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Elevated iron and manganese concentrations in groundwater derived from the Holocene transgression in the Hang-Jia-Hu Plain, China

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Abstract

Groundwater in the Hang-Jia-Hu Plain, eastern China, is a drinking water source for local residents. Groundwater samples were collected from large-diameter hand-dug wells and boreholes for comparison of their iron and manganese concentrations, as well as other ions. The results show that iron and manganese concentrations are relatively high, exceeding drinking water standards by several times. Aquifer sediment samples contain abundant iron (30,790 mg kg−1) and manganese (602 mg kg−1). The results of correspondence factor analysis of the hydrochemistry data and the liberation experiments (using seawater and rainwater as leachants) suggest that iron and manganese in shallow groundwater come from the sediment in the Holocene aquifer. A reductive environment involving relatively high total dissolved solids and organic carbon in the aquifer system is favorable to iron and manganese transferring from the sediment to groundwater and stabilizes these ions. Shallow, large-diameter hand-dug wells provide oxic conditions that decrease the concentrations of dissolved iron and manganese in the well water.

Résumé

Dans la Plaine de Hang-Jia-Hu, à l’Est de la Chine, les eaux souterraines constituent une ressource en eau potable pour les autochtones. Des échantillons d’eau souterraine ont été prélevés dans des puits de large diamètre creusés manuellement et dans des forages, afin de confronter leurs concentrations en fer, manganèse et autres ions. Les résultats montrent des concentrations en fer et manganèse relativement hautes, souvent au-delà des limites de potabilité. Les échantillons de sédiments de l’aquifère contiennent des quantités abondantes de fer (30,790 mg kg−1) et de manganèse (602 mg kg−1). Les résultats de l’analyse factorielle de correspondance des données hydrochimiques et des tests de libération (utilisant l’eau de mer et l’eau de pluie comme vecteurs) suggèrent que le fer et le manganèse contenus dans les aquifères superficiels proviennent des sédiments de l’aquifère holocène. Un environnement réducteur, impliquant une quantité élevée de solides dissous et de carbone organique dans le système aquifère, est favorable à un transfert du fer et du manganèse depuis les sédiments vers les eaux souterraines, et stabilise les ions considérés. Les puits peu profonds, de large diamètre et creusés à la main créent des conditions oxydantes qui abaissent les concentrations en fer et manganèse dissous dans l’eau du puits.

Resumen

El agua subterránea en la Llanura de Hang-Jia-Hu, al este de China, es una fuente de agua potable para los residentes locales. Las muestras de agua subterránea fueron recogidas en pozos de gran diámetro excavados a mano y en pozos barrenados con el objeto de comparar las concentraciones de hierro y manganeso, y también las de otros iones. Los resultados muestran que las concentraciones de hierro y manganeso son relativamente altas, excediendo varias veces los límites para agua potable. Las muestras de sedimentos tomadas del acuífero contienen abundante hierro (30,790 mg kg−1) y manganeso (602 mg kg−1). Los resultados del análisis de correspondencia de los datos hidroquímicos y experimentos de liberación (usando agua de mar y agua de lluvia como lixiviantes) sugieren que los iones hierro y manganeso en las aguas subterráneas someras provienen de los sedimentos acuíferos del Holoceno. Un ambiente reductor que contiene relativamente alta cantidad de sólidos totales disueltos y carbono orgánico en el sistema acuífero es favorable para la transferencia de hierro y manganeso desde los sedimentos al agua subterránea y para estabilizar estos iones. Los pozos poco profundos, de gran diámetro, excavados a mano, suministran condiciones de oxidación que disminuyen las concentraciones de hierro y manganeso disueltos en el agua del pozo.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Dun-Ao Wu and Yong Wang for their help with the outdoor and indoor work, and Chong-Xuan Liu is also appreciated for his helpful data processing and field survey. Thanks are also given to Charlie Flowerday for his editorial review. Geology and Resources Administration of Zhejiang Province supplied some borehole data. Department of Environment Protection, Zhejiang Agriculture University, supplied the data of organic contents in cultivated soils. Support is provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 40572175).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environment and Biogeochemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, People’s Republic of China

    Huan-Xin Weng & Ya-Chao Qin

  2. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Xun-Hong Chen

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  1. Huan-Xin Weng
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  2. Ya-Chao Qin
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  3. Xun-Hong Chen
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Correspondence to Huan-Xin Weng.

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Weng, HX., Qin, YC. & Chen, XH. Elevated iron and manganese concentrations in groundwater derived from the Holocene transgression in the Hang-Jia-Hu Plain, China. Hydrogeol J 15, 715–726 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0119-z

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