Occurrence,distribution and source of arsenic in deep groundwater wells in Maydavood area,southwestern Iran

Groundwater in some deep wells of Maydavood aquifer, southwestern Iran, contains relatively high concentrations of arsenic. Detailed hydrochemical analysis of these groundwaters (with ICP-OES instrument) showed that concentrations of iron, manganese, nickel, and vanadium are also high in them and concentrations of total arsenic in 81% of deep wells are greater than World Health Organization’s permissible value (10 ppb). XRF analysis of surrounding geological formations and aquifer sediments proposed that original source of arsenic in aquifer material can be attributed to minerals from Asmari Formation. It appears that a key mechanism for arsenic mobilizing to deep wells is microbial biodegradation of petroleum related organic matters (PROMs), which exist in aquifer sediments and originates from the bedrock of the aquifer (Gachsaran Formation). This process is followed by microbially mediated reductive dissolution of arsenic-bearing iron/manganese oxyhydroxides/oxides and further by nickel and vanadium mobilizing to groundwater. According to hydrogeochemical conditions and cluster analysis, water wells in Maydavood aquifer are divided to four subgroups: the wells with mildly reducing condition (subgroup I), moderately reducing condition (subgroup II), reducing condition (subgroup III), and high reducing condition (subgroup IV). Affected wells to arsenic are belonged to subgroups III and IV.     

Nitrate contamination in irrigation groundwater,Isfahan, Iran

Groundwater is one of the major sources of water in Isfahan. Efficient management of these resources requires a good understanding of its status. This paper focuses on the hydrochemistry and also it wants to assess the nitrate concentration in irrigation groundwater of Isfahan suburb. All the groundwater samples are grouped into three categories, including Na-Cl + Ca-Cl (63 %), Na-SO₄ + Ca-SO₄ (23 %) and Ca-HCO₃ (14 %). According to the EC and SAR, the most dominant classes are C3S1, C4S2 and C4S3. 55 % of samples indicate very high salinity and medium to very high alkalinity that is not suitable for irrigation. 84 % of the groundwater samples show nitrate contents higher than HAV (13 mg l^?), while more than 25 % exceeded the maximum contamination level (44.27 mg l^?) according to EPA regulations. The horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of nitrate in groundwater samples show a surficial origin for nitrate contamination. The high nitrate content can be attributed to the agricultural activities along with domestic sewage and industrial wastewaters in populated area. Based on results, using high nitrate groundwater for irrigation can minimize the requirement for inorganic fertilizers and reduce the cost of cultivation and nitrate contamination.     

Hydrogeochemistry,groundwater ages and sources of salts in a granitic batholith on the Canadian Shield,southeastern Manitoba

The hydrogeochemistry of the Lac du Bonnet granitic batholith has been determined for the region of the Whiteshell Research Area (WRA) in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. This work forms part of the geosciences studies performed for the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program over the period 1980–1995 by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Knowledge of the variation of groundwater chemistry and its causes is useful in assessing the performance and safety of a nuclear fuel waste vault located at depths of up to 1000 m in a crystalline rock formation of the Canadian Shield. Groundwaters and matrix pore fluids have been obtained by standard sampling methods from shallow piezometers in clay-rich overburden, from packer-isolated borehole zones intersecting fractures or fault zones in the bedrock, and from boreholes in unfractured rock in AECL's Underground Research Laboratory (URL). Eighty-six individual fracture groundwaters have been sampled and analysed from permeable zones in 53 boreholes drilled to depths of up to 1000 m in the Lac du Bonnet batholith. In addition, 28 groundwaters from piezometers in a large wetland area near the URL have been sampled and analysed to determine the influence of clay-rich overburden on the bedrock hydrogeochemistry. Analyses have been made for major and minor ions, pH, Eh, trace metals, and stable and radioactive isotopes, to characterise these groundwaters and relate them to their hydrogeologic regimes. Shallow groundwaters in the fractured bedrock are generally dilute (TDS <0.3 g/l), Ca–Na–HCO₃ waters and show little indication of mixing with Ca–Mg–HCO₃–SO₄ groundwater from overburden sediments. The near-modern levels of ³H and ¹⁴C, and a warm-climate ²H/¹⁸O signature in these groundwaters, indicates that the upper ∼200 m of fractured bedrock contains an active groundwater circulation system with a residence time of tens to hundreds of years. Deeper fracture groundwaters (200–400 m depth) in recharge areas, are more alkaline, Na–Ca–HCO₃ waters and evolve to Na–Ca–HCO₃–Cl–SO₄ waters with increasing distance along the flow path. Isotopic data indicate the presence of a glacial melt-water component suggesting that the residence times of these waters are 10³–10⁵ a. These waters form a transition zone between the upper, advective flow regime and a deeper regime in sparsely fractured rock where groundwater in fractures and fracture zones is largely stagnant. At these depths (> 500 m), Na–Ca–Cl–SO₄ waters of increasing salinity (up to 50 g/l) with depth are found and in some fractures the waters have evolved to a Ca–Na–Cl composition. Isotopic data indicate that these waters are warm-climate and pre-glacial in origin, with residence times of over 1 Ma. Pore fluids observed to drain from the unfractured rock matrix in the URL facility are almost pure Ca–Cl in composition, ∼90 g/l salinity, and have a ²H/¹⁸O composition displaced well to the left of the global meteoric water line, about which all other WRA groundwaters lie. This information indicates that these pore fluids have undergone prolonged water-rock interaction and have residence times of 10¹–10³ Ma. Most of the deeper fracture groundwaters and pore fluids have low Br/Cl ratios and moderate to high δ³⁴S values of dissolved SO₄ which indicates that their salinity could be derived from a marine source such as the basinal sedimentary brines and evaporites to the west of the batholith. These fluids may have entered the batholith during early Paleozoic times when sedimentary rocks were deposited over the granite and were driven by a hydraulic gradient resulting from higher ground in western Canada. The hydrogeochemical data and interpretations show that below ∼500 m in the WRA, fracture-hosted groundwaters are very saline, reducing and old, and are, therefore, indicative of stagnant conditions over the period of concern for nuclear waste disposal (1 Ma). The intact rock matrix at these depths is extremely impermeable as indicated by the presence of pore fluids with unusual geochemical and isotopic characteristics. The pore fluids may represent basinal brines that have evolved geochemically and isotopically to their current composition over periods as long as 10³ Ma.     

