Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The impact of hydrogeological settings on geochemical evolution of groundwater in karstified limestone aquifer basin in northwest Sri Lanka

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The geochemical and isotope analysis of groundwaters from the Murunkan basin in north western Sri Lanka was carried out to examine their evolution and recharge sources in order to shed light to enhance the current knowledge of the hydro-geochemical processes in a karst geological setting. A total of 40 water samples from ground and surface water bodies were collected from the Miocene limestone terrain, nearby metamorphic and from unconsolidated Quaternary terrains for major anions, cations and environmental isotopes ratios (δ18OVSMOW and δ2HVSMOW). Distinct geochemical differences were noted between waters from limestone terrain and nearby metamorphic terrain indicating the modification of groundwater flow paths. Bicarbonate-chloride rich water is dominated in the limestone terrain in which water flows through a less mineralized aquifer system and is modified by the sea water intrusion. Groundwater in the metamorphic terrain is modified by dissolving of Ca–Mg rich mineral phases and subsequent ion exchange processes. The environmental isotopes of groundwater from both limestone and metamorphic terrains vary from −0.38 to −6.68 ‰ and −2.41 to −42.3 ‰ for δ18OVSMOW and δ2HVSMOW, respectively. However, slightly enriched isotope signatures and low d-excess values from limestone terrain indicate an excessive evaporation compared to that of the metamorphic terrain where rapid infiltration occurs through the overlying highly permeable grumusols soil layers.

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
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appelo CAJ, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Basnayake BMSB (1988) Groundwater potentials in the sedimentary rock of Sri Lanka. In: Fernando LJD (ed) Felicitation volume. Geological Society of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya, pp 71–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandrajith R, Barth JA, Subasinghe N, Merten D, Dissanayake C (2012) Geochemical and isotope characterization of geothermal spring waters in Sri Lanka: evidence for a steeper than expected geothermal gradients. J Hydrol 476:360–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrajith R, Chaturangani D, Abeykoon S, Barth JAC, van Geldern R, Edirisinghe V, Dissanayake CB (2013) Quantification of groundwater-seawater- interaction in a coastal sandy aquifer system—a study from panama. Sri Lanka Environ Earth Sci 72(3):867–877

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark ID, Fritz P (1997) Environmental isotopes in hydrogeology. CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science 133:1702–1703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dansgaard W (1964) Stable isotopes in precipitation. Tellus 16(4):436–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies J, Selvarathnam R (1982) The groundwater resources of the Murunkan area. North-West Land Water Resources Development Project Sri Lanka. Water Resources Board, Groundwater Division, Colombo

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis J, Herbert R (1988) Hydrogeology of the miocene sedimentary belt of Sri Lanka. J Geol soc Sri Lanka 1:45–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon W, Chiswell B (1992) The use of hydrochemical sections to identify recharge areas and saline intrusions in alluvial aquifers, southeast Queensland. Aust J Hydrol 135(1):259–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gammons CH, Pape BL, Parker SR, Poulson SR, Blank CE (2013) Geochemistry, water balance, and stable isotopes of a “clean” pit lake at an abandoned tungsten mine, Montana, USA. Appl Geochem 36:57–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gat J, Matsui E (1991) Atmospheric water balance in the Amazon Basin: an isotopic evapotranspiration model. J Geophys Res Atmos 1984–2012 96(D7):13179–13188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleick PH (2000) A look at twenty-first century water resources development. Water Int 25(1):127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Global network of isotopes in precipitation-the GNIP database (2004). http://isohis.iaea.org. Accessed 10 Oct 2013

  • Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, vol 2254. Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., pp 263

    Google Scholar 

  • Hidalgo MC, Cruz-Sanjulián J (2001) Groundwater composition, hydrochemical evolution and mass transfer in a regional detrital aquifer (Baza basin, southern Spain). Appl Geochem 16(7):745–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jankowski J, Acworth RI (1997) Impact of Debris-flow deposits on hydrogeochemical processes and the developement of dryland salinity in the Yass River Catchment, New South Wales. Aust Hydrogeol J 5(4):71–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz BG, Coplen TB, Bullen TD, Davis JH (1997) Use of chemical and isotopic tracers to characterize the interactions between ground water and surface water in mantled karst. Ground Water 35(6):1014–1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khaska M, Le Gal La Salle C, Lancelot J, team A, Mohamad A, Verdoux P, Noret A, Simler R (2013) Origin of groundwater salinity (current seawater vs. saline deep water) in a coastal karst aquifer based on Sr and Cl isotopes. Case study of the La Clape massif (southern France). Appl Geochem 37:212–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loáiciga HA, Pingel TJ, Garcia ES (2012) Sea water intrusion by sea-level rise: scenarios for the 21st century. Ground Water 50(1):37–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1987) Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. Am J Sci 287(5):401–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Post V (2005) Fresh and saline groundwater interaction in coastal aquifers: is our technology ready for the problems ahead? Hydrogeol J 13(1):120–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pu T, He Y, Zhang T, Wu J, Zhu G, Chang L (2013) Isotopic and geochemical evolution of ground and river waters in a karst dominated geological setting: a case study from Lijiang basin, South-Asia monsoon region. Appl Geochem 33:199–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajmohan N, Elango L (2004) Identification and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment in an area of the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins. South India. Environ Geol 46(1):47–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebert C, Rosenthal E, Möller P, Rödiger T, Meiler M (2012) The hydrochemical identification of groundwater flowing to the Bet She’an-Harod multiaquifer system (Lower Jordan Valley) by rare earth elements, yttrium, stable isotopes (H, O) and Tritium. Appl Geochem 27(3):703–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small C, Nicholls RJ (2003) A global analysis of human settlement in coastal zones. J Coastal Res 19(3):584–599

    Google Scholar 

  • Vengosh A, Rosenthal E (1994) Saline groundwater in Israel: its bearing on the water crisis in the country. J Hydrol 156(1):389–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vörösmarty CJ, Green P, Salisbury J, Lammers RB (2000) Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth. Science 289(5477):284–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XF, Yakir D (2000) Using stable isotopes of water in evapotranspiration studies. Hydrol Process 14(8):1407–1421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1996) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2nd ed. Health criteria and other supporting information, vol 2. World Health Organization, Geneva

  • WHO (2008) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 3rd Edition, Recommendations, vol 1. World Health Organization, Geneva

  • Wickramaratne U, Davies J (2011) Reconnaissance hydrogeology in Madu area for high-yielding groundwater aquifer. J Geol Soc Sri Lanka 14:55–63

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

AT gratefully acknowledges a Grant from the Deutscher Akademiescher Austausch Dienst (DAAD), Germany, for this work. The authors thank the valuable comments and suggestions of Professors C.B.Dissanayake and Rohan Weerasooriya.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groundwater section, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Thelawala Road, Rathmalana, Sri Lanka

    Asanka Thilakerathne

  2. Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 9, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Asanka Thilakerathne & Christoph Schüth

  3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Rohana Chandrajith

Authors
  1. Asanka Thilakerathne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christoph Schüth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rohana Chandrajith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rohana Chandrajith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thilakerathne, A., Schüth, C. & Chandrajith, R. The impact of hydrogeological settings on geochemical evolution of groundwater in karstified limestone aquifer basin in northwest Sri Lanka. Environ Earth Sci 73, 8061–8073 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3962-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3962-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation