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Groundwater quality assessment using integrated geochemical methods, multivariate statistical analysis, and geostatistical technique in shallow coastal aquifer of Terengganu, Malaysia

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Abstract

Extensive agricultural, residential, and industrial activities have increased demand for water supplies, which can lead to groundwater quality degradation. The integration of geochemical methods, multivariate statistical analysis, and geostatistical approaches were carried out on 169 groundwater samples to elucidate the regional factors and processes that influencing the geochemical composition of groundwater in coastal shallow aquifer of Terengganu, Malaysia. Hydrochemical modelling revealed that the abundance of Ca and Mg was contributed by carbonate and silicate weathering while higher HCO3 and Cl were resulted from reverse ion exchange reaction. Therefore, the dominant hydrogeochemical facies of groundwater was Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl type. The influence of salinization resulting from seawater mixing to the groundwater was corroborated by Cl/HCO3 ratio, which affected around 50.9% of the groundwater samples slightly or moderately. Spatial mapping using ordinary kriging found that the threat of sea water intrusion is more prominent in the major river confluence especially around Terengganu and Marang River in the northeast and Dungun and Kemaman River confluence in southeast of study area. Moreover, factor analyses concluded that salinization, anthropogenic activities, reverse ion exchange, weathering processes, agricultural impact, and seasonal variations were the factors that regulate 63% of the major ion chemistry in study area. Finally, these findings showed the importance of understanding the hydrochemical characteristics for effective utilization, aquifer protection, and prediction of changes to minimize the effects of salinization and reduce human pollution such as agriculture and urbanization. It is essential steps in order to safeguard the utilization of groundwater resources for future generations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express appreciation to the Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia, Terengganu, for the groundwater data and providing helpful information about the geology of the study area. The assistance from the Town and Rural Planning Department and Malaysia Meteorological Department in obtaining the land use and rainfall data are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Headquarters, Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia, 50658, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Zahidi Hamzah

  2. Faculty of Environmental Studies, Department of Environmental Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Mohammad Firuz Ramli & Tahoora Sheikhy Narany

  3. East Coast Environmental Research Institute, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Hafizan Juahir

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  1. Zahidi Hamzah
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Hamzah, Z., Aris, A.Z., Ramli, M.F. et al. Groundwater quality assessment using integrated geochemical methods, multivariate statistical analysis, and geostatistical technique in shallow coastal aquifer of Terengganu, Malaysia. Arab J Geosci 10, 49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2828-5

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