The Effects of Industrial Wastewater on Groundwater Quality of the Boroujen Aquifer, Southwest Iran

• Published in: Natural resources research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2020-12, Vol.29 (6), p.3719-3741
• Main Authors: Khodabakhshi Sureshjani, Milad, Amanipoor, Hakimeh, Battaleb-Looie, Sedigheh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquifers; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Clustering; Computer Science; Copper; Downstream; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Fossil Fuels (incl. Carbon Capture); Geography; Groundwater; Groundwater quality; Heavy metals; Hydraulic gradient; Hydrogeochemistry; Industrial pollution; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics; Metal concentrations; Mineral Resources; Original Paper; Parameters; Physics; Sampling; Statistics for Engineering; Sustainable Development; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water quality; Water sampling; Zinc
• ISSN: 1520-7439; 1573-8981
• DOI: 10.1007/s11053-020-09665-9

The physicochemical characteristics and concentrations of heavy metals from 14 groundwater and two wastewater samples were measured to evaluate the effects of various natural and anthropogenic pollutions on the Boroujen aquifer in southwestern Iran. Comparing the location of sampling stations and wastewater treatment plant of the industrial zone with the geochemical maps showed that there are no anomalies of the studied elements in the aquifer area. Therefore, it is included that anthropogenic pollutions such as industrial wastewater are a major factor in increasing the concentrations of the studied elements. Except the hydrogeochemical parameters, the clustering of heavy metals and other studied elements showed that the concentrations of these parameters are mainly affected by two type of wastewater. Sampling stations are classified into two clusters, which were assigned based on their location in the aquifer. Environmental indices showed that many samples, especially those located downstream of the industrial zone along the direction of the hydraulic gradient of the aquifer, are contaminated. The highest pollution was related to Zn, P, Cu, and Ba. Meanwhile, the most polluted samples were related to stations 5 and 9 in the downstream of the industrial zone and stations 8 and 11 northeast of the aquifer and upstream of the industrial zone, respectively. Comparison of the concentrations of Zn, P, and Cu in wastewater and aquifer samples revealed the penetration of some of these elements into the aquifer, their movement in the direction of hydraulic gradient, and an increase in their concentrations in downstream stations.