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Use of hydrochemistry, environmental isotopes and radon distribution for assessment of groundwater in the Cenomanian–Turonian aquifer system: a case study from the Barada River valley, Syria

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Abstract

Combined techniques of hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes were used to characterize the groundwater of the Barada River valley, Syria. A clear difference in the chemistry of waters was observed, with notable decrease of radon activity concentrations in water samples measured in the Figeh spring (FS), the Rabweh wells (RW) and the Barada river (BR). The average ratios of the stable isotopes for the water of the FS were the most depleted, compared with slightly higher values for the RW, while these ratios showed relatively enriched levels in the BR water, likely because of direct evaporation. The concentration of tritium (< 3.5 TU) reveals that the waters are all renewable. The combined use of such techniques assisted remarkably to differentiate among the water bodies, likely in terms of elevation of recharge zones, average residence times and lengths of groundwater flows within the studied system.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Professor I. Othman, Director General of the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), for his constant encouragement. Thanks are also due to the laboratory staff in the Geology Department of the (AECS) for their assistance in the field sampling and performing the chemical and isotopic analysis. We gratefully acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their significant comments and suggestions, which considerably improved the quality of the manuscript. This work is part of a local scientific research no. AECS-G/RSS 869/ May 2021.

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  1. Department of Geology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), P.O Box 6091, Damascus, Syria

    Mohamed Al-Hilal & Zuhair Kattan

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  1. Mohamed Al-Hilal
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  2. Zuhair Kattan
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Correspondence to Mohamed Al-Hilal.

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Al-Hilal, M., Kattan, Z. Use of hydrochemistry, environmental isotopes and radon distribution for assessment of groundwater in the Cenomanian–Turonian aquifer system: a case study from the Barada River valley, Syria. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 1423–1438 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08213-4

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