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Evaluating groundwater level and water-quality variation in Oshnaveh–Naqadeh Plain, Urmia Lake basin, northwestern Iran

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Abstract

The groundwater depth and water-quality deterioration were evaluated at the Oshnaveh–Naqadeh Plain southwest of Urmia lake basin. During the 16 years from 2000 to 2016, groundwater levels dropped 3–16 m in the Naqadeh plain. In western parts of Oshnaveh, groundwater levels dropped about 16–25 m. To detect the reverse relation of water level and water quality with digging of wells or over exhausting of water, EC and SAR of the 78 wells located at the western parts of lake have been investigated, The exponential kriging generated a better spatial zoning of EC and SAR variation map of groundwater at two studied periods between 2000–2004 and 2012–2016. This study indicates that the higher values of EC more than 3000 µm/L are concentrated at the southwestern border of Urmia Lake. The spatial zoning of SAR map of groundwater values was higher in these wells than in others. The land-use map showed about 70% of this area is used for horticulture and agriculture; these lands are exposed to Urmia Lake salinity and water-level variations, the water quality in the wells of these parts is in poorer condition. The trend line of the slope of water quantity is negative, which implies that the situation of the lake and the water quality and quantity in the basin are worsening.

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Acknowledgements

It is author pleasure and duty to acknowledge all of those who have been directly or indirectly involved in this project. The author wish to acknowledge first of all to Tebe Shafei Oshnaveh MSc. in Environmental Science graduated at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University for his help and providing local water data set. The author would like to have thanks to the authorities of west Azerbaijan Regional water Agency for providing local water well data set. Author would like thanks Members of the Board of Directors of Scientific Association of Environmental Education and Sustainable development EESD https://www.srttu.edu/environment/ for ethical approval of performing the project and monitoring its implementation process. This project approved in Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, so it is our duty thanks all of the staff of this institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

    J. Valiallahi

  2. Scientific Association of Environment Education and Sustainable Development, Tehran, Iran

    J. Valiallahi

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  1. J. Valiallahi
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Correspondence to J. Valiallahi.

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Valiallahi, J. Evaluating groundwater level and water-quality variation in Oshnaveh–Naqadeh Plain, Urmia Lake basin, northwestern Iran. Int J Energ Water Res 4, 27–35 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-019-00048-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-019-00048-2

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