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Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations
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Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 18364

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhonghe Pang

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Guest Editor
Institute of Geology & Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: isotope hydrology; geothermal energy and CCUS
Dr. Fengtian Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
Interests: isotope hydrogeology; water–rock interactions; groundwater circulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Pingheng Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
Interests: karst hydrogeology; contaminant hydrogeology; nitrate isotopes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

New challenges and research needs have emerged in hydrogeology, driven largely by the focus on identification and prediction of the impact of human activities and climate change on groundwater systems, and the thriving of deep engineering projects. Key scientific issues in such research include processes and fluxes at hydrologic interface, characterization of hydrogeological parameters, driving force patterns of groundwater flow regimes, and water-rock interactions. Hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes have excellent strength in addressing these issues, due to their unique advantages in tracing elemental origin, delineating the flow/transport of water, solutes and pollutants, revealing the kinetics of water-rock interactions and degradation of pollutants, inversion of heterogeneity for aquifer media, hydrologic and geochemical model calibration, and quantifying geochemical and water flow fluxes at key interfaces, such as unsaturated/saturated zone, hyporheic zone, water-rock-gas interfaces, etc.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish original research as well as review articles, addressing recent advances in the above-mentioned areas. We therefore invite you to submit your latest research findings and engineering practice in this field. Case studies are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Zhonghe Pang
Prof. Dr. Fengtian Yang
Prof. Dr. Pingheng Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • processes and fluxes at hydrologic interfaces
  • characterization of hydrogeological parameters
  • isotope dating and groundwater renewability
  • groundwater flow regimes at different scales
  • groundwater and surface-water interactions
  • water-rock interactions in natural and engineered geothermal systems
  • evolution of groundwater regime impacted by human activities and climate change
  • isotope tracers of pollutants in groundwater
  • isotopic and hydrochemical techniques in geothermal, ore deposits, and CCUS
  • paleowater and paleoclimate

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 16345 KiB  
Article
Interaction between Groundwater and Surface Water in the Qujiang River Basin in China: Evidence from Chemical Isotope Measurements
by Yi Liu, Chaoyu Zhang, Jiyi Jiang, Ying Zhang, Guanghao Wang, Liangliang Xu and Zhihui Qu
Water 2023, 15(22), 3932; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15223932 - 10 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1465
Abstract
The Qujiang River Basin is a significant water system located in Zhejiang Province, China, that serves as a primary water source for Quzhou City. For this research, we collected and examined water samples from the Qujiang River Basin. In this study, we collected [...] Read more.
The Qujiang River Basin is a significant water system located in Zhejiang Province, China, that serves as a primary water source for Quzhou City. For this research, we collected and examined water samples from the Qujiang River Basin. In this study, we collected and analyzed water samples from the Qujiang River Basin and employed a combination of methods, including water balance analysis; Piper trilinear diagram; Gibbs diagram; and environmental tracer techniques, such as hydrochemical and isotopic analysis. These techniques helped us to analyze the spatial distribution patterns and evolutionary trends of surface water and groundwater hydrochemistry, along with the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, as well as to determine the sources of surface water and groundwater by calculating the conversion ratio between surface water and groundwater. (1) The findings of our study indicate that the primary hydrochemical types in the study area are Ca-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3·Cl, with the ion composition of water primarily influenced by rock weathering and precipitation. (2) Similar spatial variations in hydrochemical indicators were observed between surface water and groundwater in the study area, with frequent transitions between the two. (3) The hydrogen and oxygen isotope content increases downstream, signifying that both groundwater and surface water in the study area are replenished by atmospheric precipitation, as supported by the relationship between hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and the meteoric water line. (4) We determined that groundwater predominantly replenishes surface water in the upstream area. The average contribution rate of groundwater to surface water is 19.67%, with an annual average recharge volume of 1.23 × 106 m3. Midstream and downstream, surface water mainly recharges groundwater, with an average contribution rate of 22.77% and an annual average recharge volume of 1.59 × 106 m3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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18 pages, 5423 KiB  
Article
Bottled Mineral Waters as Unconventional Sampling in Hydro-Geological Research
by Dimitra Rapti, Giovanni Martinelli, Guodong Zheng and Clelia Vincenzi
Water 2023, 15(19), 3466; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15193466 - 30 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Bottled mineral waters originate from groundwater aquifers, their chemical composition being initially determined by geochemical water-rock interaction processes. The waters used for bottling originate from different parts of the hydrological cycle and have a unique hydro-geochemical fingerprint. As water moves through the water [...] Read more.
