Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater and Dominant Water-Rock Interactions in Ooeides Aquifer System, North Greece

This paper deals with the assessment of main controls on groundwater chemistry in the aquifer system of Ooeides, Orestiada Region, NE Greece, contributing to the assessment of groundwater and surface water interaction, as well as water-rock interactions in the study area. Statistical analysis and relevant hydrochemical plots were employed in the analysis of groundwater samples from the study area during sampling campaigns for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. The process included the collection and analysis of hydrochemical, hydrological and hydrogeological information and data regarding the aquifer system of the study area. Based on the statistical processing and the spatial analysis of the relevant results of the research, interesting and useful information emerged regarding: i) the recharge procedure of the aquifer from surface water of rivers and streams in the study area;ii) the relationship of groundwater composition with the type of rock through which water flows;iii) the impact on groundwater quality from anthropogenic activities (cultivation activities, municipal waste). From the elaboration of all the above, interesting findings and suggestions came out, which are considered useful for the optimal management of the hydrogeological regime of the study area.

Dynamics of Interaction of Groundwater and Qigai Lake

Study on groundwater and surface water inter-actions is vital to the effective water resources management and aquatic eco-rehabilitation.In this study,measurements of water table and lake stage were conducted in Oigai Lake to study the interaction between groundwater and lake water.Hydrochemical data was also used as an alternative indicator to study the recharge-discharge functions of Qigai lake and groundwater.The study shows that there are two water-table configurations.In the configuration 1,

Isotope Tracking of Surface Water Groundwater Interaction in the Beninese Part of the Iullemeden Aquifer System

The Kandi basin is located in northeast Benin (West Africa). This study is focused on the estimation of water fluxes exchanged between the river Niger (and its tributaries) and the transboundary Iullemeden Aquifer System. In that framework, an innovative approach based on the application of the Bayesian Mixing Model (MixSIAR) analysis on water isotopes (oxygen-18, deuterium and tritium) was performed. Moreover, to assess the relevance of the model outputs, Pearson’s correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been done. A complex relationship between surface water and groundwater has been found. Sixty percent (60%) of groundwater samples are made of more than 70% river water and rainwater;while 31.25% of surface water samples are made of about 84% groundwater. To safeguard sustainable water resources for the well-being of the local communities, surface water and groundwater must be managed as a unique component in the Kandi basin.

Impact of transferred water on the hydrochemistry and water quality of surface water and groundwater in Baiyangdian Lake,North China

The hydrochemical composition of surface water and groundwater is a key parameter for understanding the evolution of water and its quality.In particular,little is known about the impact of transferred water on surface water and groundwater.In this study,Baiyangdian Lake was selected as a typical area for extensive groundwater exploration and surface water transfer in the North China Plain.Surface water and groundwater samples were sampled in dry/wet seasons and then analyzed before/after the water transfer,respectively.Generally,surface water and groundwater are extensively hydrologically connected based on hydrochemical evidence.It was found that the hydrochemical composition of the shallow groundwater is affected by the surface water and that the water quality of the deep groundwater is stable.However,inter-aquifer recharge processes from the shallow groundwater to the deep groundwater existed in the anthropogenic region impacted with high nitrate-ion concentrations.Also,the hydrochemical composition of the surface water and groundwater was dominated by rock-weathering and evaporation-precipitation processes.Due to the existence of the deep vadose zone in the alluvial fan,Na^(+)was exchanged into soil matrices during the leakage of the surface water.In addition,the transferred water resulted in surface water with good quality,and it also played as an important recharge source to groundwater.As the most important water resource for irrigation and drinking,deep groundwater should be paid more attention in the alluvial fan with frequent water transfer and extensive groundwater exploration.

