scholarly journals Hydrochemical peculiarities and groundwater quality assessment of the Birimian and Tarkwaian aquifer systems in Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Boansi Okofo ◽  
Nana Akyerefi Anderson ◽  
Kenneth Bedu-Addo ◽  
Ekua Afrakoma Armoo
Keyword(s):  
Carbonic Acid ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Groundwater Chemistry ◽  
Discharge Zone ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Natural Factor ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Ashanti Region ◽  
Aquifer Systems

AbstractThe Birimian and Tarkwaian aquifer systems are the main sources of water supply for the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality inhabitants in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A hydrogeochemical assessment was carried out to ascertain the natural baseline chemistry of the groundwaters and the factors influencing groundwater chemistry in these two areas. A multivariate statistical tool consisting of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) together with hydrochemical graphical plots was applied on 64 groundwater samples. The Q–mode HCA results were used to explain the changes in groundwater chemistry along the flow paths where three spatial groundwater zones and water types were delineated. The first type consists of Ca–Mg–HCO3 freshwater (recharge zone), which transitions into Ca–Na–HCO3 or Na–Ca–HCO3 mixed waters (intermediate zone) and finally evolves to the third type of Na–Ca–Mg–HCO3–Cl water (discharge zone). The study also reveals that the natural process influencing water chemistry is groundwater–rock interaction from carbonate and silicate weathering/dissolution, aided by carbonic acid from precipitation and releases concentration of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− into the groundwaters significantly. The chloro-alkaline indices also reveal cation exchange as the principal natural factor that controls groundwater chemistry in the area. Inverse geochemical modelling shows the dissolution of primary minerals such as dolomite, plagioclase, halite, gypsum, and precipitation of calcite and chlorite along the groundwater flow path. Anthropogenic activities have little influence on groundwater chemistry. The quality of groundwater in the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality is suitable for irrigational use and drinking water consumption. The results obtained so far will contribute to research paucity in the study area and serve as a guide for decision-makers for improved water resources management.

Hydrochemical peculiarities and groundwater quality assessment of the Birimian and Tarkwaian aquifer systems in Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Boansi Okofo ◽  
Nana Akyerefi Anderson ◽  
Kenneth Bedu-Addo ◽  
Ekua Afrakoma Armoo
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Carbonic Acid ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Groundwater Chemistry ◽  
Discharge Zone ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Ashanti Region ◽  
Aquifer Systems

Abstract The Birimian and Tarkwaian aquifer systems are the main sources of water supply for the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality inhabitants in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A hydrogeochemical assessment was carried out to ascertain the natural baseline chemistry of the groundwaters and the factors influencing groundwater chemistry in these two areas. A multivariate statistical tool consisting of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) together with hydrochemical graphical plots was applied on 64 groundwater samples. The Q–mode HCA results were used to explain the groundwater quality flow paths where three spatial groundwater zones and water types were delineated. The first type consists of Ca–Mg–HCO3 freshwater (recharge zone), which transitions into Ca–Na–HCO3 or Na–Ca–HCO3 mixed waters (intermediate zone) and finally evolve to the third type of Na–Ca–Mg–HCO3–Cl water (discharge zone). The study also reveals that the natural process influencing water chemistry is groundwater–rock interaction from carbonate and silicate weathering/dissolution, aided by carbonic acid from precipitation and releases concentration of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3- into the groundwaters significantly. The chloro-alkaline indices also reveal cation exchange as the principal natural factors that control groundwater chemistry in the area. Anthropogenic activities have little influence on groundwater chemistry. The quality of groundwater in the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality are suitable for irrigational use and drinking water consumption. The results obtained so far will contribute to research paucity in the study area and serve as a guide for decision-makers for improved water resources management.

scholarly journals Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Some Karst Water Sources in Apuseni Mountains, Romania

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 857
Author(s):  
Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽  
Ana Moldovan ◽  
Eniko Kovacs ◽  
Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽  
Marius Kenesz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Karst Water ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Apuseni Mountains ◽  
Karst Waters