Bottled mineral waters originate from groundwater aquifers, their chemical composition being initially determined by geochemical water-rock interaction processes. The waters used for bottling originate from different parts of the hydrological cycle and have a unique hydro-geochemical fingerprint. As water moves through the water cycle, the isotopic composition of oxygen and hydrogen in the water molecule may change. Determining 18O and 2H can help to characterize the source of bottled water and the natural conditions of the parent water body, of the recharge area, and the influence of various processes during infiltration and water flow within the water body. Usually, the chemical composition is reported on the label of bottled waters, while stable isotopes data are often unreported and are sometimes available from scientific publications. Bottled waters from selected sites of Europe where chemical and stable isotopic composition were available have been considered and accompanying data reinterpreted. The available data have been reinterpreted by obtaining results comparable, within limitations, to traditional sampling and analytical procedures, demonstrating the usefulness of the adopted methodology in emergency cases. Therefore, the utilization of isotopic values of bottled waters should be limited to the observation of general trends in isotopic composition of feeding waters, while more local studies are advised for a better understanding of the hydro-geological circuits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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14 pages, 1443 KiB  
Article
The Hydraulic Connection Analysis of Dongying Geothermal Fluid Using Hydrochemical Information and Isotope Data in Tianjin Coastal Regions
by Jiulong Liu, Shuangbao Han, Fengtian Yang and Dongdong Yue
Water 2023, 15(6), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061235 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
Dongying’s Paleogene geothermal resources are an important part of the geothermal resources of the Tianjin coastal region. The extent of the geothermal fluid resources and the supply relationship have become increasingly important, and will determine whether demand targets can be met. Dongying’s Paleogene [...] Read more.
Dongying’s Paleogene geothermal resources are an important part of the geothermal resources of the Tianjin coastal region. The extent of the geothermal fluid resources and the supply relationship have become increasingly important, and will determine whether demand targets can be met. Dongying’s Paleogene formation in the Tianjin coastal regions is widely distributed to the east of the Cangdong fracture, but it is absent west of the Cangdong fracture. On the basis of introducing the geological characteristics and depositional characteristics of the Dongying formation, we analyzed the hydraulic conductivity of the Cangdong fracture to the Dongying formation geothermal reservoir from the aspects of geological condition, dynamic of groundwater level and hydrologic geochemistry. Based on the hydrochemical information and the isotope data gained during the water quality evaluation and isotope data analysis process, we discovered the main chemical composition, hydrogen and oxygen isotope data and geothermal fluid age are significantly different between the Dongying formation geothermal reservoir and the overlying and underlying geothermal reservoirs. It is inferred that the hydraulic conductivity of the Cangdong fracture to the Dongying formation geothermal reservoir in this area is weak, and along the Haihe fracture, where the Haihe fracture intersects with the Cangdong fracture, there is a certain hydraulic conductivity. In addition, there is no obvious hydraulic connection between the Dongying formation and the upper and lower geothermal reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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23 pages, 6122 KiB  
Article
Chemical and Isotopic Features of a High pCO2 Natural Mineral Water from Essentuki Field (Caucasian Mineral Water Region, Russia)
by Ekaterina I. Baranovskaya, Natalia A. Kharitonova, Georgy A. Chelnokov, Irina A. Tarasenko and Alexey A. Maslov
Water 2023, 15(5), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050901 - 26 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2018
Abstract
This article presents the new data on the chemical and gas composition, the content of stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur in natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field. A detailed study of the geological and hydrogeological features of the water [...] Read more.
