Abstract
The state, sources, and vectors of salinity in French aquifers are assessed through a GIS-based approach and a literature review of geochemical studies. Seawater intrusion is dominant in the insular context, but the most impacted water bodies are inland aquifers affected by WRI with Permian to Tertiary evaporites, mixing with primary and secondary sedimentary brines, partly derived from human activities (salt mining). The complexity of the superposition of natural and anthropogenic sources is illustrated for the alluvial Rhine aquifer.
Highlights
Salinization of groundwater bodies is one of the principal causes of degradation of water resources worldwide
The approach is based on recent data (2005-2010) on the mineralization of the French groundwater bodies as defined by the European Water Framework Directive, extracted from the ADES data base and integrated in a GIS
Main salinization mechanisms encountered in the French continental aquifers are:
Summary
Salinization of groundwater bodies is one of the principal causes of degradation of water resources worldwide. This phenomenon is a major drawback for water use for irrigation and drinking water supply in arid and semi-arid regions where water quality problems superpose to a general quantitative limitation of freshwater availability. 1) are seawater intrusion, mixing with paleo-seawater and brines, WRI with direct dissolution of evaporites by fresh groundwater, infiltration of saline surface water, and a large variety of human sources of saline solutions (industrial liquid or solid waste, salt mining activities, agricultural backflow). Natural mechanisms of salinization may be triggered or accentuated by human activity, e.g. over-pumping of coastal aquifers. Continental evaporites ocean saline groundwater dilution/mixing dilution/mixing sedimentary brines: primary brines secondary brines dissolution magmatic rocks marine evaporites
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