Studies of Geogenic Groundwater Contamination in Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

The present study provides an overview of the geogenic contamination in Southwestern Anatolia based on its origin, occurrence and impacts. The Isparta, Çeltikçi, Tefenni, Çöl and Sandıklı groundwater basins, whose geogenic contaminations were determined, are considered in this study. Quaternary alluvium and Pliocene units are the most important aquifers. Groundwater is widely used for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes in these basins. The increase of Al content in groundwater is originates from water-rock interaction as related to feldspar, kaolin and mica minerals within volcanic rocks. Weathering and dissolution of arsenic minerals, water–rock interactions, and geothermal processes cause groundwater to be enriched in As contents in the study area. The increase of Fe and Mn contents in groundwater are caused by magmatic rocks and sandstone levels of the Elmalı formation, which have iron and manganese ores due to water–rock interaction. The increase of F content in surface and groundwater originated from the solution of apatite and more commonly from the solution of fluoride - bearing micas and amphiboles within Miocene clastics, Gölcük pyroclastics and volcanic rocks in the Isparta region. Groundwater quality is supremely important for people's health. In these basins Mn, Al, Fe, As and F contents of groundwater reached up to 433μg/l, 3540μg/l, 6190μg/l, 21.8μg/l and 5620μg/l, respectively. When compared to drinking water guidelines established by WHO [22,23] Turkey and the EPA, these elements are above the critical values in the different sampling time as locally.