Assessment of Groundwater Quality Index (GWQI) and its Geostatistical Analysis in Lordegan Plain Aquifer

Subject Areas : environmental management

Yaser Ostovari ¹ , MOHAMMAD RAVANB ² , Alireza Davoudian ³

1 - PhD, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of agriculture, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord Iran. * (Corresponding Author)
2 - 2- Assistant professor, Department of soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord Iran.
3 - Associate professor, Department of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran.

Received: 2013-12-13 Accepted : 2014-05-24 Published : 2017-08-23

Keywords: Groundwater, WHO, GWQI, Gaussian, Variogram, Ordinary kriging, Sensitivity analysis,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Groundwater quality index is an important tool for determination of drinking water quality. The objective of this study was to assess and map groundwater quality index in Lordegan aquifer. Method: In this study, 32 agricultural wells were sampled for 4 times in 2010. pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total suspended and dissolved solids, total hardness, nitrate, sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium were measured in each sample.  Using the measured values, groundwater quality index was calculated for each sample. Findings: Groundwater quality index varied between 44 and 74, indicating the suitable and moderate quality of water for drinking purpose.  Spatial pattern of groundwater quality index was best described by the Gaussian variogram and ordinary kriging was used for mapping the groundwater quality index.  Based on the groundwater quality index map, the larger part of the aquifer located in the northern side had a moderate quality and the smaller part located in the southern side had a suitable quality. Turbidity and electrical conductivity had the greatest impact on groundwater quality index.   Groundwater quality index was also lightly sensitive to these two parameters. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to determine the suitability of groundwater quality index in Lordegan aquifer and to calibrate groundwater quality index classification in aquifers such as Lordegan.

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