Assessing the hydrogeochemical processes through classical integration of groundwater parameters in the Birjand plain in eastern Iran

Abstract

In the present scenario, groundwater is considered as an essential water source for domestic as well as irrigation utilization in the Birjand plain, an arid zone nestled in the east of Iran. Not only a broad knowledge of hydro as well as geochemical peculiarities, but also groundwater factors are essential for the viable use of groundwater origins. In the present research, 54 potable water samples were drawn from 27 wells between Nov. 2018 and Jun. 2019. Piper diagrams showed that the dominant types of water were; Na–HCO3-, Na–Ca–HCO3-, and Ca–Na–HCO3- (combined). The present study results signified that the ions were derived from evaporation, leaching, cation and anion exchange besides anthropogenic activities. Moreover, principal component analysis results revealed that Geogenic sources and anthropogenic impacts were major factors of water contamination in the Birjand aquifer. The quality assessment of groundwater was carried out via an individual factor apart from the Set Pair Analysis model. In fine, in this study, the groundwater quality assessment was not promising since 3.70% of total samples were potable and the majority of them belonged to the unpotable category. Thus, it can be safely concluded that quality assessment of groundwater is not only quite useful for efficient management, but also usage of these vital resources for drinking purposes.