Human activities and natural factors determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwaters and their use as drinking water. This study assesses the hydrogeochemical characteristics of 14 karst water sources in the Apuseni Mountains (NW Romania) and their potential use as drinking water sources. As shown by the Durov and by the Piper diagrams, the chemical composition of the waters is typical of karst waters as it is dominated by HCO3− and Ca2+, having a circumneutral to alkaline pH and total dissolved solids ranging between 131 and 1092 mg L−1. The relation between the major ions revealed that dissolution is the main process contributing to the water chemistry. Limestone and dolostone are the main Ca and Mg sources, while halite is the main Na and Cl source. The Gibbs diagram confirmed the rock dominance of the water chemistry. The groundwater quality index (GWQI) showed that the waters are of excellent quality, except for two waters that displayed medium and good quality status. The quality of the studied karst waters is influenced by the geological characteristics, mainly by the water–rock interaction and, to a more limited extent, by anthropogenic activities. The investigated karst waters could be exploited as drinking water resources in the study area. The results of the present study highlight the importance of karst waters in the context of good-quality water shortage but also the vulnerability of this resource to anthropogenic influences.

scholarly journals Shallow Groundwater Quality Assessment and Its Suitability Analysis for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 3361
Author(s):  
Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch ◽  
Wenjing Zhang ◽  
Juanfen Chai ◽  
Shuxin Li ◽  
Muwaffaq Alqurashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Carbonic Acid ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chloride Ions ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Water Type

For shallow groundwater, hydrogeochemical processes and quality assessment must be addressed because shallow groundwater is freely available in many parts of the globe. Due to recent anthropogenic activities and environmental changes in Sakrand, Sindh, Pakistan, the groundwater is extremely vulnerable. To provide safe drinking and agricultural water, hydrogeochemical analysis is required. Ninety-five groundwater samples were analyzed using agricultural and drinking indices to determine the hydrogeochemical parameters using multivariate analysis such as Pearson correlations, principal component cluster analysis, as well as Piper diagrams and Gibbs plot for drinking and agricultural indices. An abundance of ions was observed through the statistical summary; however, cations and anions were recorded in the orders Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3− > F−. The hydrogeochemical process used to quantify the major reactions occurring in the groundwater system showed rock dominance; the Piper diagrams evaluated the water type. A mixed pattern of calcium, magnesium, and chloride ions (Ca2+−Mg2+−Cl− type) was observed. Additionally, the ion exchange method showed an excess of bicarbonate ions due to carbonic acid weathering. The water quality index (WQI) resulted 32.6% of groundwater being unsuitable for human consumption; however, the United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram showed 60% of samples fall in the irrigable category and the Wilcox diagram depicted 5% of samples lying in the unsuitable region. Most of the water samples were suitable for drinking; only a few samples were unsafe for drinking purposes for children due to the high hazard index. High salinity meant some samples were unsuitable for irrigation.

scholarly journals Thermodynamic Computations for Ion Exchange and Surface Protonation Reactions and the Implications for Acid Induced Contact Angle Evolution in Silica Rich Saline Aquifer Systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Mumuni Amadu ◽  
Adango Miadonye
Keyword(s):  
Ion Exchange ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Saline Aquifer ◽  
Geological Storage ◽  
Water Mobility ◽  
Free Energies ◽  
Exchange Reactions ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Aquifer Systems ◽  
Thermodynamic Computations

To reduce current high concentrations of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to levels stipulated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, geological sequestration has been universally proposed. On the basis of cost analysis and global availability, deep saline aquifers are the prime targets for most proposed commercial and pilot scale projects.While the geological storage of anthropogenic carbon dioxide is expected to mitigate global warming, the technical aspects of the injection deserve to be considered for efficient injection projects. The water rock interaction phenomenon occurs due to carbonic acid generation which causes surface protonation reactions and has the potential to decrease water wettability of the system leading to enhanced water mobility and efficient gas injection. Therefore, for a saline aquifer rock with minerals capable of ion exchange reactions that consume solution protons, the wettability of such a system is likely to be preserved leading to reduced water mobility and poor gas injection. Generally, the extents to which surface protonation and ion exchange reactions occur depend on the free energy change of the reaction.In this paper, we have carried out thermodynamic computations for the free energies of surface protonation and ion exchange reactions. Based on the values of computed free energies, which show that ion exchange reactions have lower free energies, we have discussed the wettability implications for geological storage in silica rich saline aquifer systems.

