Projects / Programmes
Hydrogeochemistry and evolution of groundwaters in karstic and fractured aquifers
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.06.07 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geology |
Natural resources (mineral and energy raw materials, water) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P470 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Hydrogeology, geographical and geological engineering |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.05 |
Natural Sciences |
Earth and related Environmental sciences |
hydrogeochemistry, groundwaters, modeling, GIS, karstic and fractured aquifers
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
24253 |
PhD Timotej Verbovšek |
Geology |
Head |
2010 - 2012 |
375 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Geochemical composition of groundwaters is of key importance for establishment of adequate water supply. Along with physical and climate factors and possible pollutants it is mostly dependent on the properties of host rocks. Natural composition (background) has been researched for soil or surface waters, but not for groundwaters. Besides the problems with water quality, an inadequate groundwater composition leads to technological problems in water supply systems and geothermal heat pumps. Most of such problems can be predicted by knowledge of groundwater and by modeling of hydrogeochemical processes. Rare are the analyses that systematically analyze the interaction between the groundwater composition and host rocks. Additional scientific challenge is represented by karstic and fractured aquifers, which have been due to their heterogeneity less investigated than the intergranular ones. From the review of geochemical analyses it is clear that such analyses are mostly inadequate and also not all scientifically studied, plus the number of monitoring sites in karstic and fractured rocks is very low. Until now, a relational computer database has been constructed, which permitted a systematical review of 397 water wells in Slovenia. A need for further comparison of hydrogeochemical parameters with other available hydrogeological and other data was noticed.
There exist several aims of the project: 1. To determine the hydrogeochemical composition of separate karstic and fractured aquifers, with water analyses from wells and boreholes. 2. To determine the mineral and chemical composition of corresponding aquifer rocks. 3. To study and interpret the correlations of hydrogeochemical composition of groundwaters and several properties of aquifers, with statistical methods and geochemical modeling. 4. To analyze the evolution of groundwater composition through time and during the pumping tests by geochemical modeling. 5. To publish the results and present them in the GIS environment and on geochemical maps. Much of these analyses are novel, as no systematical research of groundwaters in individual aquifers is known. The goals of the project are focused on both scientific and applied fields, as the results will be published and also available to broader public to determine the general natural composition of groundwaters in individual aquifers and to solve the practical water supply problems and sustainable energy usage and thus contributing to higher quality of the environment and health with the priorities of the Ministry of the Higher Education, Science and Technology.
The methods will first comprise the archive review of geochemical analyses and later the update of existing computer database, to provide the basis for further research. At the water wells, the hydrogeochemical and isotope analyses will be performed in accredited laboratories. For selected aquifers, the mineralogical, chemical analyses and the determination of fractures will be carried out. For the origin and evolution of groundwaters, special geochemical modeling programs will be used, along with statistical and spatial analyses in GIS environment. The goal of the research is to gain the missing basic knowledge of various geochemical processes, which lead to final composition of groundwaters in karstic and fractures. Based on the expected goals and methods, the project is intended to be carried out in a reasonable time frame, as the basic computer database and a review of major potential locations are both already determined.
Both scientific and practical results are expected. Too few analyses of correlation of geochemical groundwater composition with several aquifer properties exist, and especially in the karstic and fractures aquifers and for geochemical modeling. Finally, the research will allow the pedagogic work with integration of students in the project research (diplomas etc.) and collaboration with other scientists and institution
Significance for science
Outcomes of the project can be viewed as systematical analyses of groundwater composition and results of geochemical modeling of groundwater. Despite the fact that most of the waters come from dolomites, there are subtle differences among these aquifers which can be explained by these methods.
Carbonates and composition of carbonate waters represent still an inadequately studied research field in the broader scientific audience. These can be proved by project leader’s publications in SCI IF journals, and mostly by invitation to publish the carbonate research data in the book entitled Aquifers: Formation, Transport and Pollution from the ARRS publication list and by fact that the leader has been invited to review two international (Estonian and Serbian) research projects regarding the groundwater composition and to review some SCI and other papers dealing with water composition.
Results have shown that several problems exist when using the geochemical data below the limit of detection (LOD), which is however known for some time, but several ways to deal with these numbers existed and the approach was not uniform. In a published paper during the project, several approaches were tested and compared, with one giving the lowest error, was suggested (replacing the LOD with LOD/?2 value). This paper has been relatively quickly cited in a respected geochemical journal Environmental Geochemistry and Health with SCI IF (paper DOI: 10.1007/s10653-013-9516-0), which can be viewed as a proof of scientific importance.
Results have been presented at several international conferences, with one work presented at the conference “Calcium and Magnesium in Groundwater” in Katowice, Poland in September 2012. The conference topic was the limits of Ca and Mg ions in groundwater, as legislation does not put permissible limits to these two ions, and there’s a big question of this represents a health threat. Presentation of the project results were as such an important contribution also
as a socio-economic value, as scientific approach is transferred to the level of European scientific and end-user community. Other results from carbonates were also presented to foreign students at the Pedagogical University in Krakow, Poland.
Apart from the facts above, the project results will be send to publications in SCI IF journals and will be presented at the biggest annual conference of International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) this year in Perth, which will also contribute to international feedback and presentation of the project outcomes.
Significance for the country
Project results have an importance for Slovenia’s data for groundwater and isotope composition of water and have been for the first time presented systematically for carbonates. The only regional study of groundwater was done in 1998 by Nataša Kukar (diploma, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana) on several springs in Slovenia; however she has used neither the aquifer sub-classification, geochemical modeling nor the isotope data. The project results therefore present an upgrade to the mentioned work.
A computer program XLS2PHRQ© was written for generation of an input file for program PHREEQC© from a selected geochemical analysis data in MS Excel© (*.xlsx). Program is intended to shorten the typing time and transfer of the geochemical data from the database or spreadsheet to geochemical programs.
Methodology, obtained during the project, was used also for the study of practical problems at the Slovenian mercury mine Idrija, where carbonate-dominated water flow from the mine and cause several environmental problems. Outflowing groundwater composition changes drastically during the pumping or non-pumping period, mostly to elevated Fe2+ and SO42- ions during the pumping. Results are therefore applicable to environmental problem solutions. Another socio-economic factor is related to water hardness, which is generally quite high in Slovenia, and can cause problems at technological or domestic usage of water with high dissolved carbonate content. By using the geochemical data and maps, the hardness can be generally predicted for some areas.
Several contacts and interchange of knowledge with other Slovenian researchers have been established during the project implementation, including the Jozef Stefan Institute (resulting in common publications) and managers in public water-supply companies and municipalities. The transfer of scientific research to public end-user level is also an important socio-economic impact of the project, and the results of the project (data) have been sent to participating companies.
An important outcome is the inclusion of the project results in the pedagogical activity for the geology students at the Department of geology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering (University of Ljubljana). The project leader is habilitated and has included the results as a study material for both the lectures and exercises at the new subject Hydrogeochemistry. Students have been also included directly in the project, resulting in diplomas. Project’s field measurement equipment has been used at the subject Methods of Geological Research, with students participating in the measurements.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
