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Spatial assessment of groundwater quality in the Jangseong region, South Korea

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Abstract

A total of 129 groundwater samples were collected in the Jangseong region of South Korea to characterize and evaluate groundwater quality and its suitability for irrigation and domestic uses. Samples were chemically analyzed for major ions, pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids following standard methods. The AquaChem 2014.2 model linked with PHREEQC was used for the statistical analysis and characterization of the hydrochemistry of the groundwater. The analysis showed that in all samples Ca–HCO3 was the leading water type and that the abundance of major cations was in the order Ca > Na > Mg > K, and of anions in the order HCO3 > Cl > SO4 > F. According to the correlation analysis, Ca showed strong interdependence with HCO3, suggesting that these parameters may have originated from common sources. Saturation index calculations indicated that all samples were undersaturated with respect to aragonite, calcite, dolomite, fluorite, gypsum, halite, and siderite, and oversaturated with respect to goethite and hematite. The irrigation suitability analysis revealed that groundwater in the Jangseong area can be used for irrigation without any restrictions based on EC, sodium adsorption ratio, percent sodium, residual sodium carbonate, Kelley ratio, permeability index, and the US Salinity Laboratory diagram analysis. The drinking water suitability analysis made for major parameters by comparison with the WHO guidelines indicates that the groundwater in the area is suitable for drinking except in some samples with high nitrate–N concentrations. The elevated nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are likely an indicator of agricultural pollution.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant (17RDRP-B076272-04) from Infrastructure and Transportation Technology Promotion Research Program funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korean government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction Environment Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Korea

    Mesfin Benti Tolera, Sun Woo Chang & Il-Moon Chung

  2. Hydro Science and Engineering Research Institute, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Goyang, 10223, Korea

    Mesfin Benti Tolera, Sun Woo Chang & Il-Moon Chung

  3. Jeju regional infrastructure technology development center, Jeju Province Development Co., Jeju, 63345, Korea

    Seunghyuk Park

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  1. Mesfin Benti Tolera
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Correspondence to Il-Moon Chung.

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Tolera, M.B., Park, S., Chang, S.W. et al. Spatial assessment of groundwater quality in the Jangseong region, South Korea. Environ Earth Sci 76, 545 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6875-3

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