Arsenic-rich shallow groundwater in sandy aquifer systems buffered by rising carbonate waters: A geochemical case study from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka

The Science of the Total Environment
U G C BandaraRohana Chandrajith

Abstract

Major ion, trace elements, and stable isotope analyses were performed on groundwater samples collected from Mannar Island in the northern Indian Ocean. Arsenic concentrations up to 34μg/L have been observed in groundwater samples from the island. In addition, 23% of extensively used shallow drinking water wells showed higher arsenic contents than the recommended value by the World Health Organization (10μg/L). Groundwater in the island showed pH values between 6.9 and 8.9 and was dominated by Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Cl- and SO42-. The δ18OH2O and δ2HH2O composition of most groundwater plotted very close to the local meteoric waterline, however, some wells showed enriched isotope compositions that are most likely due to evaporation. Sea water intrusion in this island was likely of minor importance as indicated by the major ion composition. An approximated mass balance calculation using chloride concentrations indicated that out of the 35 investigated wells only 6 near-shore wells were influenced by sea water intrusion up to about 15%. Even though this is a sandy aquifer, groundwaters were characterized with higher contents of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (2.11-10.9mmol/L). The corresponding δ13CDIC values varied from -19...Continue Reading

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