Groundwater Chemistry
Groundwater Analysis
It is not feasible (or sensible) to attempt to
measure all possible constituents present in
groundwaters.
A routine analysis involves measuring a
standard set of constituents.
The routine analysis forms the basis for
assessing the suitability of the water for
human consumption or various agricultural
and industrial uses.
Major Constituents (> 5 mg/L)
Calcium pH
Magnesium Alkalinity
Sodium TDS
Conductivity
Bicarbonate Total Hardness
Chloride
Sulphate Silicon
Carbonic Acid
Other Reported Results
pH is routinely recorded that measures the hydrogen ion
concentration (-log[H+]).
Conductivity (electrical) is routinely measured in S/m (TDS
0.66 Ec).
TDS is the total dissolved solids measured as the residue on
evaporation.
Total alkalinity (expressed as mg/L CaCO3) measures the acid-
neutralizing capacity of a water sample. It is an aggregate
property, primarily due to the carbonate, bicarbonate, and
hydroxide content.
Total hardness (expressed as mg/L CaCO3) is another aggregate
property of a water sample. Hardness measures the concentration
of multivalent cations, particularly calcium and magnesium.
Minor Constituents (0.01 to 10 mg/L)
Potassium Carbon Dioxide
Iron Oxygen
Ammonium
Carbonate Boron
Fluoride Strontium
Bromide
Nitrate/Nitrite
Trace Constituents ( < 100 g/L)
Li 3 Zn 30 Ru 44 W 74
Be 4 Ga 31 Ag 47 Pt 78
Al 13 Ge 32 Cd 48 Au 79
Sc 21 As 33 In 49 Tl 81
Ti 22 Se 34 Sn 50 Pb 82
Cr 24 Rb 37 Sb 51 Bi 83
Mn 25 Yt 39 Cs 55 Ra 88
Co 27 Zr 40 Ba 56 Th 90
Ni 28 Nb 41 La 57 U 92
Cu 29 Mo 42 Ce 58
Iodide
Phosphate
Organic Constituents
Humic acid Acetate
Fulvic Acid Propionate
Carbohydrates
Amino Acids
Tannins
Lignins
Hydrocarbons
Na++K+
Concentration (meq/L)
100 Mg2+
Ca2+
Cl-
80
SO42-
HCO3-+CO32-
60
40
20
0
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Stiff Diagram
Na++K+
Ca2+
Mg2+
Cl-
HCO32-
SO42-
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 meq/L
Cations Anions
Piper Diagram
Ca
+C
+
4
Mg
SO
Mg Groundwater SO4
Facies
3
O
+C
Na
3
O
+
HC
Cations Anions
K
Ca Na + K HCO3 + CO3 Cl
Plotting on a Piper Diagram
Ca
Cl
+
+
Mg
4
SO
Mg SO4
3
O
+C
Na
3
+
O
HC
K
Ca Na + K HCO3 + CO3 Cl
te e
ha at
lp on
Su rb
e- ca te
Bi
Groundwater Facies
rid ha
Anions
lo e-
t lp
Ch ah Su
lp e-
Su r id
e- l o
rid Ch
lo e- e
at
Ch at on
on rb
rb ca
ca Bi
Bi
m
iu
ss a
ot
iu
m -P
um
Cations
a lc di
-C So
um
iu
m di
od So
m -S
s iu um
ne lci
ag Ca
-M
um
lci
Ca
Classification
Grouping of waters on
the Piper Diagram
suggests a common
Ca
Cl
composition and origin.
+
+
Mg
4
SO
Red:
Ca-Mg-SO4
Yellow: Mg SO4
Ca-Mg-Na-Cl-SO4
3
O
+C
Na
3
+
O
HC
K
Ca Na + K HCO3 + CO3 Cl
Facies Mapping