Assessment of Groundwater Quality of Diyadin Springs, East Part of Turkey for Human Consumption

Abstract

Hydrogeological investigation were carried out to assess groundwater quality of Diyadin springs area for its suitability for human consumption, especially thermal activities. The research area consist of Paleozoic aged quartzschist, marble and diorite, Mesozoic aged ophiolitic melange, Cenozoic aged volcano-sedimentary series and alluvium, travertine and terrace conglomerate. Physical and chemical parameters of springs such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, CO₂^2-, HCO₃^–, SO₄^2- and Cl^– were determined. The concentrations of a large number of inorganic chemicals in groundwater for example Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, F^–, B³⁺ were also measured. Interpretation of analytical data shows that Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and HCO₃^– > Cl^– > SO₄^2- are the dominant water types in the research area. Ni²⁺, Cr³⁺, Co²⁺ and Al²⁺ are absent and the other inorganic chemicals are within the permissible limits for human consumption and these spring waters are good for thermal activities.