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A hydrogeochemical approach to evaluate the occurrence and source of salinization in the shallow aquifers of the southeastern Imphal valley in the Indo-Myanmar range of Northeast India

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Abstract

The Imphal valley is an intramontane basin confined within an anticlinorium of several anticlines and synclines in the Disang Group of rocks of Tertiary age. This valley of more than 2 million people is occupied by fluvio-lacustrine deposits of Quaternary age and is located in the central part of the Indo-Myanmar range of Northeast India. The hydrogeochemical parameters of temperature, pH, ORP, TDS, Na, Cl, Br, Ba, B, Sr, Li, δ18O, HCO3, K, Mg, Ca, NO3, PO4, SO4 in 173 samples using ion-chromatograph, ICP (AES), ICP (OES), ICP (MS) and 37 dugwells were studied to understand the occurrence and origin of salinization process for the first time. The order of abundance of ions is identified as HCO3 > Na > Cl > Ca > Mg > K > NO3 > PO4 > Sr > Br > B>Ba > Li > SO4. Five hydrochemical facies (Na–Cl, Ca–Mg–HCO3, Na–HCO3, Ca–Mg–HCO3–Cl and Ca–Mg–Cl) represent the types of waters. The saline-dominated water types (Na–Cl and Na–HCO3) represent piedmont and the rest of the facies represent alluvial plain and flood plain groundwaters. Durov’s diagram reveales initial and intermediate stages of groundwater evolution. Isotope δ18O, Gibbs diagram and ions scatter plots suggest evaporation and crystallization processes leading to halite encrustation in the Disang shales. Negative Eh, low NO3 and the absence of SO4 indicates reduced condition coupled with rich dissolve organic matters leading to elevation of salts in soils around piedmont where the rock type is exclusively of the Disang shales. Trilinear plot, correlation matrix and water table flow analysis suggest salinization of groundwater originates in piedmont groundwater and disseminates towards alluvial plain and flood plain along the flow path.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the directors of National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, India and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India for allowing our samples for analytical tests. Special thanks to Dr. Rama Mohan Kurakalva, Senior Scientist, Environmental Geochemistry Group, NGRI for his precious guidance and support during the laboratory procedure.

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  1. Department of Earth Science, Assam University, Silchar, 788011, India

    K. S. Kshetrimayum & Laxmi Thokchom

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Kshetrimayum, K.S., Thokchom, L. A hydrogeochemical approach to evaluate the occurrence and source of salinization in the shallow aquifers of the southeastern Imphal valley in the Indo-Myanmar range of Northeast India. Environ Earth Sci 76, 714 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7036-4

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