Influences of natural and anthropogenic processes on the groundwater quality in the Dagujia River Basin in Yantai, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henghua Zhu ◽  
Jianwei Zhou ◽  
Tingting Song ◽  
Haibo Feng ◽  
Zhizheng Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Seawater Intrusion ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Natural Processes

Abstract Groundwater plays an important role in water supply and economic development for Yantai city, China. However, the groundwater quality has degraded due to the increase and expansion of agricultural and industrial development. It is urgent to acquire groundwater characteristics and distinguish impacts of natural factors and anthropogenic activities on the groundwater quality. Forty-six groundwater samples collected from different wells showed a great variation of chemical components across the study area. Most wells with higher total dissolved solids, total hardness, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42− concentrations were located relatively close to the coastal zone. The factor analysis (FA) and hierarchical cluster analysis results displayed that seawater intrusion was the primary mechanism controlling the groundwater quality in the coastal areas. A three-factor model was proposed based on the FA and explained over 85% of the total groundwater quality variation: Factor 1, the seawater intrusion; Factor 2, the water–rock interaction and Factor 3 (NO3−), the human activities. Furthermore, the geographical maps of the factor scores clearly described the spatial distributions of wells affected by natural processes or human activities. The study indicated that both natural processes and human activities are the major factors affecting the chemical compositions of groundwater.

Source identification of inrush water based on groundwater hydrochemistry and statistical analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 448-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linhua Sun ◽  
Song Chen ◽  
Herong Gui
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mine ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Source Identification ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Ion Concentrations ◽  
Major Ion ◽  
Aquifer Systems ◽  
Groundwater Hydrochemistry

Water source identification is important for water hazard controlling in coal mines. In this study, major ion concentrations of the groundwater collected from four representative aquifer systems in the Baishan coal mine, northern Anhui Province, China, have been analysed by a series of statistical methods. The results indicate that the major ion concentrations of the groundwater from different aquifer system are different with each other, and provided the possibility of water source identification based on hydrochemistry. Factor analysis indicates that these differences are controlled by different types of water rock interactions. The analysis based on US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Unmix model identified three sources (weathering of silicate minerals, dissolution of carbonate and evaporate minerals) responsible for the hydrochemical variations of the groundwater. Also, it shows that their contributions for the groundwater in different aquifer systems vary considerably. Based on these variations and on step by step analysis, the source aquifer system for the groundwater samples with unknown source has been determined and, similar to the result obtained by the cluster and discriminant analysis. Therefore, EPA Unmix model can be applied for water source identification in coal mine, as it can provide information about water rock interaction and water source identification simultaneously.

scholarly journals The use of Radon (Rn222) isotopes to detect groundwater discharge in streams draining Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifers

Water SA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Strydom ◽  
JM Nel ◽  
M Nel ◽  
RM Petersen ◽  
CL Ramjukadh
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Environmental Isotopes ◽  
Fractured Aquifer ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Water Interaction ◽  
Table Mountain ◽  
Interaction Studies ◽  
Aquifer Systems ◽  
Groundwater Surface Water Interaction

