septic tanks. High enrichment of Na⁺ and Cl^? near the coast gives an indication of seawater intrusion into the aquifer as also supported from the Na–Cl signature on the Piper diagram. The boreholes close to the coast have much higher Na/Cl molar ratios than the boreholes located further inland. The dissolution of calcite and dolomite in recharge areas results in Ca–HCO₃ and Ca–Mg–HCO₃ groundwater types. Further along flow paths, Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ ion exchange causes groundwater evolution to Na–HCO₃ type. From the PHREEQC simulation model, it appears that groundwater is undersaturated to slightly oversaturated with respect to the calcite and dolomite minerals. The results of this study provide important information required for the protection of the aquifer system.     

Arctic catchment as a sensitive indicator of the environmental changes: distribution and migration of metals (Svalbard)

Arctic regions experience metal pollution, despite their remote location, and the distribution and migration of those metals determine their potential impact on the local environment. Here, a High-Arctic catchment (Revelva, Svalbard) located remotely from human-induced pollution sources is studied with respect to the distribution and migration of chosen trace elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Cs, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Tl, U, V and Zn) in surface waters. The metal concentrations fluctuated in 2010–2012 between 0.01 and 354 μg L^?1, the highest mean-weighted concentration noted for Sr (42.5 μg L^?1). The concentrations in the river water were likely influenced by both natural and human-activity-related processes. These factors can produce substances of the same chemical composition (e.g. carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and metals may be emitted both by a volcanic eruption and by industrial sources). Therefore, chemometric techniques were used in the current paper to distinguish the multiple sources of pollution in the Revelva catchment. The authors were seeking to determine whether there is indeed evidence for contamination, sufficient to cause environmental damage in polar region. As a result, it was shown that the long-range transport could play an important role in shaping the metal concentration profile of this Arctic tundra environment, capturing both the influence of volcanic eruptions within the region and the human activity in a range of distances from the study site.