Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrochemical characterization of drinking groundwater with special reference to fluoride in an arid area of China and the control of aquifer leakage on its concentrations

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of the study is to determine the distribution and origin of fluoride in two confined aquifers within the depth of 80–240 m (mid-deep confined aquifers) in Shizuishan City, an arid area in Northwest China. Based on geological and hydrogeological conditions, the distribution patterns of fluoride in the two confined aquifers were studied. Correlation analysis was used to reveal the mechanisms and reactions influencing the groundwater chemistry. The control of aquifer leakage induced by intense groundwater abstraction on fluoride concentrations was also discussed. The results show that the concentration of F− in some locations of the study area is beyond the limit of the Standards for Drinking Water Quality of China. Correlation analysis shows that the major reactions occurring in the confined aquifers are dissolution of gypsum, fluorite and halite, and precipitation of calcite and dolomite. Groundwater leakage from shallow aquifers is also responsible for the elevation of fluoride in mid-deep confined aquifers. The research is a scientific basis for the rational development and utilization of groundwater in this area, and it may be referenced by international scholars for similar research in other parts of the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed MA, Abdel Samie SG, Badawy HA (2013) Factors controlling mechanisms of groundwater salinization and hydrogeochemical processes in the Quaternary aquifer of the Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt. Environ Earth Sci 68(2):369–394. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-1744-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asghari MA, Fijani E (2008) Distribution of fluoride in groundwater of Maku area, northwest of Iran. Environ Geol 56:281–287. doi:10.1007/s00254-007-1163-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borgnino L, Garcia MG, Bia G, Stupar YV, Coustumer PL, Depetris PJ (2013) Mechanisms of fluoride release in sediments of Argentina’s central region. Sci Total Environ 443:245–255. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brindha K, Rajesh R, Murugan R, Elango L (2011) Fluoride contamination in groundwater in parts of Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Monit Assess 172:481–492. doi:10.1007/s10661-010-1348-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chidambaram S, Prasad BKM, Manivannan R, Karmegam U, Singaraja C, Anandhan P, Prasanna MV, Manikandan S (2013) Environmental hydrogeochemistry and genesis of fluoride in groundwaters of Dindigul district, Tamilnadu (India). Environ Earth Sci 68:333–342. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-1741-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Currell M, Cartwright I, Raveggi M, Han DM (2011) Controls on elevated fluoride and arsenic concentrations in groundwater from the Yuncheng Basin, China. Appl Geochem 26:540–552. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.01.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deutesh WJ (1997) Groundwater geochemistry: fundamentals and applications to contamination. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 232

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghrefat H, Nazzal Y, Batayneh A, Zumlot T, Zaman H, Elawadi E, Laboun A, Mogren S, Qaisy S (2014) Geochemical assessment of groundwater contamination with special emphasizes on fluoride, a case study from Midyan Basin, northwestern Saudi Arabia. Environ Earth Sci 71(4):1495–1505. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2554-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo QH, Wang YX, Ma T, Ma R (2007) Geochemical processes controlling the elevated fluoride concentrations in groundwaters of the Taiyuan Basin, northern China. J Geochem Explor 93:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2006.07.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SK, Deshpande RD, Agarwal M, Raval BR (2005) Origin of high fluoride in groundwater in the North Gujarat-Cambay region, India. Hydrogeol J 13:596–605. doi:10.1007/s10040-004-0389-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar PJS, Jegathambal P, James EJ (2014) Factors influencing the high fluoride concentration in groundwater of Vellore District, South India. Environ Earth Sci 72(7):2437–2446. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3152-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li PY, Qian H (2010) Spatial variability of fluorion in drinking groundwater and its relationship with geologic environment in Pengyang County. J Water Sci Water Eng 21(2):35–40 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H (2013) Global curve-fitting for determining the hydrogeological parameters of leaky confined aquifers by transient flow pumping test. Arab J Geosci 6:2745–2753. doi:10.1007/s12517-012-0567-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P-Y, Qian H, Wu J-H, Ding J (2010) Geochemical modeling of groundwater in southern plain area of Pengyang County, Ningxia, China. Water Sci Eng 3(3):282–291. doi:10.3882/j.issn.1674-2370.2010.03.004

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Hou X, Zhou Z, Liu L (2011) Geochemical provenance and spatial distribution of fluoride in groundwater of Taiyuan basin, China. Environ Earth Sci 62:1635–1642. doi:10.1007/s12665-010-0648-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2013) Major ion chemistry of shallow groundwater in the dongsheng coalfield, Ordos Basin, China. Mine Water Environ 32:195–206. doi:10.1007/s10230-013-0234-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2014a) Occurrence and hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in alluvial aquifer of Weihe River, China. Environ Earth Sci 71(7):3133–3145. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2691-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu J, Qian H (2014b) Hydrogeochemistry and quality assessment of shallow groundwater in the southern part of the yellow river Alluvial plain (Zhongwei Section), Northwest China. Eart Sci Res J 18(1):27–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu MS, Wu EJ, Li MJ (2001) Study on the hydrogeochemistry genesis of high fluorine shallow-bed groundwater in southwestern Shandong Province. Coal Geol Explor 29(5):39–42 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahramanlioglu M, Kizilcikli I, Bicer IO (2002) Adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by acid treated spent bleaching earth. J Fluorine Chem 115:41–47. doi:10.1016/S0022-1139(02)00003-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mamatha P, Rao SM (2010) Geochemistry of fluoride rich groundwater in Kolar and Tumkur Districts of Karnataka. Environ Earth Sci 61:131–142. doi:10.1007/s12665-009-0331-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marleen C, Kilonzo F, Kristine W (2008) Hydrochemistry and source of high fluoride in groundwater of the Nairobi area, Kenya. Hydrolog Sci J 53(6):1230–1240. doi:10.1623/hysj.53.6.1230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China (2009) Water quality sampling: technical regulation of the preservation and handling of samples, HJ 493-2009. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health of China, Standardization Administration of China (2006). National standard of the people’s republic of China: standard for drinking water quality, GB 5749-2006. (in Chinese)

