Abstract
Groundwater with underground residence times between days and a few years have been investigated over more than 20 years from 487 remote sites located in different aquifer types in the Alpine belt. Analysis of the data reveals that groundwaters evolved in crystalline, evaporite, carbonate, molasse, and flysch aquifers can be clearly distinguished based on their major and trace element composition and degree of mineralisation. A further subdivision can be made even within one aquifer type based on the trace element compositions, which are characteristic for the lithologic environment. Major and trace element concentrations can be quantitatively described by interaction of the groundwater with the aquifer-specific mineralogy along the flow path. Because all investigated sites show minimal anthropogenic influences, the observed concentration ranges represent the natural background concentrations and can thus serve as a “geo-reference” for recent groundwaters from these five aquifer types. This “geo-reference” is particularly useful for the identification of groundwater contamination. It further shows that drinking water standards can be grossly exceeded for critical elements by purely natural processes.
Resumen
Durnate más de 20 años se ha investigado aguas subterráneas con una residencia subterránea con una duración de días a varios años en 487 puntos remotos localizados en diferentes tipos de acuíferos en la cadena alpina. El análisis de los datos revela que las aguas subterráneas que han evolucionado dentro de acuíferos cristalinos, evaporíticos, carbonatos, flysch, y molasse se pueden distignuir claramente en base a la composición de sus elementos mayores y marcadores y al grado de minerlización. Asimismo es posible hacer una subdivisión más específica incluso dentro de un tipo de acuífero en base a las composiciones de los elementos marcadores los cuales soncaracterísticos del ambiente litológico. Las concentraciones de los elementos marcadores se pueden describir cuantitativamente por la interacción de las aguas subterráneas con la mineralogía específica del acuífero a lo largo del trayecto del flujo. Puesto qze todos los puntos investigados muestran mínimas influencias antropogénicas, los rangos deconcentraciones observados representan las concentraciones delescenario natural y, por tanto, pueden servir como georeferencia para aguas subterráneas recientes que forman parte de estos cinco tipos de acuíferos. Esta georeferencia es particularmente útil para la identificcación de contaminación de aguas subterráneas. Asimismo muestra que los estándares de agua potable pueden mostrar excesos en elementos críticos por procesos puramente naturales.
Résumé
L’eau souterraine ayant résidé sous la surface du sol entre quelques jours et quelques années a été étudiée sur une période de plus de 20 ans à partir de 487 sites éloignés situés dans différents types d’aquifères de la ceinture alpine. L’analyse des données révèle que l’eau qui a évoluée dans des aquifères cristallins, évaporitiques, carbonatés, molassiques et composés de flysch, peut être facilement différenciée sur la base de sa composition en éléments majeurs et traces, ainsi que par son degré de minéralisation. Une subdivision supplémentaire peut être apportée à l’intérieur même d’un type d’aquifère en se basant sur la composition des éléments traces, lesquels sont caractéristiques de l’environnement lithologique. La concentration en éléments majeurs et traces peut être expliquée quantitativement par l’interaction de l’eau souterraine avec la composition minéralogique spécifique de l’aquifère le long des lignes d’écoulement. Puisque la majorité des sites étudiés ne montrent que très peu d’influences anthropogéniques, le registre de concentrations observées représente la concentration de fond naturelle et peut ainsi servir comme géo-référence pour les eaux souterraines récentes dans ces cinq types d’aquifères. Ces géo-références sont particulièrement utiles pour l’identification de la contamination des eaux souterraines. Par ailleurs, cela démontre que les standards d’eau potable peuvent être excédés pour certains éléments en raison de processus purement naturels.
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Acknowledgements
The linguistic review of the manuscript by Monique Y. Hobbs (Rock-Water Interaction, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern) is greatly acknowledged. Review comments made by Dr. S. Dogramaci and Prof. Y. Travi helped to improve the clarity of the manuscript and are highly appreciated. This study was financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant Nº20–45730.95).
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Kilchmann, S., Waber, H.N., Parriaux, A. et al. Natural tracers in recent groundwaters from different Alpine aquifers. Hydrogeology Journal 12, 643–661 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0366-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0366-9