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THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE POLLUTION IN SHALLOW WELL WATER IN LITHUANIA

Laima Česonienė, Daiva Šileikienė

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to estimate the level of shallow well water pollution and the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on it and to use the research results for the prognosis of the pollution level and the reduction of pollution. The subject research is water of shallow wells. Analysis of the shallow well water quality has been carried out in Lithuania, Kaunas region, in 83 shallow wells. Wells situated in Pypliai village were chosen for a more detailed examination. Shallow wells are usually not deep, and water passes to them from shallow groundwater resources; therefore, groundwater is especially sensitive to chemical and microbiological pollution. The research was carried out during 1998 – 2018. The GIS program ArcView was used for the simulation and evaluation of nitrate pollution dispersion across the terrain, and relief maps of locality scaling M1:10 000 were used, which were digitally transformed to prepare digital relief maps. The movement of groundwater was simulated by WinFlow computer program modelling. Analysis of the model simulated the two-dimensional steady or changeable water movement in the ground at the horizontal plane. The following analytical elements are evaluated: wells (pumping), even replenishment, closed systems of replenishment—extraction, linear groundwater replenishment sources and recipients. After investigating the water quality, it was determined that the majority of wells are polluted by nitrates and organic substances. In the Kaunas district, the mean nitrate value in shallow wells varied between 35 and 75 mg/l, and there was a statistical decreasing trend (R2 = 0.54); additionally, the nitrite and ammonium ion concentrations were average and not decreasing. The average permanganate index in the well water exceeded the permitted value in all the years under investigation (except for 2015). The tendency of the average decrease in the permanganate index was obtained (R2 = 0.17). Having competed with the simulation of groundwater movement using the programs WinFlow and WinTran, it was determined that as the quantity of water used increased, the flow lines became more distorted, and the pollution from its source passed to the well, which could be situated aside from the pollution source.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/3.1/s12.47

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