Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrochemistry and groundwater quality in a semiarid calcareous area: an evaluation of major ion chemistry using a stoichiometric approach

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study is a wide-ranging evaluation of groundwater within the calcareous semiarid area, Gaziantep in southeast Anatolia, Turkey. The resulting water chemistry data (1) explains the interactions between rock and water, (2) evaluates the quantitative relationships between chemical species (major ions), (3) separates hydrochemical facies, (4) provides information on current water quality for multiple uses, and (5) acts as a benchmark for future research. Relationships between ion concentrations (as meq/L) were analyzed through linear modeling and calculation of coefficients of determination (R2). Stoichiometric calculations were employed to determine the quantitative relationships between ions in groundwater. Calculations between (Ca2++Mg2+) and HCO3− indicated that, even at different concentrations of the total alkaline earth metal ion (M2+), the relative percent remained at 72% for all samples. The majority of Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− ions in groundwater were derived from weathering of calcite, the most common mineral in the local geology. Weathering of dolomite was also important to the contribution of ions in some areas. Ca-HCO3 was found to be the dominant water type for 81% of raw samples; a mixed water type was found in 17% of the samples. The major dissolved components of groundwater are, therefore, Ca(HCO3)2 and, to a lesser degree, Mg(HCO3)2.

The sampled groundwater was generally found to meet drinking water quality guidelines for most of the physicochemical quality properties for which standards are available, and with regard to concentrations of Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, SO42−, NO2−, and NH4+. However, NO3−, Ca2+, and HCO3− concentrations in several groundwater samples were in excess of maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afşin, M. (1997). Hydrochemical evolution and water quality along the groundwater flow path in the Sandıklı plain, Afyon, Turkey. Environmental Geology, 31(3), 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aksever, F., Karaguzel, R., & Mutluturk, M. (2015). Evaluation of groundwater quality and contamination in drinking water basins: a case study of the Senirkent-Uluborlu basin (Isparta-Turkey). Environment and Earth Science, 73, 1281–1293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Annapoorna, H., & Janardhana, M. R. (2015). Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking purpose in rural areas surrounding a defunct copper mine. Aquatic Procedia, 4, 685–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers, R. S., Westcot, D. W. (1985). Water Quality for Agriculture, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 rev 1. Rome: FAO, UN.

  • Atabey, E. (2015). Gaziantep water resources: potential and quality (Gaziantep ili su kaynakları-potansiyeli ve kalitesi). http://www.esrefatabey.com.tr/upload/tibbi_jeoloji_dosya298.pdf

  • Babiker, I. S., Mohamed, M. A. A., & Hiyama, T. (2007). Assessing groundwater quality using GIS. Water Resources Management, 21, 699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baird, C. (2001). Environmental Chemistry. USA: W.H. Freeman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, M. H., Hiscock, K. M., Pedley, S., Lerner, D. N., Tellam, J. H., & French, M. J. (1999). Marker species for identifying urban groundwater recharge sources: a review and case study in Nottingham, UK. Water Research, 33(14), 3083–3097.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brezonik, P. L., & Arnold, W. A. (2011). Water chemistry: an introduction to the chemistry of natural and engineered aquatic systems. New York: Oxford University Pres.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkand M. L., Mason J. P. (2006). Water-quality characteristics, including sodium-adsorption ratios, for four sites in the Powder River drainage basin, Wyoming and Montana, water years 2001-2004. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5113.

  • Cotton, F. A., Wilkinson, G., & Gaus, P. L. (1995). Basic inorganic chemistry (3rd ed.). Hoboken: Wiley-Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davraz, A., Özdemir, A. (2014). Groundwater quality assessment and its suitability in Çeltikçi plain (Burdur/Turkey). Environmental Earth Sciences, 72, 1167–1190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirel, Z., & Kulege, K. (2005). Monitoring of spatial and temporal hydrochemical changes in groundwater under the contaminating effects of anthropogenic activities in Mersin Region, Turkey. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 101, 129–145.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doneen, L. D. 1964. Notes on water quality in agriculture. Published as a water science and engineering paper 4001. Department of Water Science and Engineering. University of California.