This article presents the new data on the chemical and gas composition, the content of stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur in natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field. A detailed study of the geological and hydrogeological features of the water circulation area, its major chemical composition, the content of organic matter in water, temperature conditions and δ18OSMOW, δDSMOW, δ13CDIC, δ18ODIC, δ34SVCDT, δ13CCO2, δ13CCH4, δ15N values made it possible to specify the genesis of water, gas, and solute components of the Essentuki CO2-rich mineral water field. The stable isotopes values (δ18OSMOW and δDSMOW) in the water phase ranges from −13.75 to −9.69‰ and from −101.08 to −74.34‰, respectively. They correspond to GMWL, which indicates their predominantly infiltration genesis. The values of δ13CDIC in mineral waters of the Essentuki field vary widely from −14.43 to +8.59‰ and indicate their mixed genesis. δ15N gas values in mineral waters of the Essentuki field vary quite widely from −2.31 to 2.50‰ indicating a different source of this gas. Obtained data prove that all mineral waters in the Essentuki field are infiltration waters, and the heterogeneous component composition of waters circulating in different aquifers reflects the lithological composition of water-bearing strata, the rate of openness/closure of faults and the intensity of reactions in the «water-rock-gas-organic matter» system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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20 pages, 11842 KiB  
Article
The Genesis Mechanism and Health Risk Assessment of High Boron Water in the Zhaxikang Geothermal Area, South Tibet
by Liang Li, Yingchun Wang, Hongyu Gu, Lianghua Lu, Luping Li, Jumei Pang and Feifei Chen
Water 2022, 14(20), 3243; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203243 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2859
Abstract
The natural discharge of geothermal water containing harmful components affects the water quality of the surrounding environment and brings security risks to drinking water safety. The geothermal water in Tibet is characterized by high boron content, but the water pollution caused by the [...] Read more.
The natural discharge of geothermal water containing harmful components affects the water quality of the surrounding environment and brings security risks to drinking water safety. The geothermal water in Tibet is characterized by high boron content, but the water pollution caused by the discharge of this high boron geothermal water is not clear. In this study, we collected geothermal water and surface water from the Zhaxikang geothermal system in southern Tibet to investigate the causes of high boron geothermal water and the water pollution of water quality by its discharge. The results indicate that the hydrochemical type of geothermal water was HCO3-Cl-Na, while that of cold spring water, mine water, river water, and lake water was SO4-HCO3-Ca-Mg. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes show that the recharge source of cold groundwater was mainly snow-melting water and meteoric water, while in addition to that, there is magmatic water for hot springs. The boron content of geothermal water in the study area is as high as 42.36 mg/L, far exceeding the World Health Organization limit for drinking water (0.5 mg/L). The analysis of ion components and PHREEQC modeling indicated that the dissolution of silicate minerals and cation exchange controlled the composition of groundwater, and the boron in groundwater mainly came from the volatilization of magmatic components and the leaching of shallow sediments. The entropy weight water quality index was used to evaluate the water quality of the study area; about 42.9% of the groundwater samples are of good quality and can be used for drinking, mainly cold water that has not been mixed with geothermal water in the upstream. With the discharge of geothermal water into the river (with a mix ratio of ~20%), the downstream water quality gradually deteriorated. The health risk assessment of drinking water in the study area showed that the hazard index (HI) of drinking water in the mixed area was higher than 1 (with an average of 1.594 for children and 1.366 for adults), indicating that children are at a higher health risk than adults. Geothermal water with high boron content has been found all over the world, and the adverse effects of its natural drainage cannot be ignored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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21 pages, 3894 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Microbial Profiling and Tracer Testing for the Characterization of Injector-Producer Interwell Connectivities
by Yuran Zhang, Anne E. Dekas, Adam J. Hawkins, John Carlo Primo, Oxana Gorbatenko and Roland N. Horne
Water 2022, 14(18), 2921; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182921 - 18 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2758
Abstract
Insufficient understanding of the microbial communities and associated microbial processes in geological reservoirs hinders the utilization of this rich data source for improved resource management. In this study, along with four interwell tracer tests at a 1478-m deep fractured crystalline-rock aquifer, we analyzed [...] Read more.
