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Impact of anthropogenic activities on the chemistry and quality of groundwater: a case study from a terrain near Zarand City, Kerman Province, SE Iran

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Abstract

Groundwater of an aquifer located in the vicinity of a large coal washery near Zarand City, Iran consists of two hydrochemically differing facies, which have been informally designated as groundwater (A) and groundwater (B). Groundwater (A) is native, brackish in composition and is characterized by Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ and SO4 2− > HCO3 − > Cl− > NO3 −. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient matrices, factor analysis data, and values of chloro-alkaline indices, C ratio and Na+/Cl− molar ratio indicate that in the groundwater (A), the ionic load of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO4 2− and HCO3 − is derived essentially from weathering of both carbonates and aluminosilicates and direct cation and reverse cation–anion exchange reactions. Groundwater (B) is the polluted variant of the groundwater (A), brackish to saline in composition, and unlike the groundwater (A), consists of HCO3 − as the dominant anion. In comparison with the groundwater (A), the groundwater (B) contains higher concentrations of all ions, and its average ionic load (av. = 59.74 me/L) is 1.43 times higher than that of the groundwater (A) (av. = 41.54 me/L). Additional concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, SO4 2−, Cl− and HCO3 − in the groundwater (B) are provided mainly by downward infiltrating water from the coal washery tailings pond and reverse cation–anion exchange reaction between tailings pond water and exchanger of the aquifer matrix during non-conservative mixing process of groundwater (A) and tailings pond water. Certain additional concentrations of Na+, K+ and NO3 − in the groundwater (B) are provided by other anthropogenic sources. Quality wise, both groundwaters are marginally suitable for cultivation of salt-tolerant crops only.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. B. Krishna Rao for his guidance and critical examination of the earlier version of the manuscript and to K. Sridhar Raje Urs for the help during the preparation of the illustrations. First author is thankful to A. Damangir and A. Babaki, Environment Protection Organization, Kerman Province and to M. Moghadam, Zarand coal washery for providing logistic support during field investigation in Iran. Constructive criticism and suggestions from an anonymous reviewer have helped in improving the quality of the manuscript for which the authors wish to thank him through the present publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Studies in Earth Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570006, India

    S. M. Moosavirad & Houshang Khairy

  2. Department of Earth Science and Resource Management, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, Mysore, 570005, India

    M. R. Janardhana

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  1. S. M. Moosavirad
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  2. M. R. Janardhana
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Correspondence to M. R. Janardhana.

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Moosavirad, S.M., Janardhana, M.R. & Khairy, H. Impact of anthropogenic activities on the chemistry and quality of groundwater: a case study from a terrain near Zarand City, Kerman Province, SE Iran. Environ Earth Sci 69, 2451–2467 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2072-6

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