Hydrochemistry and quality of groundwater in alluvial aquifer of Karonga, Malawi

This study highlights the quality of groundwater for both drinking and irrigation in Karonga north where subsistence and commercial farming is practiced. All major groundwater quality descriptors and selected trace elements (iron, manganese, arsenic, and aluminum) were studied. The study demonstrate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental earth sciences 2017-05, Vol.76 (9), p.1, Article 335
Main Authors: Mapoma, Harold Wilson Tumwitike, Xie, Xianjun, Liu, Yaqing, Zhu, Yapeng, Kawaye, Floney Patame, Kayira, Tabitha Mlowoka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural practices
Alluvial aquifers
Aluminium
Aluminum
Anthropogenic factors
Aquifers
Arsenic
Bicarbonates
Biogeosciences
Calcium carbonate
Calcium ions
Carbonates
Cation exchange
Cation exchanging
Cations
Commercial farms
Dissolution
Dissolving
Drinking water
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental Science and Engineering
Fluorides
Geochemistry
Geology
Groundwater
Groundwater quality
Hydrochemistry
Hydrology/Water Resources
Iron
Irrigation
Magnesium
Manganese
Nitrates
Original Article
pH control
Precipitation
Quality
Scaling
Silicates
Terrestrial Pollution
Trace elements
Water quality
Water quality standards
Weathering
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Summary:This study highlights the quality of groundwater for both drinking and irrigation in Karonga north where subsistence and commercial farming is practiced. All major groundwater quality descriptors and selected trace elements (iron, manganese, arsenic, and aluminum) were studied. The study demonstrated evidence of higher concentrations of bicarbonates (60–590 mg/L), total iron (2.2–5336 µg/L), total manganese (0.1–804 µg/L) and total arsenic (0.4–14.5 µg/L) in certain samples with low values of Eh (−32.0 to +25.8) and NO 3 − (≤8.2 mg/L) against WHO standards. Thirty-six percent of samples were rated as poor using the water quality index (WQI) criteria. No scaling potential was observed using the Langelier analysis. The majority of samples were of the mixed-bicarbonate type with the abundance order of cations as Ca 2+  > Na +  > Mg 2+  > K + . Carbonate dissolution, silicate weathering and cation exchange were identified as possible main geochemical control mechanisms. The sources responsible for fluoride and nitrate include anthropogenic activities and rock–water interaction. Dissolution/precipitation and pH control the levels of As, Fe and Mn.
ISSN:1866-6280
1866-6299
DOI:10.1007/s12665-017-6653-2