关中盆地大荔地区地下水氟水文地球化学规律

为了研究关中盆地大荔地区氟的水文地球化学规律,采集239个地下水样品及35个土壤样品,分析了水化学类型和水化学组分对氟的影响,结果表明在弱碱性环境下,重碳酸钠型是促进氟富集并增强围岩向地下水中转化的主要因素;硫酸钙镁型的地下水抑制氟富集。水化学组分中Na+、Cl-、HCO3-、pH与氟呈正相关,而Ca2+则抑制水溶液中氟含量增加;迁移系数与HCO3-、pH呈正相关关系,与其他主要离子呈负相关关系。利用Preeqic软件分析了饱和指数和Ca2+、F-的离子活度,得出萤石的平衡控制着氟和钙的水文地球化学行为,F-可能来源于萤石和方解石的分解。     

Hydrogeochemistry and microbial contamination of groundwater from Lower Ponnaiyar Basin, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Groundwater is the major source of fresh water in regions where there is inadequate surface water resources. Forty-seven groundwater samples were collected from Lower Ponnaiyar basin, Cuddalore District, south India, during the premonsoon (PRM) and postmonsoon (POM) seasons of 2005. Out of 47 groundwater samples, 15 samples showing higher nitrate concentration were those collected during PRM 2005. Microbial analysis of these samples was carried out by employing 16S rRNA gene sequence tool. Detailed analysis was conducted to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and microbial contamination responsible for deterioration of quality. The abundance of the ions during PRM and POM are in the following order: Na?>?Ca?>?Mg?>?K?=?Cl?>?HCO₃?>?SO₄?>?CO₃. The dominant water types in PRM are in the order of NaCl?>?CaMgCl?>?mixed CaNaHCO₃, whereas during POM NaCl?>?CaMgCl?>?mixed CaNaHCO₃, and CaHCO₃. However, NaCl and CaMgCl are major water types in the study area. The quality of groundwater in the study area is mainly impaired by surface contamination sources, mineral dissolution, ion exchange and evaporation. Groundwater chemistry was used to assess quality to ensure its suitability for drinking and irrigation, based on BIS and WHO standards. Suitability for irrigation was determined on the basis of the diagram of US Salinity Laboratory (USSL), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and Na%. According to SAR and USSL classification, 27.66% (PRM) and 40.43% (POM) of samples fall under C3S2 category, indicating high salinity and medium sodium hazard, which restrict its suitability for irrigation. Microbiological analysis and its effects on the water quality were also addressed. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 11 bacterial contaminants exhibited five groups with 11 operational taxonomic units with aerobic and facultatively anaerobic organisms. The presence of aerobic organisms in the groundwater samples reflects the active conversion of ammonia to nitrite by Nitrosomonas sp. which is further converted to nitrates by other organisms. Further the presence of nitrate reducers could also play a role in the process of conversion of nitrate to ammonia and nitrate to molecular nitrogen.     