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (Version 2): a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Water-resources investigations report 99-4259. US Geological Survey, Denver

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1953) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. United States Geological Survey, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian H, Li P (2011) Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Yinchuan plain and their control factors. Asian J Chem 23(7):2927–2938

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian H, Ma ZY, Li PY (2012) Hydrogeochemistry, 2nd edn. Geologic Publishing House, Beijing, p 251

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian H, Li P, Wu J, Zhou Y (2013) Isotopic characteristics of precipitation, surface and ground waters in the Yinchuan plain, Northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 70(1):57–70. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-2103-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy AGS (2014) Geochemical evaluation of nitrate and fluoride contamination in varied hydrogeological environs of Prakasam district, southern India. Environ Earth Sci 71(10):4473–4495. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2841-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoeller H (1965) Qualitative evaluation of groundwater resources. In: Methods and techniques of groundwater investigation and development. Water Research Series-33: UNESCO, 54–83

  • Shyam R, Kalwania GS (2012) Health risk assessment of fluoride with other parameters in ground water of Sikar city (India). Environ Earth Sci 65:1275–1282. doi:10.1007/s12665-011-1375-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Rina K, Singh RP, Shashtri S, Kamal V, Mukherjee S (2011) Geochemical modeling of high fluoride concentration in groundwater of Pokhran area of Rajasthan, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86:152–158. doi:10.1007/s00128-011-0192-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivasankar V, Gomathi R (2009) Fluoride and other quality parameters in the groundwater samples of Pettaivaithalai and Kulithalai areas of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Water Qual Expo Health 1(2):123–134. doi:10.1007/s12403-009-0008-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N (2003) Groundwater quality: focus on fluoride concentration in rural parts of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Hydrolog Sci J 48(5):835–847. doi:10.1623/hysj.48.5.835.51449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N, Subrahmanyam A, Babu Rao G (2013) Fluoride-bearing groundwater in Gummanampadu Sub-basin, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Earth Sci 70(2):575–586. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-2142-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Totsche KU, Wilcke W, Korbus M, Kobza J, Zech W (2000) Evaluation of fluoride-induced metal mobilization in soil columns. J Environ Qual 29:454–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vikas C, Kushwaha RK, Pandit MK (2009) Hydrochemical status of groundwater in district Ajmer (NW India) with reference to fluoride distribution. J Geol Soc India 73:773–784. doi:10.1007/s12594-009-0062-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vikas C, Kushwaha R, Ahmad W, Prasannakumar V, Reghunath R (2013) Genesis and geochemistry of high fluoride bearing groundwater from a semi-arid terrain of NW India. Environ Earth Sci 68:289–305. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-1739-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen DG, Zhang FC, Zhang EY, Wang C, Han SB, Zheng Y (2013) Arsenic, fluoride and iodine in groundwater of China. J Geochem Explor 135:1–21. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.10.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011). Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th ed. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241548151_eng.pdf. Accessed 24 April 2014

  • Wu XH, Qian H, Yu DM, Zhang Q, Yan ZZ, Wang W, Ji YD, Liu HM, Mao ZL, Zhao Q (2008) Investigation and assessment of rational allocation of groundwater resources in the Yinchuan plain. Geologic Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu GQ, Liu J, Zhu QS, Wang WN, He XW (2009) Analysis of distribution characteristics and influencing factors for the fluorine in the shallow groundwater in HuaiBei plain of Anhui. J Water Sci Water Eng 20(5):9–13 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng JH (1996) Numerical modeling of geochemical behavior of fluoride in the shallow groundwater systems. Acta Geol Sin 9(1):87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Liu CH, Zhao HJ, Qian H, Li PY, Wang T, Xu JM (2010) Report on the hydrogeological investigation of No. 2 water source in Shizuishan city. Institute of land and resources investigation of Ningxia, Yinchuan (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao HH, Shen CL (1999) Distribution and formation mechanisms of F− in shallow groundwater in Suzhou mining area. Coal Geol China 11(3):39–40, 43 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Doctor Postgraduate Technical Project of Chang’an University (2014G5290001 and 2013G5290002), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41172212). The editor and anonymous reviewers are also greatly acknowledged for their useful comments that have helped us to improve the quality of our paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, No. 126 Yanta Road, Xi’an, 710054, Shaanxi, China

    Jianhua Wu, Peiyue Li & Hui Qian

  2. Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, No. 126 Yanta Road, Xi’an, 710054, Shaanxi, China

    Jianhua Wu, Peiyue Li & Hui Qian

Authors
  1. Jianhua Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peiyue Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hui Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peiyue Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, J., Li, P. & Qian, H. Hydrochemical characterization of drinking groundwater with special reference to fluoride in an arid area of China and the control of aquifer leakage on its concentrations. Environ Earth Sci 73, 8575–8588 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4018-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4018-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation