• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.529-541
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• 2009

Hydrochemical, stable isotopic ($\delta^{18}O$ and dD) and noble gas isotopic analyses of seven hot spring water samples, eleven groundwater samples and six surface water samples collected from the Icheon and Pocheon area were carried out to find out hydrochemical characteristics, and to interpret the source of noble gases and the geochemical evolution of the hot spring waters. The hot spring waters show low temperature type ranging from 21.5 to $31.4^{\circ}C$ and the pH value between 6.69 and 9.21. Electrical conductivity of hot spring waters has the range from 310 to $735\;{\mu}S/cm$. Whereas the hot spring water in the Icheon area shows the geochemical characteristics of neutral pH, the $Ca-HCO_3$(or $Ca(Na)-HCO_3$) chemical type and a high uranium content, the hot spring water in the Pocheon area shows the characteristics of alkaline pH, the $Na-HCO_3$ chemical type and a high fluorine content. These characteristics indicate that the hot spring water in the Icheon area is under the early stage in the geochemical evolution, and that the hot spring water in the Pocheon area has been geochemically evolved. The $\delta^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ values of hot spring waters show the range of $-10.1{\sim}-8.69%o$ and from $-72.2{\sim}-60.8%o$, respectively, and these values supply the information of the recharge area of hot spring waters. The $^3He/^4He$ ratios of the hot spring waters range from $0.09\;{\times}\;10^{-6}$ to $0.65\;{\times}\;10^{-6}$ which are plotted above the mixing line between air and crustal components. Whereas the helium gas in the Icheon hot spring water was mainly provided from the atmospheric source mixing with the mantle(or magma) origin, the origin of helium gas in the Pocheon hot spring water shows a dominant crustal source. $^{40}Ar/^{36}Ar$ ratios of hot spring water are in the range of an atmosphere source.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.239-256
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics of emergency-use groundwater in the Daejeon area, and to elucidate the contamination source of $NO_3-N$ and the origin of sulfate in the groundwater. The groundwater shows weak acidic pH, the electrical conductivity ranging from 142 to $903{\;}\mu\textrm{S}/cm$, and the hydrochemical types of $Ca-HCo_3$ and $Ca-Cl(SO_4,{\;}NO_3)$. The Box-Whisker analysis and the Krigging analysis of chemical data of groundwater were made to demonstrate the concentration distribution of hydrochemical composition, and to compare the trend of hydrochemical data. The groundwater in the area of Dong-gu, Jung-gu and Daeduk-gu, where are old town, shows higher electrical conductivity, nitrate content, sulfate and $EpCO_2$ levels than groundwater in new town area of Seo-gu and Yusung-gu. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of groundwater in the area of Seo-gu and Yusung-gu ranges from +7.4 to $+9.6{\textperthousand}$, indicating that major contamination source of $NO_3-N$ is the leakage from municipal sewage pipe lines. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of groundwater in the old town area of Tong-gu, Jung-gu and Daeduk-gu shows the range between +10.2 and $+23.5{\textperthousand}$, meaning that major contamination source is leakage of septic tank. ${\delta}^{34}S$ of groundwater shows the range of $+3~13.4{\;}{\textperthousand}$. Sulfur isotope indicates the possibility of a sulfate reduction and the input of anthrophogenic source.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

This study aims to prepare a technical protocol for identifying the source of nitrate in water using nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) stable isotope ratios. The technical processes for nitrate sources identification are composed of site investigation, sample collection and analysis, isotope analysis, source identification using isotope characteristics, and source apportionment for multiple potential sources with the Bayesian isotope mixing model. Characteristics of various nitrate potential sources are reviewed, and their typical ranges of δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O are comparatively analyzed and summarized. This study also summarizes the current knowledge on the dual-isotope approach and how to correlate the field-relevant information such as land use and hydrochemical data to the nitrate source identification.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.119-120
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• 2004

Urban groundwater has a unique hydrologic system because of the complex surface and subsurface infrastructures such as deep foundation of many high buildings, subway systems, and sewers and public water supply systems. It generally has been considered that increased surface impermeability reduces the amount of groundwater recharge. On the other hand, leaks from sewers and public water supply systems may generate the large amounts of recharges. All of these urban facilities also may change the groundwater quality by the recharge of a myriad of contaminants. This study was performed to determine the factors controlling the recharge of deep groundwater in an urban area, based on the hydrogeochemical characteristics. The term ‘contamination’ in this study means any kind of inflow of shallow groundwater regardless of clean or contaminated. For this study, urban groundwater samples were collected from a total of 310 preexisting wells with the depth over 100 m. Random sampling method was used to select the wells for this study. Major cations together with Si, Al, Fe, Pb, Hg and Mn were analyzed by ICP-AES, and Cl, N $O_3$, N $H_4$, F, Br, S $O_4$and P $O_4$ were analyzed by IC. There are two groups of groundwater, based on hydrochemical characteristics. The first group is distributed broadly from Ca-HC $O_3$ type to Ca-C1+N $O_3$ type; the other group is the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type. The latter group is considered to represent the baseline quality of deep groundwater in the study area. Using the major ions data for the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type water, we evaluated the extent of groundwater contamination, assuming that if subtract the baseline composition from acquired data for a specific water, the remaining concentrations may indicate the degree of contamination. The remainder of each solute for each sample was simply averaged. The results showed that both Ca and HC $O_3$ represent the typical solutes which are quite enriched in urban groundwater. In particular, the P$CO_2$ values calculated using PHREEQC (version 2.8) showed a correlation with the concentrations of maior inorganic components (Na, Mg, Ca, N $O_3$, S $O_4$, etc.). The p$CO_2$ values for the first group waters widely ranged between about 10$^{-3.0}$ atm to 10$^{-1.0}$ atm and differed from those of the background water samples belonging to the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type (<10$^{-3.5}$ atm). Considering that the p$CO_2$ of soil water (near 10$^{-1.5}$ atm), this indicates that inflow of shallow water is very significant in deep groundwaters in the study area. Furthermore, the P$CO_2$ values can be used as an effective parameter to estimate the relative recharge of shallow water and thus the contamination susceptibility. The results of our present study suggest that down to considerable depth, urban groundwater in crystalline aquifer may be considerably affected by the recharge of shallow water (and pollutants) from an adjacent area. We also suggest that for such evaluation, careful examination of systematically collected hydrochemical data is requisite as an effective tool, in addition to hydrologic and hydrogeologic interpretation.ion.ion.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2016

To understand the difference of runoff discharge processes between Gwangneung deciduous and coniferous forest catchments, we collected hydrological data (e.g., precipitation, soil moisture, runoff discharge) and conducted hydrochemical analyses in the deciduous and coniferous forest catchments in Gwangneung National Arboretum in the northwest part of South Korea. Based on the end-member mixing analysis of the three storm events during the summer monsoon in 2005, the hillslope runoff in the deciduous forest catchment was higher 20% than the coniferousforest catchment during the firststorm event. Howerver, hillslope runoff increased from the second storm event in the coniferous catchment. We conclude that low soil water contents and topographical gradient characteristics highly influence runoff in the coniferous forest catchment during the first storm events. In general, coniferous forests are shown high interception loss and low soil moisture compared to the deciduous forests. It may also be more likely to be a reduction in soil porosity development when artificial coniferous forests reduced soil biodiversity. The forest soil porosity is an important indicator to determine the water recharge of the forest. Therefore, in order to secure the water resources, it should be managed coniferous forests for improving soil biodiversity and porosity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.241-252
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• 2000

Twenty-two water samples(fifteen groundwater and seven geothermal water samples) were collected to elucidate chemical characteristics of the ground and geothermal waters in the Haeundae hot spring area and its vicinity. Major and honor elements were analyzed for ground and geothermal water samples. The concentrations of $K^+$, Na+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $Cl^-$, ^F^-$ and $SiO_2$ were higher in the geothermal water samples than the groundwater samples except $HCO_3^- and Mg^{2+}$ ions. Based on the contents of Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, Mn and Pb, some of the ground and geothermal water samples are contaminated by anthropogenic sources. The ground waters shown on the Piper diagram belong to $Ca-HCO_3$ type, while the geothermal waters Na-Cl type. The graphs of $Cl^-$ versus $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}, Mg^{2+}, K^+, SO_4^{2-} and HCO_3^-$ indicate that the groundwater is related partly with mineral-water reaction and partly with anthropogenic contamination, while the geothermal water is related with saline water. On the phase stability diagram, groundwater and thermal water mostly fall in the field of stability of kaolinite. This indicates that the ground and geothermal waters proceed with forming kaolinite. Factor and correlation analyses were carried out to simplify the physicochemical data into grouping some factors and to find interaction between them. Based on the Na-K, Na-K-Ca and Na-K-Ca-Mg geothermometers and silica geothermometers, the geothermal reservoir is estimated to have equilibrium temperature between 125${$\mid$circ}C$ and 160${$\mid$circ}C$.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2011

