Possible Hydrochemical Processes Influencing Dissolved Solids in Surface Water and Groundwater of the Kaidu River Basin, Northwest China

Dalong Li,Shaofeng Jia,Aifeng Lv,Haiyan Chen

doi:10.3390/w12020467

Abstract

Hydrochemical processes under intense human activities were explored on the basis of the hydrochemical characteristics of 109 surface water samples and 129 groundwater samples collected during August 2015 to September 2016, in the Kaidu River Basin. Results obtained in this study indicated that the water in the basin was neutral to slightly alkaline with low total dissolved solids. Rock weathering and evaporation controlled the natural hydrochemical mechanisms. Mountain groundwater and stream water were dominated by Ca2+-HCO3− type water, whereas the plains groundwater was dominated by mixed type water. The results of principal component analysis demonstrated that water-rock interaction and human activity explained 71.6% and 12.9% of surface water hydrochemical variations, respectively, and 75.1% and 14.2% of groundwater hydrochemical variations, respectively. Sulfate, chloride, and carbonate weathering were the major water-rock interaction processes. Livestock farming and agricultural activities were the primary human activities influencing the water hydrochemistry. In addition, cation exchange is another important process influencing the hydrochemical characteristics in the study area. This study would be helpful in forecasting of water quality in arid areas.

Highlights

Arid and semiarid areas have always suffered from water resource shortage
Wang et al [7] studied the hydrochemical characteristics of ground ice in permafrost regions on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China; the results indicated that soil moisture, air temperature, and the thickness of the active layer are the major factors controlling variations of soil water chemistry
The mean total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 130.92 mg/L to

Summary

Introduction

Arid and semiarid areas have always suffered from water resource shortage. Water quality in arid basins is influenced by a various of hydrochemical processes, such as water-rock interaction, land reclamation, wastewater infiltration, sewage exfiltration, and agricultural irrigation [2,3,4]. Due to the complex influences of multiple natural and anthropogenic processes in arid areas, identifying the major hydrochemical processes is difficult but highly useful [5,6]. Wang et al [7] studied the hydrochemical characteristics of ground ice in permafrost regions on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China; the results indicated that soil moisture, air temperature, and the thickness of the active layer are the major factors controlling variations of soil water chemistry. In the Wiesent River Basin, southern Germany, bedrock geology remains the dominant controlling factor of the major ionic chemistry and agricultural influences

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Discussion

Conclusion