Salinization properties of a shallow groundwater in a coastal reclaimed area, Yeonggwang, Korea

Abstract

The need for more agricultural or residential land has encouraged reclamation at the coastal areas of Korea since 1200 ad (approximately). The groundwaters of these reclaimed areas could be expected to reveal hydrogeochemical properties different from those of areas directly affected by seawater intrusion. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the salinization of shallow groundwater in a coastal reclaimed area and to identify the effect of land reclamation on groundwater quality. Major cations and anions, iodide, total organic carbon, δD, δ 18O and δ 13C were measured to assist the hydrogeochemical analysis. Chloride, δD and δ 18O data clearly show that the Na–Cl type water results from mixing of groundwater with seawater. In particular, the δD and δ 18O of Ca+Mg–Cl+NO3 type groundwaters are close to the meteoric water line, but Na–Cl type waters enriched in chloride are 18O-enriched with respect to the meteoric water line. Meanwhile, carbon isotopic data and I/Cl ratios strongly suggest that there are various sources of salinity. The δ 13C values of Na–Cl type groundwaters are generally similar to those of Ca+Mg–Cl+NO3 type waters, which are depleted in 13C with respect to seawater. I/Cl ratios of Na–Cl type groundwater are 10–100 times higher than that of seawater. Because the reclamation has incorporated a large amount of organic matter, it provides optimum conditions for the occurrence of redox processes in the groundwater system. Therefore, the salinization of groundwater in the study area seems to be controlled not only by saltwater intrusion but also by other effects, such as those caused by residual salts and organic matter in the reclaimed sediments.