Hydrogeochemical interpretation of water seepage through a geological barrier at a reservoir boundary

Abstract

AbstractA geological barrier such as a mountain ridge surrounding a large reservoir generally plays some part in preventing water leakage from the reservoir, but water flows out naturally according to the hydraulic gradient because the reservoir water level is typically higher than that outside. The hydrogeological, geochemical, and isotopic properties of water in the Daechung Dam area were analysed to characterize the source and the phenomenon of the groundwater flowing through the geological barrier. Our geochemical analysis showed that the concentrations of anions and cations tended to increase, due to the longer residence time of the water, as the distance between the sampling site and reservoir increased. Elevation differences (calculated using oxygen and hydrogen isotopes) between the highest and lowest sampling sites ranged between 350 and 420 m based on the altitude effect on isotope concentration, but the actual difference was only 35 m. These results, including analysis of the rate of water seepage from the reservoir (ca. 2.3% to 14.4% of natural recharge), indicate the possibility that groundwater in the study area originated from reservoir water that was derived from upstream water and rainfall in the high mountainous area of the upper watershed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.