Geological and geochemical examination of arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Holocene Terai Basin, Nepal

Geological and geochemical study has been carried out to investigate arsenic contamination in groundwater in Nawalparasi, the western Terai district of Nepal. The work carried out includes analyses of core sediments, provenance study by rare earth elements analyses, ¹⁴C dating, and water analyses. Results showed that distribution of the major and trace elements are not homogeneous in different grain size sediments. Geochemical characteristics and sediment assemblages of the arsenic contaminated (Nawalparasi) and uncontaminated (Bhairahawa) area have been compared. Geochemical compositions of sediments from both the areas are similar; however, water chemistry and sedimentary facies vary significantly. Extraction test of sediment samples showed significant leaching of arsenic and iron. Chemical reduction and contribution from organic matter could be a plausible explanation for the arsenic release in groundwater from the Terai sediments.     

Identifying groundwater arsenic contamination mechanisms in relation to arsenic concentrations in water and host rocks

Leaching and oxidation of high arsenic (As) host rocks tend to be induced by circulation of deep geothermal waters, which increase As concentration in shallow groundwater. The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanism of groundwater As contamination in relation to leaching and oxidation along the border between the South Minahasa and Bolaang Mongondow districts, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. This region contains Miocene sedimentary rock-hosted disseminated gold deposits associated with hydrothermal alteration in a fault zone. Abnormally high As concentrations were observed in hot and cold springs and in surrounding shallow groundwater for a total mineralization area of 8 × 10 km². Two methods were adopted in this study: (1) microscopic and spectroscopic analyses of rock samples for mineral identification and (2) geostatistics for spatial modeling of As concentrations in groundwater. Jarosite was identified as the chief fill mineral in rock defects (cracks and pores). The presence of this mineral may indicate release of As into the environment, as can occur as an alteration product derived from oxidation and leaching of pyrite, As-rich pyrite or sulfide minerals by geothermal waters. Moreover, As concentrations in groundwater were estimated using geostatistics for spatial modeling. The co-kriging map identified local anomalies in groundwater As concentrations over the permissible limit (10 ppb). Such anomalies did not appear through ordinary kriging. Integration of the results indicates that As contamination in shallow groundwater probably is controlled by heterogeneous distributions of jarosite and variations in intensity and extent of hydrothermal activities.     

Hydrogeochemistry and geothermometry of the Jowshan thermal springs, Central Iran

Jowshan geothermal system comprises 6 thermal springs with outlet temperatures ranging from 39.3 to 46.6°C. The thermal water of these springs is presently used for swimming and as a treatment for rheumatism, sinusitis and skin diseases. The pH value of these springs is slightly acidic to neutral and the electrical conductivities about 1500 μS/Cm. The presence of many faults in the area, the alignment of all springs along the Sirch Fault and the similar chemical and isotopic composition of all springs in combination with the hydrogeological setting and geochemistry of water samples indicate that these springs are associated with deep circulation of meteoric water. According to this heating mechanism, meteoric waters infiltrate through fault openings to depth and after heating by geothermal gradient rise to the ground surface due to the hydraulic and buoyancy forces, a mechanism which is common in the southern parts of Iran. The use of various chemical geothermometers and mineral equilibrium states suggests a range of temperature about 50–90°C for the reservoir of Jowshan geothermal system.     

Geochemical and hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in Ferdows area, northeast of Iran

The chemical analysis of 19 water wells in Ferdows area, Northeastern Iran, has been evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. In the study area, the order of cation and anion abundance is Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and Cl^? > SO ₄ ^?2  > HCO₃ ^? > NO₃ ^?, respectively, and the dominating hydrochemical types are Na–Cl. Most metal concentrations in water depend on the mineral solubility, and pH, Eh, and salinity of the solution. Their ΣREE concentrations showed excellent correlations with parameters such as TDS and pH. North American Shale Composite (NASC)-normalized REE patterns are enriched in the HREEs relative to the LREEs for all groundwaters. They all have positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.752–3.934) and slightly negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.019–1.057). Reduction–oxidation, complexation, desorption, and re-adsorption alter groundwater REE concentrations and fractionation patterns. The positive Eu anomalies in groundwaters are probably due to preferential mobilization of Eu²⁺ relative to the trivalent REEs in the reducing condition.     