Environmental isotopes have been used for decades as natural tracers in studies aimed at understanding complex hydrogeological processes such as groundwater and surface water interactions. Radon (Rn222) is a naturally occurring, radioactive isotope which is produced from radium (Ra226) during the radioactive decay series of uranium (U238). Since U238 is present in most geological substrates, Rn222 is produced in various lithological structures and subsequently transported with groundwater through fractures and pore spaces in an aquifer towards surface water discharge points in rivers and springs. This study aimed to determine (i) the concentration of Rn222 within both surface water and groundwater in Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer systems, and (ii) the feasibility of using Rn222 isotopes as a natural tracer in groundwater-surface water interaction studies. This study was conducted in a highly fractured TMG aquifer system near Rawsonville, South Africa. Surface water from two perennial rivers (i.e. Gevonden and Molenaars), together with groundwater from a nearby borehole, were sampled and their corresponding Rn222 concentrations measured. Our study found median Rn222 concentrations in the Gevonden River of 76.4 Bq∙L-1 and 67.2 Bq∙L-1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Nearly 12% of surface water samples exceeded 100 Bq∙L-1.  These abnormally high Rn222 concentrations can only be attributed to the influx of groundwater with extremely high Rn222 concentrations. Under ambient (no pumping) conditions, Rn222 concentrations in groundwater range between 130–270 Bq∙L-1. However, when the borehole was pumped, and inflowing water from the surrounding aquifer was sampled, even higher Rn222 concentrations (391–593 Bq∙L-1) were measured. These extremely high Rn222 concentrations in groundwater are believed to be attributed to the underlying granitic geology and the prevalence of faults. The use of Rn222 isotopes as an environmental tracer in groundwater–surface water interaction studies is therefore regarded as a feasible option in similar highly fractured aquifer systems.

scholarly journals Evolution of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the Northern Dvina basin (NW Russia)

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 07016
Author(s):  
Alexander Malov
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Coastal Aquifers ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Groundwater Chemistry ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Calcite Dissolution ◽  
Alkaline Earth Elements ◽  
Northern Dvina Basin ◽  
Hydrolysis Of ◽  
Water Rock Interaction

The specific objective of the study is to clarify the sources and characteristics of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the Northern Dvina basin. It has been established that the chemical composition of fresh water evolves in the direction (Ca-Mg-HCO3) - (Na-HCO3) - (Na-Cl). It is due to successive replacement of the process of calcite dissolution in the recharge area on the watershed i) by the process of hydrolysis of sodium aluminosilicates in the transit zone and ii) by the processes of mixing fresh water with salt water and brines, cation exchange of alkaline earth elements with alkaline elements and dissolution of gypsum near discharge areas at the seashore and in paleovalleys. In the brackish and salty waters the Na/Ca ratio is reduced to 1-4. This indicates that in the aquifers there are other sources of Ca, in addition to the dissolution of gypsum. The most probable process is the hydrolysis of Ca-aluminosilicates, which indicates a significant time of water-rock interaction. The “brackish1” water with TDS 5-6 g·L-1, is particularly distinguished by the degree of modification due to water-rock interaction.

scholarly journals Assessment of groundwater pollution in relation to heavy metals of the alluvial aquifer of Thriasion Plain (NW Attica)

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 731 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kyriazis ◽  
E. Zagana ◽  
G. Stamatis ◽  
F. Fillippidis ◽  
E. Psomiadis
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Karst Aquifer ◽  
Alluvial Aquifer ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Phreatic Aquifer ◽  
Aquifer Systems ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Carbonate Formations ◽  
High Degree

In this study the hydrogeological and hydrochemical characteristics of Thriasion Plain are presented focusing mainly on the presence of heavy metals in the alluvial aquifer. Two main aquifer systems exist in the study area: a) the karst aquifer hosted in the karstified carbonate formations, which structure the bedrock and the margins of the alluvial basin and b) the phreatic aquifer within the Quaternary deposits of the Thriasion Plain. Coastal and submarine groundwater discharges show the direct connection of the aquifers with the sea causing intense salinization in both aquifers. The phreatic aquifer is characterized by high levels of TDS (483 – 13,067 mg/l) and correspondingly high degree of hardness (15.7 to 165.7 odH). High concentrations of Na+, Cl-, SO4 2-, NO3 -, NH4 + and PO4 3- reflect the diverse anthropogenic influences on the aquifer. The strong presence of heavy metals, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn has been determined in the most of the samples. Their origin is associated with geogenic factors, such as the occurrences of bauxites, oxides derived from the alteration of rocks, especially shischts, organic matter within the Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the region, as well as with intense pressures from anthropogenic activities. In some cases the groundwater is improper not only for human consumption but also for many other uses.

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