Insufficient understanding of the microbial communities and associated microbial processes in geological reservoirs hinders the utilization of this rich data source for improved resource management. In this study, along with four interwell tracer tests at a 1478-m deep fractured crystalline-rock aquifer, we analyzed the microbial communities in the injected and produced water by high-throughput sequencing. The microbial community similarities across boreholes during an interwell flow scenario frequently encountered in reservoir development was explored. Despite the significant tracer recoveries (~30%) in all tracer tests and the cumulatively >100,000 L of exogenous water (carrying exogenous microbes) injected into the 10-m-scale reservoir, the overall structure of produced-fluid microbiome did not increasingly resemble that of the injectate. However, producers with better connectivity with the injector (based on tracer test results) did have more amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that overlapped with those in the injectate. We identified possible drivers behind our observations and verified the practicality of repeated microbial sampling in the context of reservoir characterization and long-term monitoring. We highlight that injector-producer microbial profiling could provide insights on the relative connectivities across different producers with a given injector, and that the associated logistical needs may be comparable or even less than that of classic tracer tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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14 pages, 24083 KiB  
Article
Variations of Stable Isotopes in Daily Precipitation in a Monsoon Region
by Jie Li, Zhonghe Pang, Lijun Tian, Hongyi Zhao and Guoying Bai
Water 2022, 14(18), 2891; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182891 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2242
Abstract
The stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in precipitation provide a useful reference for the study of hydrological processes, but concerns have been raised regarding the established patterns in their variations in a monsoon climate zone. In this study, stable isotopes (δ18 [...] Read more.
The stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in precipitation provide a useful reference for the study of hydrological processes, but concerns have been raised regarding the established patterns in their variations in a monsoon climate zone. In this study, stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) of 539 daily precipitation samples from seven hydrometeorological stations in the Beijing area were used to investigate short-term isotopic variations and the controlling factors at a region with a monsoon climate. The δ18O in the precipitation increases from the northwest to the south, which is controlled by the monsoon from the south and continental moisture from the northwest. Consistently, both the high δ18O values and low deuterium excess values from May to September reveal the impact of the monsoon. The amount effect is significant during the monsoon season. In contrast, the T effect is significant, with a gradient of 0.4‰ per °C during the non-monsoon season. A Rayleigh distillation model indicates that the moisture source and residual vapor fraction are the two most important factors in controlling the δ18O patterns in precipitation in a monsoon region, independent of temperature. The result of this study is helpful for the understanding of the regional atmospheric water cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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17 pages, 4370 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Shallow Groundwater Circulation Based on Chemical Kinetics: A Case Study of Xiong’an New Area, China
by Yubo Xia, Haitao Li, Bing Wang, Zhen Ma, Xu Guo, Kai Zhao and Changrong Zhao
Water 2022, 14(12), 1880; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121880 - 11 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2234
Abstract
Xiong’an New Area, located in the middle of the North China Plain, will have been built as a “city of the future.” Urban planning and construction need to comprehensively consider the constraints of hydrogeological conditions such as aquifer structure and parameters. As the [...] Read more.
Xiong’an New Area, located in the middle of the North China Plain, will have been built as a “city of the future.” Urban planning and construction need to comprehensively consider the constraints of hydrogeological conditions such as aquifer structure and parameters. As the main aquifer in this area, the paleo-channel is heterogeneous and anisotropic, and the two-dimensional hydraulic conductivity in each horizontal direction cannot be obtained from aquifer tests. Therefore, this study adopts a chemical kinetics method to calculate the ionic activity and mineral saturation indices of shallow groundwater, determine the groundwater chemical potential field, and construct a horizontal two-dimensional groundwater chemical kinetics model. This model is used to calculate the hydraulic conductivity, flow rate and retention time of groundwater in areas of different chemical kinetics, as well as evaluate horizontal heterogeneity of the Quaternary paleo-channel aquifer. The results indicate that the groundwater chemical potential field can reflect the characteristics of the groundwater seepage field in each horizontal direction. The paleo-channel is the main channel of groundwater circulation, which shows the statistical difference of its permeability. Alluvial and lacustrine strata affect groundwater circulation due to their different hydrogeological structures and permeability. The groundwater chemical kinetics results of hydraulic conductivity along the paleo-channel are approximately consistent with traditional hydrogeological calculation results derived from aquifer test data. Hydraulic conductivity is higher in the extension direction of the paleo-channel, and lower if the path crosscuts multiple paleo-channels. This feature can be used to build a hydrogeological structure model combined with drilling data. Furthermore, excessive groundwater exploitation will change the actual flow rate and retention time of groundwater, thereby affecting the groundwater circulation conditions. This study of groundwater circulation in Xiong’an New Area by means of chemical kinetics makes up for the deficiency in the study of the unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer anisotropy within the paleo-channel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrochemistry and Isotopes in Groundwater Investigations)
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