Hydrochemical and carbon isotopic (${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$) analyses of 11 water samples, and noble gas isotopic analyses of 8 water samples collected in the Kyeoungbuk and Kangwon areas of Korea were performed to determine their hydrochemical characteristics and to interpret the source of noble gases and $CO_2$ gas in the water. The carbonated mineral waters are weakly acidic (PH = 5.59-6.04), and electrical conductivity ranges from 302 to $864\;{\mu}S/cm$. The chemical composition of all the water samples is Ca-$HCO_3$ type. The high contents of Fe and Mn exceed the safe limits for drinking water. The ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ values of the samples range from -5.30‰ to -2.84‰, indicating that the carbon is supplied mainly from a deep-seated source and to a lesser degree from an inorganic carbonate source. The $^3He/^4He$ ratios of the samples range from $1.51{\times}10^{-6}$ to $6.45{\times}10^{-6}$. The samples plot into three groups on a $^3He/^4He$ versus $^4He/^{20}Ne$ diagram: the deep-seated field (e.g., a mantle source), the atmospheric field, and the air-mantle mixing field. A wide range of $^4He/^{20}Ne$ ratios is observed ($0.036{\times}10^{-6}$ to $1.76{\times}10^{-6}$), indicating that while radiogenic $^4He$ is dominant in these water samples, mantle-origin He is also present. The supply of $CO_2$ gas and noble gases from a deep-seated source to carbonated waters is inferred to be controlled by geological structures such as faults and geological boundaries.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

Groundwater flow paths and groundwater ages at a radioactive waste repository located in a coastal area of South Korea were evaluated using the hydrochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater, surface water, rain water, and seawater, as well as by numerical modeling. The average groundwater travel time in the top layer of the model, evaluated by numerical modeling and groundwater age (34 years), approximately corresponds to the groundwater age obtained by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 analysis (26-34 years). The data suggest that the groundwater in wells in the study area originated up-gradient at distances of 140-230 m. Results of CFC analyses, along with seasonal variations in the δ¹⁸O and δD values of groundwater and the relationships between ²²²Rn concentrations and δ¹⁸O values and between ²²²Rn concentrations and δD values, indicate that groundwater recharge occurs in the summer rainy season and discharge occurs in the winter dry season. Additionally, a linear relationship between dissolved SiO₂ concentrations and groundwater ages indicates that natural mineralization is affected by the dilution of groundwater recharge in the rainy summer season.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the hydrogeochemical and microbiological characteristics for stable maintenance of coastal LPG storage cavern. Cavern seepage water and groundwater in the vicinity of the LPG storage cavern were sampled and analyzed (February, May, August and October 2007). Groundwater samples of propane cavern showed high pHs of 8.1~12.4 due to dissolution of cement grouting materials that had been applied during the well and cavern construction. The EC values showed distinctive seasonal variation. The negative ORP indicated reduced condition. The seepage and surrounding groundwater are classified as Na-Cl type, which represents seawater effects. All of aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, slime forming bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria were less than 500 CFU/mL, which indicated that there was no abrupt increase of bacteria in the cavern. Therefore there exist no hydrochemical symptoms to indicate unstable conditions of the cavern operation. However, regular and continuous monitoring is essentially required.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.472-472
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• 2004

Numerous studies on urban groundwater have been carried out in many other countries. Urban groundwater shows a unique hydrologic system because of complex urban characteristics such as road pavement, sewers and public water supply systems. These urban facilities may change the characteristics of groundwater recharge but contaminate its quality as well. There have been several researches on urban groundwater in Seoul. Seoul has been industrialized very rapidly so that the city has large population. The recent population in Seoul amounts to more than ten millions, corresponding to a very high density of about 17, 000 people/km$^2$. Therefore, many factors affect the groundwater quality and quantity in Seoul. Nowadays, groundwater in Seoul is being extracted for construction, industrial use, and drinking and so on. There are 15, 714 wells in Seoul and its annual usage is 41, 425, 977m$^3$(in 2001). Therefore, systematic studies are needed to properly manage and use the groundwater in Seoul. The purposes of this study in progress are to identify geochemical characteristics of groundwater in Seoul and to determine the extent of groundwater contamination and its relationship with urban characteristics. For this study, groundwater was sampled from more than 400 preexisting wells that were randomly selected throughout the Seoul area. For all samples, major cations together with Si, Al, Fe, Pb, Hg For 200 samples among them, TCE, PCE, BTEX were also analyzed by GC. Our study shows that groundwater types of Seoul are distributed broadly from Ca-HCO$_3$ type to Ca-Cl＋NO$_3$ type. The latter type indicates anthropogenic contamination. Among cations, Ca is generally high in most samples. In some samples, Na and K are dominant. The dominant anions change widely from HCO$_3$ to Cl＋NO$_3$. The anion composition is considered to effectively indicate the contribution of distinct anthropogenic sources. In addition, major ions are positively proportional to total dissolved solid (TDS) except K and NO$_3$. Thus, we consider that TDS may be used as an effective indicator of the extent of pollution. However, the increase of TDS may result from increased water-rock interaction. To determine the extent of groundwater contamination, it is needed to figure out the baseline water quality in Seoul. Furthermore, detailed geochemical studies are required to find out pollution sources and their corresponding hydrochemical parameters.