Abstract
The Cambrian-Vendian groundwater body plays an important role in drinking water supply of capital Tallinn and other settlements in northern Estonia. Water quality in this deep-seated confined groundwater body is influenced by the intrusion of present-day seawater and pumping-induced upward migration of deeper saline groundwater. The aim of this study is to evaluate the threshold values applying the methodology worked out within the EU 6th FP project “Background criteria for the identification of groundwater thresholds (BRIDGE)” and to compare the results with the values proposed by local authorities. A database containing 250 monitoring points was completed and used for the calculation of natural background levels (as the 90 and 97.7 percentile) in groundwater. The calculation of threshold values is based on natural background levels and reference values. In case of Cambrian-Vendian groundwater body the receptor is drinking water, thus limit values set by Estonian drinking water standard were used as reference values. The threshold values proposed by local authorities are more or less the same as calculated by BRIDGE methodology. Exceptionally different values are derived in case of chloride and ammonium.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boldõreva N, Perens R, Savitski L (2002) Põhjavee seisund (State of groundwater). In: Roose A (ed) Eesti Keskkonnaseire 2001 (Estonian environmental monitoring 2001). Tartu University Press, Tartu, pp 37–46
Custodio E (2002) Aquifer overexploitation: what does it mean? Hydrogeol J 10:254–277
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official J L 327:1–73
Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration. Official J L 372:19–31
Karro E, Marandi A (2003) Mapping of potentially hazardous elements in Cambrian-Vendian aquifer system, northern Estonia. Bull Geol Soc Finl 75:17–27
Karise V (1997) Composition and properties of groundwater under natural conditions. In: Raukas A, Teedumäe A (eds) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia. Estonian Academy Publishers, Tallinn, pp 152–156
Karro E, Marandi A, Vaikmäe R (2004) The origin of increased salinity in the Cambrian-Vendian aquifer system on the Kopli Peninsula, northern Estonia. Hydrogeol J 12:424–435
Koistinen T, Klein V, Koppelmaa H, Lahtinen R, Nironen M, Puura V, Saltykova T, Tikhomirov S, Yanovskiy A (1996) Paleoproterozoic Svecofennian orogenic belt in the surroundings of the Gulf of Finland. In: Koistinen T (eds) Explanation to the Map of Precambrian basement of the Gulf of Finland and surrounding area 1:1 million. Geological Survey of Finland, Special Paper 21:21–57
Maves (2005) Quality requirements, threshold values of human induced pollutants and indicators of groundwater pollution, and the estimation of trends and trend reversal points for the assessment of the chemical status of groundwater body. AS Maves, Report 5011, in the Ministry of the Environment
MoE (2005) Compliance with the Requirements of Article 5 of the Water Framework Directive in Estonia. Summary Report of River Basin Districts. West-Estonian River Basin District, East-Estonian River Basin District, Koiva River Basin District. Ministry of the Environment, Tallinn, 46 p
Mokrik R (1997) The palaeohydrogeology of the Baltic Basin. Tartu University Press, Tartu, 138 p
Müller D, Blum A, Hart A, Hookey J, Kunkel R, Scheidleder A, Tomlin C and Wendland F (2006) Final proposal for a methodology to set up groundwater threshold values in Europe. BRIDGE deliverable D18. http://www.wfd-bridge.net
Perens R (1998) Explanatory note to the hydrogeological map of Estonia 1:400 000. Estonian Geological Survey, Tallinn, 40 p
Perens R, Vallner L (1997) Water-bearing formation. In: Raukas A, Teedumäe A (eds) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia. Estonian Academy Publishers, Tallinn, pp 137–145
Perens R, Savva V, Lelgus M, Parm T (2001) The hydrogeochemical atlas of Estonia (CD version). Geological Survey of Estonia, Tallinn
Quevauviller P (2005) Groundwater monitoring in the context of EU legislation: reality and integration needs. J Environ Monit 7:89–102
Raukas A, Teedumäe A (1997) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia Estonian. Academy Publishers, Tallinn
Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs of 31.07.2001 no 82. Quality and control requirements for potable water and methods for analyses. RTL 100:1369
Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs of 02.01.2003 no 1. Quality and control requirements for surface and ground water intended for the water supply. RTL 9:100
Regulation of the Minister of the Environment No 47 of 10.05.2004. Water classes of groundwater bodies, values of the quality indicators complying with the water classes of groundwater bodies and the procedure for defining water classes. RTL 64:1057
Savitski L (2001) Põhjaveeseire Balti Laevaremonditehase veehaardel 2001. a. (Groundwater monitoring at the groundwater supply plant of Baltic Ship Repairers in 2001). Geological Survey of Estonia, Report of Investigation 7316
Tavast E (1997) Bedrock topography. In: Raukas A, Teedumäe A (eds) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia. Estonian Academy Publishers, Tallinn, pp 252–255
Vaikmäe R, Vallner L, Loosli HH, Blaser PC, Juillard-Tardent M (2001) Palaeogroundwater of glacial origin in the Cambrian-Vendian aquifer of northern Estonia. In: Edmunds WM, Milne CJ (eds) Palaeowaters of coastal Europe: evolution of groundwater since the late Pleistocene. Geological Society, London, pp 17–27, Special Publications 189
Vallner L (1997) Groundwater flow. In: Raukas A, Teedumäe A (eds) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia. Estonian Academy Publishers, Tallinn, pp 145–152
Vallner L (2003) Hydrogeological model of Estonia and its applications. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 52:179–192
Vallner L, Savitskaja L (1997) Groundwater extraction and safe yield. In: Raukas A, Teedumäe A (eds) Geology and mineral resources of Estonia. Estonian Academy Publishers, Tallinn, pp 159–162
Yezhova M, Polyakov V, Tkachenko A, Savitski L, Belkina V (1996) Palaeowaters of North Estonia and their influence on changes of resources and the quality of fresh groundwaters of large coastal water supplies. Geologija 19:37–40
Acknowledgments
Activities described in this paper were financed by the 6th Framework program project BRIDGE “Background cRiteria for the IDentification of Groundwater thrEsholds” (Contract No 006538 (SSPI)). Many individuals and organizations have contributed to the development of the BRIDGE methodology; therefore, the authors are grateful to all BRIDGE partners.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marandi, A., Karro, E. Natural background levels and threshold values of monitored parameters in the Cambrian-Vendian groundwater body, Estonia. Environ Geol 54, 1217–1225 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0904-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0904-6