Investigation of Hydrochemical Characteristics and Human activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Ardabil Aquifer based on land use map prepared on remote sensing technique

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. student, Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 dept. of water eng. Urmia University

Abstract

Increasing population and expansion of activities have a significant role in increasing the pollution of water resources. In this study, groundwater quality of Ardabil aquifer for drinking and agricultural uses was investigated in 2011 and 2016. To preparing the land use map, remote sensing technique and writing code in Google earth engine were used. The GWQI index was used for drinking uses and PI, %Na, RSC and SAR were used for agricultural uses. Based on piper diagram the type of water samples are Ca-HCO3. The results showed that the concentrations of the elements in groundwater samples were not significantly changed in 2016 compared to 2011 except for nitrate and magnesium. In 2011, 29% of the samples had high nitrate levels, which reached 41% in 2016. In terms of GWQI, most samples are in optimal condition for drinking. A survey of land use mapping showed that in 2016 the agricultural areas have increased. Therefore, increasing nitrate concentration in 1395 is associated with the use of fertilizers in agricultural lands. Most of the elements that did not change significantly in 1395 are related to the aquifer material.

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