Applying multivariate statistics for identification of groundwater chemistry and qualities in the Sugan Lake Basin, Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

The Sugan Lake Basin is located in the inland arid region of northwestern China,in which groundwater is of great significance to human and ecology.Therefore,it is necessary to understand the chemical characteristics and quality of groundwater in the basin.Based on samples collected from 35 groundwater wells in Sugan Lake Basin,the spatial distribution characteristics of groundwater chemistry,main hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality have been discussed in this paper by using the multivariate statistics and hydrochemistry analysis methods.The results showed that the groundwater is weakly alkaline,and its total dissolved solid(TDS)and total hardness(TH) are high,with the average values of 1244.03 mg/L and 492.10 mg/L,respectively.The types of groundwater are mainly HCO_3^--SO_4^(2-)-Ca^(2+)type in the runoff area and Cl^--SO_4^(2-)-Na^+type in the catchment area.Rock weathering and ion exchange are the main controlling factors of regional groundwater chemistry,followed by evaporative crystallization,and human activities have less impact on groundwater.The spatial difference of groundwater quality is obvious,the water quality of the catchment area is not suitable for drinking,and the suitability for plant growth is also poor.The groundwater in the runoff area can be used for drinking,but the hardness is slightly higher,which is more suitable for ecological purpose.

Groundwater and surface water interactions in an alluvial plain, Tuul River Basin, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Drinking water supplies in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, are completely dependent on groundwater sourced from pumping wells located in an alluvial plain of the Tuul River which flows through Ulaanbaatar. The interaction between groundwater in the alluvial plain and river surface water was investigated using a hydrological and multi-tracers approach. The observed groundwater contour map clearly shows that the Tuul River recharges the floodplain groundwater and groundwater flows from east to west. The similarity of chemical and stable isotopic compositions suggests that groundwater is mainly recharged by Tuul River water in the vicinity of the river. In addition, considering groundwater contours and chemical composition, groundwater in the northern and southern mountain sides contribute to floodplain groundwater. Stable isotopic information suggests that winter season precipita- tion also contributes to the groundwater, because groundwater in a specific region has a considerably lower isotopic ratio. Using the End Member Mixing Analysis applying oxygen-18, SiO2 and HCO3 as tracers, the contribution ratios of the Tuul River, groundwater in the northem and southern mountain regions, and winter season precipitation to floodplain groundwater are esti- mated to be 58% to 85%, 1% to 54%, 0% to 16%, and 0% to 12%, respectively.

Groundwater monitoring of an open-pit limestone quarry:Water-rock interaction and mixing estimation within the rock layers by geochemical and statistical analyses

Water-rock interaction and groundwater mixing are important phenomena in understanding hydrogeological systems and the stability of rock slopes especially those consisting largely of moderately watersoluble minerals like calcite. In this study, the hydrogeological and geochemical evolutions of groundwater in a limestone quarry composed of three strata: limestone layer(covering), interbedded layer under the covering layer, and slaty greenstone layer(basement) were investigated. Water-rock interaction in the open-pit limestone quarry was evaluated using PHREEQC, while hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA)and principal component analysis(PCA) were used to classify and identify water sources responsible for possible groundwater mixing within rock layers. In addition, Geochemist's Workbench was applied to estimate the mixing fractions to clarify sensitive zones that may affect rock slope stability. The results showed that the changes in Ca2+and HCO3àconcentrations of several groundwater samples along the interbedded layer could be attributed to mixing groundwater from the limestone layer and that from slaty greenstone layer. Based on the HCA and PCA results, groundwaters were classified into several types depending on their origin:(1) groundwater from the limestone layer(LO),(2) mixed groundwater flowing along the interbedded layer(e.g., groundwater samples L-7, L-11, S-3 and S-4), and(3) groundwater originating from the slaty greenstone layer(SO). The mixing fractions of 41% LO: 59% SO, 64% LO: 36% SO, 43%LO: 57% SOand 25% LO: 75% SOon the normal days corresponded to groundwaters L-7, L-11, S-3 and S-4,respectively, while the mixing fractions of groundwaters L-7 and L-11(61% LO: 39% SOand 93% LO: 7% SO,respectively) on rainy days became the majority of groundwater originating from the limestone layer.These indicate that groundwater along the interbedded layer significantly affected the stability of rock slopes by enlarging multi-breaking zones in the layer through calcite dissolution and inducing high water pressure, tension cracks and potential sliding plane along this layer particularly during intense rainfall episodes.

