Document Type : Original research article

Authors

• Eebrahim Yousefi Mobarhan ¹
• Ebrahim Karimi Sangchini ²
• Sakineh Lotfinasabasl ³

¹ Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Semnan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Semnan, Iran.

² Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Lorestan, Iran

³ Desert Research Department, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Chemical quality is a significant and determining factor in a variety of water applications. Understanding the characteristics of subterranean water is regarded as a viable instrument for assessing water resource management. o determine the chemical quality of the groundwater in the Ghorove– Dehgolan aquifer, as well as to examine changes over three statistical periods (2001–2018), the basin was sampled for the following chemical parameters: electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, sodium absorption ratio, bicarbonate, carbonate, chlorine, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Information from 276 exploitation sources on an annual scale pertaining to an 18-year statistical period was utilized to accomplish the objectives. The geographic information system (GIS) and the geostatistical interpolation method were utilized to determine the distribution of effective variables in the quality of industrial consumption in order to generate quality zoning maps of water consumption utilizing the Langelier index and the available data for the study area. The analysis of water quality variables revealed that the aquifer exhibited the highest values of electrical conductivity (669 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (430 mg/l), and sodium absorption ratio (0.95%) for groundwater quality during the period 2013–2018. In comparison to the other courses, they are lower. The assessment of industrial water quality revealed that scaling affected 22% of the water samples, while corrosion affected 78%. The examination of qualitative zoning maps intended for industrial applications revealed that the aquifers in the southern portion of the Ghorove– Dehgolan plain, along with a restricted region in the aquifer's northern section, exhibit sedimentation characteristics. Conversely, the majority of the aquifers in the area demonstrate corrosive attributes. Thus, it is imperative to exercise utmost caution when utilizing these resources in pressurized irrigation systems and industrial, urban, and agricultural water supply systems in order to mitigate potential harm to pipelines and metal connections.

Highlights

• The study provides a comprehensive assessment of groundwater chemical quality over an 18-year period for industrial use in the Ghorove–Dehgolan aquifer.
• The study found the highest levels of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and sodium absorption ratio in the aquifer during 2013–2018.
• The finding revealed that 22% of water samples are affected by scaling, while 78% are prone to corrosion, with qualitative zoning maps indicating sedimentation in the southern and a portion of the northern aquifer.
• The study highlights the need for caution in using these water resources to prevent damage to pipelines and metal connections in various systems.

Keywords

• Aquifer
• Corrosion index
• Ghorove– Dehgolan Plain
• Scaling
• Water quality