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Assessment of groundwater chemistry in a coastal region (Kunsan, Korea) having complex contaminant sources: a stoichiometric approach

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Groundwater chemistry in a coastal region (Kunsan, Korea) having complex contaminant sources was investigated. Water analysis data for 197 groundwater samples collected from the uniformly distributed sixty-six wells were used. Chemical analysis results indicate that groundwaters show wide concentration ranges in major inorganic ions, reflecting complex hydrochemical processes. Due to the complexity of groundwater chemistry, the samples were classified into four groups based on Cl and NO3 concentrations and the processes controlling water chemistry were evaluated based on the reaction stoichiometry. The results explained the importance of mineral weathering, anthropogenic activities (nitrification and oxidation of organic matters), and Cl-salt inputs (seawater, deicer, NaCl, etc.) on groundwater chemistry. It was revealed that mineral dissolution is the major process controlling the water chemistry of the low Cl and NO3 group (Group 1). Groundwaters high in NO3 (Groups 2 and 4) are acidic in nature, and their chemistry is largely influenced by nitrification, oxidation of organic matters and mineral dissolution. In the case of chloride rich waters (Group 3), groundwater chemistry is highly influenced by mineral weathering and seawater intrusion associated with cation-exchange reactions.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Saemankeum Environmental Research Center of Kunsan National University and by the Sustainable Water Resources Research Center of the 21st Century Frontier Research Program (# 3–1-1). The authors thank Seok-Hwi Kim, Seung-Rok Kim, Young-Soo Ha, Ki-Seung Lee, Mi-Seon Baik, Nam-Sin Kim, and Hyun-Jin Kang for their field and lab assistances and to an anonymous reviewer for the valuable comments on this paper.

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Correspondence to Kangjoo Kim.

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Kim, K., Rajmohan, N., Kim, H.J. et al. Assessment of groundwater chemistry in a coastal region (Kunsan, Korea) having complex contaminant sources: a stoichiometric approach. Env Geol 46, 763–774 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1109-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1109-x

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