Mass balance of saline lakes considering inflow loads of rivers and groundwater: the case of Lake Issyk-Kul, Central Asia

This study aimed to elucidate the influence of inflow water on the salinity concentration process of a saline lake and the mass balance of Lake Issyk-Kul,a tectonic saltwater lake in Kyrgyzstan.Based on the survey results and meteorological data from 2012 to 2015,we analyzed the dissolved chemical composition loads due to water inflow.Then,we discussed the relationship between the increase in salinity and water inflow into the lake.Through the water quality analysis data,we used the tank model to estimate the river inflow and analyze the loads by the L-Q curve.The groundwater loads were then estimated from the average annual increase in salinity of the lake over a period of 30 a.The results suggest that Lake Issyk-Kul was temporarily freshened between about AD 1500 and 1800 when an outflowing river existed,and thereafter,it became a closed lake in AD 1800 and continued to remain a saline lake until present.The chemical components that cause salinization are supplied from the rivers and groundwater in the catchment area,and when they flow into the lake,Ca^(2+),HCO_(3)−and Mg^(2+)precipitate as CaCO_(3) and MgCO_(3).These compounds were confirmed to have been left on the lakeshore as evaporite.The model analysis showed that 1.67 mg/L of Ca^(2+)and Mg^(2+)supplied from rivers and groundwater are precipitated as evaporite and in other forms per year.On the other hand,salinity continues to remain in the lake water at a rate of 27.5 mg/L per year.These are the main causes of increased salinity in Lake Issyk-Kul.Since Na^(+)and Cl^(-)are considered to be derived from geothermal water,they will continue to flow in regardless of the effects of human activities.Therefore,as long as these components are accumulated in Lake Issyk-Kul as a closed lake,the salinity will continue to increase in the future.

Stable isotopes of water as a tracer for revealing spatial and temporal characteristics of groundwater recharge surrounding Qinghai Lake,China

Studying spatial and temporal characteristics of regional groundwater recharge will guide the scientific management and sustainable development of regional water resources.This study investigated stable isotopes(δ^(18)O and δ^(2) H)of precipitation,groundwater,river water and lake water during 2019-2020 in Qinghai Lake Basin to reveal the spatial and temporal characteristics of groundwater recharge.The local meteoric water line was simulated using ordinary least squares regression(δ^(2) H=7.80δ^(18)O+10.60).The local evaporation lines of the river water,lake water and groundwater were simulated asδ^(2) H=6.21δ^(18)O-0.72,δ^(2) H=5.73δ0-3.60 and δ^(2) H=6.59δ0+1.76,respectively.The δ^(2) H and δ^(18)O of river water and groundwater were in more depleted values due to the recharge by precipitation at high altitudes or precipitation effects,and theδ^(2) H andδ^(18)O of the lake water were in more enriched values because of evaporation.The relationship between the δ^(2) H and δ^(18)O of groundwater and river water was not significantly different,indicating a strong hydrological connection between the groundwater and river water surrounding Qinghai Lake.Additionally,the maximum values of δ^(18)O and the minimum values of lc-excess of groundwater in most regions were both in August,and the minimum values of δ^(18)O and the maximum values of lc-excess of groundwater in most regions were both in October.Therefore,the groundwater was recharged by soil water with strong evaporation in August and recharged by precipitation at high altitudes in October.The recharge rate of groundwater was relatively fast in areas with large slopes and large hydraulic gradients(e.g.,south of Qinghai Lake),and in areas with strong hydrological connections between the groundwater and river water(e.g.,the Buha River Valley).Those results can provide data support for protection and utilization of water resources in Qinghai Lake Basin,and provide reference for groundwater research in closed lake basins on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Linking bacterial and archaeal community dynamics to related hydrological,geochemical and environmental characteristics between surface water and groundwater in a karstic estuary

