Scholarly record
COMBINED APPROACH FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS IN GROUNDWATER
Abstract
Groundwater is one of the main resources for drinking- and industrial water supply in Bulgaria. Investigations of a number of groundwater sources indicate concentrations of toxic elements or metal ions, considerably exceeding the maximum contaminant values. Pollution with arsenic has been found in the region of Dimitrovgrad, Merichleri, Haskovo, Kyustendil. Increased content of manganese, iron and sulphates is available in some districts of Sofia, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Svishtov. Presence of excessive concentrations of toxic hexavalent chromium has been found in the water of Pleven region, Montana region, Vidin region, thereby creating serious problems. The accumulation of hexavalent chromium in the human organism may bring about necrosis of liver, irritation of the gastrointestinal mucous membrane, increased risk of lung cancer. The main problems standing before the companies exploiting groundwater sources with chemical pollution are related to the choice of an economically beneficial alternative guaranteeing the safety of water used for drinking, household and industrial purposes. In this aspect, the identification of the origin (natural or anthropogenic) of certain pollutant is extremely important for making decision пїЅ finding and termination of the anthropogenic pollution, water treatment or seeking another water source. In the paper, the authors suggest a complex approach for determination of the chemical pollutantsпїЅ origin in the groundwater, based on multi-factor analysis combining historic data, hydrogeological studies, geochemical and hydrochemical analyses. The methodology is used in studying the origin of manganese, iron and sulphates with excessive concentration in the groundwater in different districts of Sofia, the results obtained being given in the paper. Currently, the combined approach is being updated in order to be applied in studying the origin of toxic hexavalent chromium in the ground water in the region of Pleven, Northern Bulgaria. The main point in the suggested methodology is the long-lasting run-out of groundwater which causes a temporary change of the direction and flow rate of the seepage stream. The change of the concentration of the studied pollutant before, during and after the seepage test gives information for the point of entering and the way of distribution of the pollutant in the groundwater. The obtained data are combined with determination of the mineral and chemical content of the rocks in the water bearing layer, and with data for the sources of anthropogenic pollution in the region.
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