Spatial and temporal assessment of groundwater quality and hydrogeochemical processes in Urmia Lake Basin, Iran

Abstract

Abstract The evaluation of groundwater quality and geochemistry have an important role in the management of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. In the present study, the spatio-temporal assessment of groundwater quality and hydrogeochemical processes, as well as, statistical analyses in the Azarshahr and Ajabshir plains located in the Urmia Lake basin were investigated. The results revealed that within six years (from 2014 to 2019), the value of total hardness was higher than the permissible level and the quality of groundwater for drinking was very hard and fresh in both plains. In 2019, 84 and 67% of the samples fell within the range of good to poor groundwater quality in the Azarshahr and Ajabshir plains, respectively. The temporal assessment with the help of water quality index values for both plains revealed a good groundwater quality for the Azarshahr plain and a good to poor groundwater quality for the Ajabshir plain. However, deterioration of water quality was observed in both plains from 2014 to 2019. The level of water quality for irrigation was better in the Azarshahr plain than in the Ajabshir plain, due to the presence of fewer salty sites. In addition, Ca–Mg–HCO3 and rock dominance were identified as hydrochemical facies and the controlling factor in the groundwater of both plains, respectively. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated both natural and anthropogenic sources (such as weathering, fertilizers, and wastewater) for hydrochemical parameters. It was suggested to develop a comprehensive regulation to control the entry of pollutants into the groundwater of the study area.