Groundwater chemistry within a plateau neighboring Matsumoto city,Japan

The change in groundwater chemistry along the groundwater flow path in the Matsumoto tunnel vicinity was studied, and the origin of the groundwater and dissoluted substances was determined. The relationship between the concentration of HCO₃ ^–, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺, and CO₂ gas pressure in the groundwater indicated that the HCO₃ ^–, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺ were produced by the reaction of the CO₂ gas in the groundwater and feldspar in the rocks. The relationship between the concentration of NO₃ ^– and the Eh and pH values in the groundwater indicated that in an oxidative condition, ammonia-oxidizing and nitriteoxidizing bacteria used NH₄ ⁺ and produced NO₃ ^– and H⁺, and in a reductive condition, denitrifying bacteria used NO₃ ^– and produced N₂ gas and OH^–. The stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic ratio in the groundwater and precipitation indicated that the groundwater originated from precipitation that had fallen on the area. The concentration of³H and the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic ratios in the groundwater suggested that it has been getting warmer climatically for more than 60 years. The stable carbon isotopic ratio indicated that the HCO₃ ^– in the groundwater, excluding deep well water, originated from CO₂ gas produced by organic matter in the soil. The deep well water, which had a higher concentration of HCO₃ ^– than the other groundwater sampled, was thought to have acquired HCO₃ ^– though contact with rocks. The³⁶Cl/Cl ratio indicated the recharge age of the deep well water sampled at a depth of 760 m at the foot of the plateau was recent.