Subterranean estuaries(STEs)are characterized by the mixing of terrestrial fresh groundwater and seawater in coastal aquifers.Although microorganisms are important components of coastal groundwater ecosystems and play critical roles in biogeochemical transformations in STEs,limited information is available about how their community dynamics interact with hydrological,geochemical and environmental characteristics in STEs.Here,we studied bacterial and archaeal diversities and distributions with 16S rRNA-based Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology between surface water and groundwater in a karstic STE.Principal-coordinate analysis found that the bacterial and archaeal communities in the areas where algal blooms occurred were significantly separated from those in other stations without algal bloom occurrence.Canonical correspondence analysis showed that nutrients and salinity can explain the patterns of bacterial and archaeal community dynamics.The results suggest that hydrological,geochemical and environmental characteristics between surface water and groundwater likely control the bacterial and archaeal diversities and distributions in STEs.Furthermore,we found that some key species can utilize terrestrial pollutants such as nitrate and ammonia in STEs,indicating that these species(e.g.,Nitrosopumilus maritimus,Limnohabitans parvus and Simplicispira limi)may be excellent candidates for in situ degradation/remediation of coastal groundwater contaminations concerned with the nitrate and ammonia.Overall,this study reveals the coupling relationship between the microbial communities and hydrochemical environments in STEs,and provides a perspective of in situ degradation/remediation for coastal groundwater quality management.

Hydrogeological Investigations of Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions in the Berg River Catchment, Western Cape, South Africa

The Berg River Catchment based in the Western Cape Province,South Africa services the greater Cape Town area with water,subsequent to supplying the vast agricultural activities that exist in the middle and the lower reaches.This study thus investigates the hydrogeochemical interactions between surface and groundwater in the Berg River Catchment with the aim of establishing trends and transfer of constituents between the surface and groundwater systems,investigates the role that geology plays in water chemistry as well as identifies the geochemical processes controlling surface and groundwater chemistry in the catchment.This study was carried out using three types of research designs namely i)experimental research design;ii)field research design and meta-analysis research design.Furthermore,the study made use of hydrochemical data ranging from 2003 to 2013 obtained from the National Water Monitoring Database owned and maintained by the Department of Water and Sanitation and data that were sampled in 2016 by authors and analyzed using the ICP-MS Technique Ground Water Chart,Arc-GIS and Geosoft(Oasis Montaj)were further employed to model the data.The results indicated that:i)in the Upper Berg there is not much interaction and transfer of constituents between surface and groundwater;ii)the Middle Berg,however,indicated a degree of interaction with the sharing of constituents between the two water systems and iii)the Lower Berg indicated only NaCl water type also noting that the area situated near the river mouth whereby there is the mixing of river and seawater.

GIS-Hydrogeochemical Model of the YaoundéFractured Rock Aquifer, Cameroon: Aquifer Setting, Seasonal Variations in Groundwater-Rock Interaction and Water Quality

This study of the gneiss-fractured-rock aquifer in Yaoundé capital of Cameroon determines: the aquifer setting-flow systems, the aquifer type, seasonal variations in rock-water interactions, evolution of the hydrogeochemical processes, physicochemical parameters and the suitability for domestic-agro-industrial use of the groundwater. Physicochemical field tests were carried out on 445 wells during four seasons for EC, pH, TDS, Temperature and static water level from July 2016 to May 2017. 90 well samples were analyzed 45 samples per season: wet/dry. 38 borewell logs were used together with structural data to determine the aquifer setting. The field physico-chemical and laboratory analysis data of well samples were mounted unto various GIS software platforms: Global mapper, AqQa, Aquachem, Rockworks, Logplot7, Surfer and ArcGIS, to get indices/parameters/figures, by use of Durov’s, Piper’s and Gibbs diagrams, Water quality index WQI, USSL ratio, Sodium Absorption ratio SAR, Percent sodium %Na, Kelly Ratio KR, Magnesium Absorption Ratio MAR, Total Hardness TH, Residual Sodium Carbonate RSC and Permeability Index PI that were determined. The process of groundwater ions acquisition is three-fold: by recharge through atmospheric precipitation, by ion exchange/simple dissolution between the rock-groundwater and by groundwater mixing in its flow path. Water types are Ca-HCO3, Mg-HCO3 and Mg-Cl while hydrogeochemical facies are Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4. Most water samples are fresh, potable and soft all seasons. The hydrogeological conceptual model is that of a three-layered single phreatic fractured-rock-aquifer while other researchers postulated a two-aquifer, phreatic and semi-confined, two-layered model.

Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotopes of Waters in the Ordos Basin,China:Implications for Recharge of Groundwater in the North of Cretaceous Groundwater Basin

Hundreds of precipitation samples collected from meteorological stations in the Ordos Basin from January 1988 to December 2005 were used to set up a local meteoric water line and to calculate weighted average isotopic compositions of modern precipitation. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, with averages of-7.8‰ and -53.0‰ for δ^18O and δD, respectively, are depleted in winter and rich in spring, and gradually decrease in summer and fall, illustrating that the seasonal effect is considerable. They also show that the isotopic difference between south portion and north portion of the Ordos Basin are not obvious, and the isotope in the middle portion is normally depleted. The isotope compositions of 32 samples collected from shallow groundwater （less than a depth of 150 m） in desert plateau range from -10.6‰ to -6.0‰ with an average of-8.4‰ for δ^18O and from -85‰ to -46‰ with an average of-63‰ for δD. Most of them are identical with modern precipitation. The isotope compositions of 22 middle and deep groundwaters （greater than a depth of 275 m） fall in ranges from -11.6‰ to -8.8‰ with an average of -10.2‰ for δ^18O and from -89‰ to -63‰ with an average of -76‰ for δD. The average values are significantly less than those of modern precipitation, illustrating that the middle and deep groundwaters were recharged at comparatively lower air temperatures. Primary analysis of ^14C shows that the recharge of the middle and deep groundwaters started at late Pleistocene. The isotopes of 13 lake water samples collected from eight lakes define a local evaporation trend, with a relatively flat slope of 3.77, and show that the lake waters were mainly fed by modern precipitation and shallow groundwater.

Hydrochemical characteristics and water quality evaluation of shallow groundwater in Suxian mining area,Huaibei coalfield,China

The aim of this study is to evaluate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water environmental quality of shallow groundwater in the Suxian mining area of Huaibei coalfield,China.The natural formation process of shallow groundwater in Suxian is explored using Piper trilinear charts and Gibbs diagrams,and by examining the ratios between the major ions.United States Salinity Laboratory(USSL)charts,Wilcox diagrams,and the water quality index(WQI)are further employed to quantify the differences in water quality.The results reveal that the main hydrochemical facies of groundwater are HC03-Ca,and that silicate dissolution is the main factor controlling the ion content in shallow groundwater.The USSL charts and Wilcox diagrams show that most of the water samples would be acceptable for use in irrigation systems.The WQI results for each water sample are compared and analyzed,and the quality of groundwater samples around collapse ponds is found to be relatively poor.

Impacts of climate change and human activities on water resources in the Ebinur Lake Basin, Northwest China

Changing climatic conditions and extensive human activities have influenced the global water cycle.In recent years,significant changes in climate and land use have degraded the watershed ecosystem of the Ebinur Lake Basin in Xinjiang,Northwest China.In this paper,variations of runoff,temperature,precipitation,reference evapotranspiration,lake area,socio-economic water usage,groundwater level and water quality in the Ebinur Lake Basin from 1961 to 2015 were systematically analyzed by the Mann-Kendall test methods(M-K)mutation test,the cumulative levelling method,the climate-sensitive method and land-use change index.In addition,we evaluated the effects of human activities on land use change and water quality.The results reveal that there was a significant increase in temperature and precipitation from 1961 to 2015,despite a decrease in reference evapotranspiration.The Wenquan station was not significantly affected by human activities as it is situated at a higher altitude.Runoff at this station increased significantly with climate warming.In contrast,runoff at the Jinghe station was severely affected by numerous human activities.Runoff decreased without obvious fluctuations.The contributions of climate change to runoff variation at the Jinghe and Wenquan stations were 46.87%and 58.94%,respectively;and the contributions of human activities were 53.13%and 41.06%,respectively.Land-use patterns in the basin have changed significantly between 1990 and 2015:urban and rural constructed lands,saline-alkali land,bare land,cultivated land,and forest land have expanded,while areas under grassland,lake,ice/snow and river/channel have declined.Human activities have dramatically intensified land degradation and desertification.From 1961 to 2015,both the inflow into the Ebinur Lake and the area of the lake have declined year by year;groundwater levels have dropped significantly,and the water quality has deteriorated during the study period.In the oasis irrigation area below the runoff pass,human activities mainly influenced the utilization mode and quantity of water resources.Changes in the hydrology and quantity of water resources were driven primarily by the continuous expansion of cultivated land and oasis,as well as the growth of population and the construction of hydraulic engineering projects.After 2015,the effects of some ecological protection projects were observed.However,there was no obvious sign of ecological improvement in the basin,and some environmental problems continue to persist.On this basis,this study recommends that the expansion of oasis should be limited according to the carrying capacity of the local water bodies.Moreover,in order to ensure the ecological security of the basin,it is necessary to determine the optimal oasis area for sustainable development and improve the efficiency of water resources exploitation and utilization.

