Monitoring the quality of groundwater, using the IRWQIGC index, Case Study: Fariman-Torbat Jam Plain
Subject Areas : Pollution of water resources
nasrin ezadimehr
1
,
ghasem zolfaghari
2
1 - 1. MSc in Environmental Engineering, Environment, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University
2 - 2. Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University
Keywords: quality of groundwater, zoning, IRWQIGC index, Spatial Changes,
Abstract :
Due to the limitation of water resources, the issue of groundwater pollution has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of groundwater in the Fariman-Torbat Jam plain using the IRWQIGC index and to investigate spatial variations during the period from autumn 2019 to spring 2020. For this purpose, a total of 30 samples were collected, and the parameters of pH, total hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and nitrate were measured across three seasons. Spatial zoning was performed using GIS software.
According to the results, the IRWQIGC index values in autumn 2019, winter 2019, and spring 2020 were calculated as 45.60, 36.56, and 34.14, respectively. These results indicate that the groundwater quality in the study area was relatively good during autumn 2019, but relatively poor during winter 2019 and spring 2020.
The assessment of groundwater quality at the sampling sites (wells located in Rabat, Sefid Sang, Rahmatabad, Qaleh Gak, Hayano, Qaleh Khaki, Mansourieh, Kushkak lands, Ahmadabad, and Rokhneh Gorg) showed that the best groundwater quality was observed in Rabat, with relatively good groundwater quality, while the worst quality was observed in Qaleh Khaki, Kushkak lands, and Ahmadabad, with poor groundwater quality. Based on the findings, groundwater in the southern and southeastern parts of the Fariman-Torbat Jam plain was more polluted in terms of salinity and hardness, while the groundwater in the northern part was more polluted with respect to nitrate contamination.