Abstract
Background: The physicochemical composition of groundwater is affected by the quantity and quality of surrounding aquifers which are in turn recharging from adjacent river waters. Methods: In the present study, 20 surface and 16 groundwater samples were collected in pre- and post-monsoon season from the Jajrood River basin, Tehran, Iran. The samples were analyzed for 18 physicochemical water quality characteristics to assess the river and groundwater qualities. Hydrogeochemical analyses of groundwater samples were also performed to determine the Water Quality Index (WQI) for drinking and evaluate factors governing the water quality characteristic in the study area. Accordingly, the Piper diagram and Gibbs and Chadha plots were drawn to assess seasonal variations in hydrochemical facies and processes in the basin. Subsurface soil samples were also examined with respect to the structure, elemental composition, and multi-elemental trace analysis. Results: Results showed the abundance of major ions in the order of Ca+2 >Na+>Mg+2>K+ for cations and HCO3- >SO42- >Cl- >NO3- >F- for anions. In general, all drinking groundwater samples met WHO permissible limits except for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and HCO3-. Moreover, the water is categorized as Ca-Mg-HCO3 type. Subsurface soil analyses demonstrated quartz and calcium carbonate as the main phases of soil structure, suggesting the enrichment of groundwater with temporary hardness. Conclusion: Overall, the groundwater quality was suitable for drinking and agricultural activities.
Highlights
Groundwater virtually accounts for half of all drinking water all over the world [1]
The pH in river water samples ranged from 8.09 to 8.16 and 7.92 to 8.27 in preand post-monsoon seasons, respectively, indicating neutral nature and slight alkalinity of surface water, which were similar to the corresponding pH values of 7.33 to 7.59 and 7.2 to 7.9 observed in groundwater samples recharging from the surface points
The Electrical Conductivity (EC), which depicts the enrichment of dissolved solids in groundwater, varied from 431 to 2230 μmho/cm in the dry season, which was remarkably higher than their corresponding river water samples, indicating the cation-anion exchange through water-rock interaction [36]
Summary
Groundwater virtually accounts for half of all drinking water all over the world [1]. The quality of water through its biological content and chemical composition affects public health and agricultural production [2]. The quality of water bodies has decreased either by anthropogenic or natural processes, which subsequently has deteriorated its use for drinking, agriculture, and other purposes [3, 4]. The general hydrogeochemical characteristics of water regulate its use for intended purposes. The chemical composition of groundwater, depends on the quality of surface water in the recharge zone and upon various hydrogeochemical processes that happen naturally in the subsurface [6]. The physicochemical composition of groundwater is affected by the quantity and quality of surrounding aquifers which are in turn recharging from adjacent river waters
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