Research on mechanism of groundwater pollution from mine water in abandoned mines

In order to understand the mechanism and regularity of the groundwater contamination from mine water of abandoned mines, experiments were conducted on an abandoned coal mine in Fuxin, a representative city with lots of mine water in northeast China. The groundwater pollution from different contaminants of coal-mining voids （total hardness, SO4^2-, CI^- and total Fe） and pollution factors transportation situation in the coal rock were simulated by soil column experiment under the conditions of mine water leaching and main water leaching （similar to rainwater leaching）, and the water-rock interaction mechanism was discussed during mine water infiltration through saturated coal rock by application of principle of mass conservation, based on physical properties of coal rock, as well as monitored chemical composition. The results show that, compared with the clear water leaching process, trends of change in pollutant concentrations presented different characteristics in the mine water leaching process. Groundwater is contaminated by the water rock interactions such as migration ＆ accumulation, adsorption ＆ transformation, dissolution ＆ desorption and ion exchange during the mine water permeation. The experiments also suggest that at first dissolution rate of some kinds of dissoluble salts is high, but it decreases with leaching time, even to zero during both the mine water leaching and main water leaching.

Contrasting sorption behaviours affecting groundwater arsenic concentration in Kandal Province,Cambodia

Natural arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater which provides drinking water and/or irrigation supplies remains a major public health issue,particularly in South and Southeast Asia.A number of studies have evaluated various aspects of the biogeochemical controls on As mobilization in aquifers typical to this region,however many are predicated on the assumption that key biogeochemical processes may be deduced by sampled water chemistry.The validity of this assumption has not been clearly established even though the role of sorption/desorption of As and other heavy metals onto Fe/Mn (hydr) oxides is an important control in As mobilization.Here,selective chemical extractions of sand-rich and clay-rich sediments from an As-affected aquifer in Kandal Province,Cambodia,were undertaken to explore the potential role of partial re-equilibrium through sorption/desorption reactions of As and related solutes (Fe,Mn and P) between groundwater and the associated solid aquifer matrix.In general,groundwater As is strongly affected by both pH and Eh throughout the study area.However,contrasting sorption behaviour is observed in two distinct sand-dominated (T-Sand) and clay dominated (T-Clay) transects,and plausibly attributed to differing dominant lithologies,biogeochemical and/or hydrogeological conditions.Sorption/desorption processes appear to be re-setting groundwater As concentrations in both transects,but to varying extents and in different ways.In T-Sand,which is typically highly reducing,correlations suggest that dissolved As may be sequestered by sorption/re-adsorption to Fe-bearing mineral phases and/or sedimentary organic matter;in T-Clay Eh is a major control on As mobilization although binding/occlusion of Fe-bearing minerals to sedimentary organic matter may also occur.Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with groups categorised by transect and by Eh,and the output correlations support the contrasting sorption behaviours encountered in this study area.Irrespective of transect,however,the key biogeochemical processes which initially control As mobilization in such aquifers,may be “masked” by the re-setting of As concentrations through in-aquifer sorption/desorption processes.

