Hydrochemical Characteristics and Groundwater Quality Assessment in Kherameh Plain, Iran

Contamination of groundwater by domestic, industrial effluents and agricultural activity is a serious problem faced by developing countries. Groundwater is the major source of water supply for agriculture and domestic purposes in urban as well as rural part of Iran. Among the various reasons, the most important are non-availability of potable surface water and a general belief that groundwater is purer and safer that surface water due to the protective qualities of the soil cover. Concentration of major ions and Nitrate were studied in the groundwater of Kherameh plain in order assess the metal contamination due to industrialization, urbanization, agricultural and other human activity. To study the contamination of groundwater, water samples were collected and analyzed for major cations and anions from 17 production wells in the Kherameh plain of Fars province in Iran. Most of the samples are contaminated and the result of water quality analysis has shown higher concentration of EC, TDS, Cl and NO_3. Major cations and anions were identified using Piper trilinear diagram. Based on US salinity diagram, most of the samples located in the field of C4S1 and C4S2 indicating high salinity and low sodium water, which can be used for almost all types of soil with little danger of exchangeable sodium. Majority of the samples are not suitable for domestic purposes and far from drinking water standards. However, some analysis indicate that groundwater is suitable for irrigation. In this research project, quality and pollution of ground water were evaluated.