  • Feast, N. A., Hiscock, K. M., Dennis, P. F., & Andrews, J. N. (1998). Nitrogen isotope hydrochemistry and denitrification within the Chalk aquifer system of north Norfolk, UK. Journal of Hydrology, 211, 233–252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fijani, E., Moghaddam, A. A., Tsai, F. T. C., & Tayfur, G. (2017). Analyses and assessment of hydrochemical characteristics of Maragheh-Bonab Plain aquifer, Northwest of Iran. Water Resources Management, 31(3), 765–780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeze, A. R., & Cherry, J. A. (2003). Groundwater. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 604 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, R. J. (1970). Mechanism controlling world water chemistry. Science, 70, 1088–1090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guler, C., Kurt, M. A., Alpaslan, M., & Akbulut, C. (2012). Assessment of the impact of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater hydrology and chemistry in Tarsus coastal plain (Mersin, SE Turkey) using fuzzy clustering, multivariate statistics and GIS techniques. Journal of Hydrology, 414-415, 435–451.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunal, M., & Kosen, A. (2015). Application of GIS for predicting quality of underground water for drinking. Acta Physica Polonica, A, 128(2), 107–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helena, B., Pardo, R., Vega, M., Barrado, E., Fernandez, J. M., & Fernandez, L. (2000). Temporal evolution of groundwater composition in an alluvial aquifer (Pisuerga River, Spain) by principal component analysis. Water Research, 34(3), 807–816.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hem, J. D. (1985). Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, Third Edition. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254.

  • Kaçmaz, H., & Nakoman, E. (2009). Hydrochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in aquifer containing uranyl phosphate minerals, in the Koprubası (Manisa) area, Turkey. Environment and Earth Science, 59, 449–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kattan, Z., Kadkoy, N., Nasser, S., Safadi, M., & Hamed, A. (2010). Isotopes and geochemistry in a managed aquifer recharge scheme: a case study of fresh water injection at the Damascus University Campus, Syria. Hydrological Processes, 24, 1791–1805.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kavurmacı, M. (2016). Evaluation of groundwater quality using a GIS-MCDA-based model: a case study in Aksaray, Turkey. Environment and Earth Science, 75, 1258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koh, D. C., Chang, H. W., Lee, K. S., Ko, K. S., Kim, Y., & Park, W. B. (2005). Hydrogeochemistry and environmental isotopes of ground water in Jeju volcanic island, Korea: implications for nitrate contamination. Hydrological Processes, 19, 2225–2245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maoui, A., Kherici, N., & Derradji, F. (2010). Hydrochemistry of an Albian sandstone aquifer in a semi-arid region, Ain oussera, Algeria. Environment and Earth Science, 60, 689–701.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC). (1977). Drinking water and health. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, D. D. R., Raiber, M., & Cox, M. E. (2015). Relationships between major ions in coal seam gas groundwaters: examples from the Surat and Clarence-Moreton basins. International Journal of Coal Geology, 137, 77–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Özler, H. M. (2003). Hydrochemistry and salt-water intrusion in the Van aquifer, east Turkey. Environmental Geology, 43, 759–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özler, H. M., & Aydın, A. (2008). Hydrochemical and microbiological quality of groundwater in West Thrace Region of Turkey. Environmental Geology, 54, 355–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peeters, L. (2014). A background color scheme for Piper plots to spatially visualize hydrochemical patterns. Groundwater, 52-1, 2–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper, A. M. (1944). A graphic procedure in geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 25, 914–923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, L. N., Wigley, T. M. L., & Parkhurst, D. L. (1978). The kinetics of calcite dissolution in CO2-water systems at 5to 60 °C and 0.0 to 1.0 atm CO2. American Journal of Science, 278, 179–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, L. N., Bexfield, L. M., & Anderholm, S. K. (2003). How ground-water chemistry helps us understand the aquifer. Reston: U.S. Geological Survey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivett, M. O., Buss, S. R., Morgan, P., Smith, J. W. N., & Bemment, C. D. (2008). Nitrate attenuation in groundwater: a review of biogeochemical controlling processes. Water Resources, 42, 4215–4232.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Şimşek, C., Gemici, U., & Filiz, S. (2008). An assessment of surficial aquifer vulnerability and groundwater pollution from a hazardous landfill site, Torbali/Turkey. Geosciences Journal, 12(1), 69–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoewer, M. M., Knöller, K., & Stumpp, C. (2015). Tracing freshwater nitrate sources in pre-alpine groundwater catchments using environmental tracers. Journal of Hydrology, 524, 753–767.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terlemez, H. Ç. I., Şentürk, K., Ateş, Ş., Sümengen, M., Oral, A. (1992). Geology of Gaziantep vicinity and the region between Pazarcık-Sakçagöz-Kilis-Elbeyli-Oğuzeli. MTA Report no. 9526, Ankara (unpublished).

