Author(s): Anuar Sefie, Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Tahoora Sheikhy Narany, Mohd Khairul Nizar Shamsuddin, Ismail Tawnie, Azrul Normi Idris, Syaiful Bahren Saadudin, Arshad Osman
Linked Author(s): Anuar Sefie
Keywords: Correlation coefficient, groundwater quality assessment, hydrogeochemical facies, Lower Kelantan Basin, saturation indices
Abstract: Groundwater hydrogeochemical assessment of Lower Kelantan Basin has been carried out to determine the chemical constituents that controlled the groundwater quality. About 148 groundwater samples were collected from 37 wells and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), anions (Cl-, SO42-, CO32-, HCO3-, NO3-), Fe2+ and Mn2+. Results revealed that groundwater is slightly acidic to alkaline. Four major hydrochemical facies Ca-HCO3, Na-Cl, Na-HCO3 and Ca-Cl were identified using a Piper trilinear diagram. The Ca-HCO3 water type represents 57% of the groundwater samples suggest that the calcite solution has played an important role in controlling the groundwater chemistry in the study area. Na-Cl water type generally close to the coastal area and indicates a strong influence of ancient seawater and Na-HCO3 water type show strong indicator of cation exchange process. The saturation indices demonstrate oversaturated condition with respect to iron containing minerals like Fe (OH) 3 and hematite and undersaturated with anhydrite, aragonite, calcite, dolomite, gypsum and manganite. Oversaturation of Fe (OH) 3 and hematite indicate the abundance of iron minerals in the study area aquifer. The study explains that the groundwater quality is controlled by anthropogenic activities and natural weathering processes
Year: 2017