Near surface lithology and spatial variation of arsenic in the shallow groundwater: southeastern Bangladesh

This study investigated the relationship between near-surface lithology and the spatial variability of As concentrations using sediment grain-size analysis and electromagnetic induction survey in the southeast Bangladesh. It has been observed that the aquifers overlain by finer sediments have higher concentrations of As in groundwater, whereas As concentrations are remarkably low in aquifers having permeable sandy materials or thinner silt/clay layer at the surface. The near-surface lithology acts as a controlling factor for spatial distributions of groundwater As within the very shallow depths (<15 m). Shallow alluvial aquifers can provide low-As drinking water in many areas of the country when tube wells are properly installed after investigation of the overlying near-surface sediment attributes and hydraulic properties.     

Distribution of fluoride in groundwater of Maku area, northwest of Iran

High fluoride groundwater occurs in Maku area, in the north of West Azarbaijan province, northwest of Iran. Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the area residents. Groundwater samples were collected from 72 selected points including 40 basaltic and 32 nonbasaltic springs and wells, in two stages, during June and August 2006. The areas with high fluoride concentrations have been identified, and the possible causes for its variation have been investigated. Regional hydrogeochemical investigation indicates that water-rock interaction is probably the main reason for the high concentration of ions in groundwater. The concentration of F⁻ in groundwater is positively correlated with that of HCO₃ ⁻ and Na⁺, indicating that groundwater with high HCO₃ ⁻ and Na⁺ concentrations help to dissolve some fluoride-rich minerals. All of the water samples, collected from the basaltic areas do not meet the water quality standards for fluoride concentration and some other parameters. Hence, it is not suitable for consumption without any prior treatment. Inhabitants of the area that obtain their drinking water supplies from basaltic springs and wells are suffering from dental fluorosis. The population of the study area is at a high risk due to excessive fluoride intake especially when they are unaware of the amount of fluoride being ingested due to lack of awareness.     

Numerical simulation of groundwater flow and contamination transport in Nahavand plain aquifer,west of Iran

Numerical simulation of groundwater flow used for the estimation of hydraulic and hydrologic parameters which is an important tool for the management of aquifers. This study presents the results of a mathematical model developed for the simulation of groundwater flow in Nahavand plain aquifer in the southwest Hamadan province. For this purpose Groundwater Modeling Software (GMS) was used which supports the MODFLOW-2000 code. After gathering required data such as the hydrological, hydrogeological and topography maps, a 3D hydrogeological model of plain was constructed with borehole and surface elevation data. Then MODFLOW was used for simulation of flow. After initial simulation of the flow, the model was calibrated in steady state with trial-and-error and parameter estimation methods the observed head of groundwater table monitoring data of 1997. Results of calibration show that error between observed head and computed head is in allowable range. Also results of computed head with model show that groundwater flow is in the direction of the dominate slope (southeast to northwest). Finally MODPATH code which simulates advective transport of particles was used for estimation of flow path and source of contaminants.     

Model for the formation of arsenic contamination in groundwater. 1. Datong Basin,China

Mineral equilibria were analyzed in the system As-bearing rock-meteoric water. It was shown that carbonate rocks are the most probable source of As and Sr in the waters of the Datong Basin (People's Republic of China). The reason for groundwater enrichment in As is the shift of the equilibrium FeCO₃ (siderite) + H₂O = FeOOH(goethite) + CO₂(g) + H₂(g) to the left (toward siderite formation) owing to organic matter oxidation by atmospheric oxygen and an increase in the equilibrium partial pressure of CO₂, while the Eh of the system remains below ?0.30 ± 0.06 V.     

Soil geochemistry and groundwater contamination in an arsenic-affected area of the Datong Basin,China

This study describes the geochemistry of the topsoils from an arsenic (As)-affected area of the Datong Basin and identifies the possible sources and the enrichment mechanisms of As in groundwater. A total of 122 soil samples were collected from the study area. Analytical results indicate that soil As is higher than the average value of the Shanxi province topsoils. Fertilizer application and weathering of the bedrock both contributed to the presence of elements, including As, in the soil of the area. Furthermore, these elements may be strongly bound to Fe and Mn oxides/hydroxides. In addition, the depletion of K indicates that this element is readily leached into the groundwater rather than being retained in the soils. A groundwater area with high As levels corresponding spatially to soil samples with no As accumulation clearly shows the effects of irrigation or salt flushing on the soil compositions. Arsenic can be mobilized under reducing condition due to organic matter input or changes in redox conditions induced by irrigation or salt flushing and can be transported with vertically recharged water into shallow, unconfined aquifers, thus elevating the As concentration in groundwater.     