  • Todd, D. K., 1960. Groundwater Hydrology, 1st edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

  • TSE, (2005). Water intended for human consumption. Institute of Turkish Standards. TSE 266.

  • Ulu, Ü., Genç, Ş., Giray, S., Metin Y., Çörekçioğlu, E. (1991). Geology of Belveren-Araban-Yavuzeli-Nizip-Birecik region, petrology and regional spread of Cenozoic volcanism. MTA Report. No. 9226, Ankara (unpublished).

  • Varni, M. R., Pardo, R., Vega, M., Zabala, M. E., & Galarreta, V. A. R. (2016). Joint interpretation of the hydrochemistry of two neighbouring basins by N-way multivariate methods. Rosario Soledad Barranquero. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, X., Diao, M., Wang, D., & Gao, M. (2012). Hydrochemical characteristics and salinization processes of groundwater in the shallow aquifer of Eastern Laizhou Bay, China. Hydrological Processes, 26, 2322–2332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R. G. (1983). Limnology. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization, 1993. WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality (2nd edtition) Volume 1, Recommendations. Geneva, Swizerland.

  • World Health Organization, 2004. WHO guidelines for drinking water quality (3rd edtition). Geneva, Swizerland.

  • World Health Organization (WHO), (2011). Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edition. Geneva.

  • World Health Organization (WHO), (2017). WHO guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edition). Geneva, Swizerland.

  • Yesilnacar, M. I., & Gulluoglu, M. S. (2008). Hydrochemical characteristics and the effects of irrigation on groundwater quality in Harran Plain, GAP Project, Turkey. Environmental Geology, 54, 183–196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yidana, S. M., Banoeng-Yakubo, B., Akabzaa, T., & Asiedu, D. (2011). Characterization of the groundwater flow regime and hydrochemistry of groundwater from the Buem formation, Eastern Ghana. Hydrological Processes, 25, 2288–2301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, B., Song, X., Zhang, Y., Han, D., Tang, C., Yu, Y., & Ma, Y. (2012). Hydrochemical characteristics and water quality assessment of surface water and groundwater in Songnen plain, Northeast China. Water Research, 46, 2737–2748.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Our thanks to the Laboratory of Water and Sewage Department, Metropolitan Municipality of Gaziantep (GASKI) for conducting a critical part of the required analyses. We thank the GASKI authorities for analysis and to everyone who has contributed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Art Faculty, Chemistry Department, Kilis 7 Aralık University, Kilis, Turkey

    Halim Avci

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Geological Engineering Department, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey

    Uğur Erdem Dokuz

  3. Labrotory of Water and Sewage Department, Metropolitan Municipality, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Ahmet Selcuk Avci

Authors
  1. Halim Avci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Uğur Erdem Dokuz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmet Selcuk Avci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Halim Avci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Avci, H., Dokuz, U.E. & Avci, A.S. Hydrochemistry and groundwater quality in a semiarid calcareous area: an evaluation of major ion chemistry using a stoichiometric approach. Environ Monit Assess 190, 641 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7021-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7021-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation