TY - JOUR

T1 - Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater salinization in the Bangkok aquifer system, Thailand

AU - Babel, Mukand S.

AU - Gupta, Ashim Das

AU - Rivas, Aldrin A.

AU - Evers, Mariele

AU - Kazama, Futaba

AU - Nakamura, Takashi

AU - Stoecker, Falko

PY - 2013/2

Y1 - 2013/2

N2 - The deterioration of groundwater quality, particularly due to salinization, because of the overexploitation of groundwater in the Lower Central Plain of Thailand remains a major concern. With increasing demand for water there is a growing need for sustainable management of the resource, which would benefit from an improved understanding of the sources of chloride contamination. Thus, a hydrochemical and isotopic study was carried out to chemically characterize groundwater and to investigate possible sources of salinization, and in particular of chloride contamination, in the multi-layered Bangkok aquifer system. Groundwater samples were taken from four topmost aquifers (Bangkok, Phra Pradaeng, Nakhon Luang, and Nonthaburi). Additionally, short-term rainwater sampling, as well as river and seawater sampling was performed and later analyzed for ionic composition and stable water isotopes. Ionic and isotopic data indicate at least three different recharge sources for groundwater. The major recharge source is rainwater. The influence of seawater is limited to the coastal region and tidally influenced areas of the two main rivers (Chao Phraya and Tha Chin). Bromide data also suggest the influence of saline water in deeper aquifers due to trapped water. Most importantly, although the influence of seawater on groundwater is recognizable, the surrounding geology contributes a significant number of dissolved ions detected in the groundwater.

AB - The deterioration of groundwater quality, particularly due to salinization, because of the overexploitation of groundwater in the Lower Central Plain of Thailand remains a major concern. With increasing demand for water there is a growing need for sustainable management of the resource, which would benefit from an improved understanding of the sources of chloride contamination. Thus, a hydrochemical and isotopic study was carried out to chemically characterize groundwater and to investigate possible sources of salinization, and in particular of chloride contamination, in the multi-layered Bangkok aquifer system. Groundwater samples were taken from four topmost aquifers (Bangkok, Phra Pradaeng, Nakhon Luang, and Nonthaburi). Additionally, short-term rainwater sampling, as well as river and seawater sampling was performed and later analyzed for ionic composition and stable water isotopes. Ionic and isotopic data indicate at least three different recharge sources for groundwater. The major recharge source is rainwater. The influence of seawater is limited to the coastal region and tidally influenced areas of the two main rivers (Chao Phraya and Tha Chin). Bromide data also suggest the influence of saline water in deeper aquifers due to trapped water. Most importantly, although the influence of seawater on groundwater is recognizable, the surrounding geology contributes a significant number of dissolved ions detected in the groundwater.

KW - Bangkok aquifer system

KW - Coastal aquifers

KW - Groundwater salinization

KW - Hydrochemistry

KW - Stable isotopes

KW - Bangkok aquifer system

KW - Coastal aquifers

KW - Groundwater salinization

KW - Hydrochemistry

KW - Stable isotopes

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872300049&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12665-012-1776-y

DO - 10.1007/s12665-012-1776-y

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84872300049

VL - 68

SP - 749

EP - 763

JO - Environmental Earth Sciences

JF - Environmental Earth Sciences

SN - 1866-6280

IS - 3

ER -