Table A1 Chemical characteristics of natural waters

Rainwater

 Continental

Oxic

SO²⁻ ₄, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ NO⁻ ₃, Na⁺, K⁺, NH⁺ ₄, Mg²⁺

?

 Marine and coastal

Oxic

Cl⁻, Na⁺, SO²⁻ ₄, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, NO⁻ ₃, NH⁺ ₄

?

Rivers

0.3–0.5

HCO⁻ ₃, Ca²⁺, H₄SiO₄, SO²⁻ ₄, Cl⁻, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺

<1–>30

Lakes

 Fresh

−0.1–0.5

HCO⁻ ₃, Ca⁺ ₂, H₄SiO₄, SO²⁻ ₄, Cl⁻, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺

<1–>100

 Saline

−0.1–0.5

Cl⁻, Na⁺, SO²⁻ ₄, HCO⁻ ₃, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺ ₂, H₄SiO₄

<1–>100

Shallow groundwater

−0.1–0.45

HCO⁻ ₃, SO²⁻ ₄, Ca²⁺ Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺,H₄SiO₄, K⁺

<1–20

Marine

0.2–0.4

Cl⁻, Na⁺, SO²⁻ ₄, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺

<0.1–3

Evaporative marine

Oxic or anoxic

As for marine then inc. Mg²⁺ with mineral ppt.

?

Brackish marine

Oxic or anoxic

As for marine

?

Deep connate groundwater

−0.25–0.4

Cl⁻, Na⁺, K⁺, SO²⁻ ₄, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺,

<10–4500