Groundwater Quality Assessment and Its Influences on the Surface Water in Quanzhou Coastal Area

Groundwater quality plays a vital role in the safety of water supply. To assess groundwater quality in Quanzhou coastal area, a total of 183 groundwater samples were collected from shallow and deep wells in the area. Results of the study reveal that the main pollutants in Quanzhou coastal area are NO₃^-, NO₂^-, and NH₄⁺. The values of pH vary from 4.05 to 7.85. About 3% of groundwater is very hard and 2% is highly mineralized. The high concentrations of Cl^-, SO₄^2-, F^-, Mn, and Zn occur in discrete sites. The main causes are human activities. The other important reason is of geologic origin such as F- and Mn. This paper also concludes that there is a significant connection between surface water and groundwater quality from the data analysis of high-NH₄⁺, Fe, and Mn concentrations. It is suggested that groundwater in the coastal regions should be pay more attention for sustainable use and the safety of surface water supply.