Groundwater contributions in water-salt balances of the lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert,China

Groundwater-fed lakes are essential for the ecology in arid and semiarid regions.As a typical arid region,the Badain Jaran Desert （BJD） is famous in the world for the presence of a large number of groundwater-fed saline lakes among the mega dunes.Based on the up to date geological surveys and observations,this study analyzed the groundwater contributions in water-salt balances of the lakes in the desert.We found different types of springs,including the sublacustrine springs that indicate an upward flow of groundwater under the lakebed.A simplified water balance model was developed to analyze the seasonal variations of water level in the Sumu Barun Jaran Lake,which revealed an approximately steady groundwater discharge in the lake and explained why the amplitude of seasonal changes in lake level is less than 0.5 m.In addition,a salt balance model was developed to evaluate the salt accumulations in the groundwater-fed lakes.The relative salt accumulation time is 800–7,000 years in typical saline lakes,which were estimated from the concentration of Cl-,indicating a long history evolution for the lakes in the BJD.Further researches are recommended to provide comprehensive investigations on the interactions between the lakes and groundwater in the BJD.

Recharge to Blue Lake and Strategies for Water Security Planning, Mount Gambier, South Australia

Blue Lake, a volcanic crater provides municipal water supply to the city of Mount Gambier, population of 26,000. Current average annual pumping from the lake is 3.6 × 106 m3. The lake is fed by karstic unconfined Gambier Limestone aquifer. Storm water of the city discharges to the aquifer via about 400 drainage wells and three large sinkholes. Average annual storm water discharge is estimated at approximately 6.6 × 106 m3 through drainage wells and sinkholes within 16.8 km2 of the central part of the city. Chemical mass balance for calcium was used to estimate groundwater inflow to the lake at 6.3 × 106 m3, almost equal to the volume of storm water discharge and slightly higher than the previous estimates using environmental isotopes (4.8 - 6.0 × 106 m3). Considering the lake outflow volume of 2.7 × 106 m3, the net inflow to the lake equates to the current annual pumping and therefore it is considered that the current pumping rate is at the upper limit. For meeting the short-term future demand, confined aquifer water may be used and in the longerterm, an additional well field is required outside the Blue Lake capture zone, preferably to the north-east of the city. For water supply security, inflow to the lake along with water quality has to be maintained within the city. Current annual private abstraction within the capture zone is about 4.4 × 106 m3 and in order to maintain aquifer water levels, no additional allocation should be allowed.

Groundwater Flow Patterns and Hydrochemical Facies Distribution Using Geographical Information System (GIS) in Damaturu, Northeast Nigeria

The present study attempts to define the relationship between groundwater flow systems and the distribution of chemical facies with the aid of Geographical Information System (GIS). The study also identifies the different geochemical processes responsible for the chemical evolution of groundwater chemistry. Analytical results of 23 groundwater samples reveal mean values of cations as Na+ (84.2 mg/l), K+ (4.2 mg/l), Ca2+ (27 mg/l), Mg2+ (11.5 mg/l) and Fe2+ (0.6 mg/l). The anion mean values are HCO3– (4.5 mg/l), SO42– (3.7 mg/l), Cl– (22.5 mg/l) and NO3– (2.2 mg/l). Based on mean values, the cations are in order of abundance as Na+ > Ca2+> Mg2+ > K+ > Fe2+ while the anions reveal order of abundance as Cl– > HCO3– > SO42– > NO3– . The geographical information system (GIS) using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) delineate two groundwater zones into: Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Na-SO4-Cl water types. The Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl constitutes about 35% of the chemical facies and its evolutionary trend is due to simple hydrochemical mixing between Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Na-SO4-Cl facies and reverse cation exchange. The Na-SO4-Cl facies constitutes about 65% of the chemical facies and represents fossil groundwater. The Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl facies is dominant in the recharge areas while Na-SO4-Cl facies prevails in discharge areas. Rock-water interaction diagrams indicate precipitation induced chemical weathering along with dissolution of rock-forming minerals. The scattered plots among ions revealed geochemical processes as carbonate weathering, silicate weathering, cation exchange and sulphate reduction. HCA identified effects of rock-water interaction and anthropogenic effects as responsible for the modification of groundwater chemistry in the area.