Geochemistry characterization of groundwater in an agricultural area of Razan,Hamadan, Iran

This study was conducted to evaluate factors regulating groundwater quality in an area with agriculture as main use. Thirty groundwater samples have been collected from Razan area (Hamadan, Iran) for hydrochemical investigations to understand the sources of dissolved ions and assess the chemical quality of the groundwater. The chemical compositions of the groundwater are dominated by Na⁺, Ca²⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻, which have been derived largely from natural chemical weathering of carbonate, gypsum and anthropogenic activities of fertilizer’s source. The production of SO₄ ²⁻ has multiple origins, mainly from dissolution of sulphate minerals, oxidation of sulphide minerals and anthropogenic sources. The major anthropogenic components in the groundwater include Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻ and NO₃ ⁻, with Cl⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ being the main contributors to groundwater pollution in Razan area.     

Modelling natural attenuation of heavy-metal groundwater contamination in the Selebi-Phikwe mining area,Botswana

Seepage from a tailings dam is the major source of groundwater pollution in the Selebi-Phikwe area, where mining of sulphidic nickel–copper–cobalt ore started in 1973 and will continue until 2014. The seepage water has a pH in the range of 1.7–2.8 and is strongly enriched in SO₄ ²⁻ (5,680 g/L) and heavy metals (6,230 μg/L Ni, 1,860 μg/L Cu and 410 μg/L Co). The fracture aquifer affected by pollution from the dam exhibits a remarkable capacity of heavy-metal sorption. Most of the Ni, Cu and Co is scavenged at less than 500 m distance downgradient from the polluting source, whereas SO₄ ²⁻ is not immobilized significantly. The heavy-metal sorption process is assumed to be due to surface complexation, which is supported by a relatively high groundwater pH (in the range of 6.2–7.8 at >200 m distance from the tailings dam). The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the sorption process can be incorporated into a realistic three-dimensional reactive-transport groundwater model that is implicitly charge-balanced. The simulations are performed with the PHAST1.2 program, which is based on the HST3D flow and transport code and the hydrochemical PHREEQC2.12 code.     

Hydrogeochemistry and possible sulfate sources in karst groundwater in Chongqing, China

Groundwater from karst subterranean streams is among the world’s most important sources of drinking water supplies, and the hydrochemical characteristics of karst water are affected by both natural environment and people. Therefore, the study of karst groundwater hydrochemistry and its solutes’ sources is very important to ensure the normal function of life support systems. This paper focused on the major ion chemistry and sulfate isotope of karst groundwater in Chongqing for tracing the sulfate sources and related hydrochemical processes. Hydrochemical types of karst groundwater in Chongqing were mainly of the Ca-HCO₃ type or Ca(Mg)-HCO₃ type. However, some hydrochemical types were the K + Na + Ca-SO₄ type (G25 site) or Ca-HCO₃ + SO₄ type (G26 and G14 sites), indicating that the hydrochemistry of these sites may be strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities or unique geological characteristics. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? of collected karst groundwater sample fell into a range of ?6.8 to 21.5 ‰, with a mean value of 5.6 ‰. In dolomite aquifer, the δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value ranges from ?4.3 to 11.0 ‰, and in limestone aquifer, it ranged from ?6.8 to 21.5 ‰. The groundwater samples from different land use types showed distinctive δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value of groundwater samples had range of ?6.8 to 16.7 ‰ (mean 4.0 ‰, n = 11) in cultivated land areas, 1.5–21.5 ‰ (mean 7.2 ‰, n = 20) in forested land areas, and ?4.3 to 0.8 ‰ (mean ?1.7 ‰, n = 2) in coalmine areas. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? values of groundwater samples collected from factory area and town area were 2.2 and 9.9 ‰, respectively. According to the δ³⁴S information of potential sulfate sources, this paper discussed the possible sulfate sources of collected karst groundwater samples in Chongqing. The variations of both δ³⁴S and 1/SO₄ ^2? values of the groundwater samples indicated that the atmospheric acid deposition (AAD), dissolution of gypsum (GD), oxidation of sulfide mineral (OS) or anthropogenic inputs (SF: sewage or fertilizer) contributed to sulfate in karst groundwater. The influence of oxidation of sulfide mineral, atmospheric acid deposit and anthropogenic inputs to groundwater in Chongqing karst areas was much widespread. For protecting, sustaining, and utilizing the groundwater resources, the sewage possibly originating from urban, mine or industrial area must be controlled and treated, and the use of fertilizer should be limited.     

Model for the formation of arsenic contamination in groundwater: 2. Influence of sorption

Arsenic is accumulated in groundwater in response to As desorption at an increase in the alkalinity of aqueous solution owing to (a) a decrease in the equilibrium concentration of the sorbed H₃AsO₃⁰ and H₃AsO₄⁰ species and (b) sorbent (iron hydroxide) decomposition, when Eh decreases below the line of the iron hydroxide-siderite equilibrium.