• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.556-570
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• 2021

This study presents the data analysis results of groundwater chemistry and the occurrence of fluoride in groundwater obtained from the groundwater quality monitoring network of Korea. The groundwater data were collected from the National Groundwater Information Center and censored for erratic values and charge balance (±10%). From the geochemical graphs and various ionic ratios, it was observed that the Ca-HCO₃ type was predominant in Korean groundwater. In addition, water-rock interaction was identified as a key chemical process controlling groundwater chemistry, while precipitation and evaporation were found to be less important. According to a non-parametric trend test, at p=0.05, the concentration of fluoride in groundwater did not increase significantly and only 4.3% of the total groundwater exceeded the Korean drinking water standard of 1.5 mg/L. However, student t-tests revealed that the fluoride concentrations were closely associated with the lithologies of tuff, granite porphyry, and metamorphic rocks showing distinctively high levels. This study enhances our understanding of groundwater chemical composition and major controlling factors of fluoride occurrence and distribution in Korean groundwater.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.430-433
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• 2003

Nitrogen pollution in urban and rural groundwater is a common problem and poses a major threat to drinking water supplies based on groundwater. In this work, the kinetics of nitrification-denitrification coupled reactions are modeled and new reaction modules for the RT3D code describing the fate and transport of nitrogen species, dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon, and biomass are developed and tested. The proposed nitrogen transformations and transport model showed very good match with the results of other public codes.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 1993

This survey was carried out to take the status of seawater intrusion into groundwater wells located in the eastern area of Chejudo, to get the elementary data which may evaluate the level of would-be groundwater contamination, and to perform effective the effort that will supply the clear water for the residents. The sampling sites were northeastern districts of Haengwon, Handong, and Sangdo, southeastern districts of Susan, Nansan, and Samdal, and northwestern districts, as reference, of Aewol, Keumnung, Panpo, Kosan, Shindo, and Bosung. We collected the samples from the public tap water by month, and analysed electrical conductivity, sodium(Na), potassium(K), magnesium(Mg), calcium(Ca), bicarbonate($HC0_{3^-}$), and items of the criteria as drinking water. In the northeastern districts we also added the sampling sites to survey the fluctuations of dissolved solids according to distance from seashore, including two private boreholes and one public tap water of Dukchun. The result is as follows 1) In the northeastern district, the concentration of chloride ion showed large fluctations from 40mg/l to 100mg/l, but suitable for the criteria of drinking water. It was thought that the drought influenced. 2) In the Sangdo of the northeastern districts, similar tendancy to Hangwon and Handong was showed only in the concentration of chloride ion, but different tendancy was showed in chloride-bicarbonate ratio, calcium-magnesium ratio, and sodium adsorption ratio(SAR). Considering these facts, it was not thought that seawater intruded. 3) The components of Na and Cl showed rapid slope in the northeastern districts above 3km from seashore. 4) In the northwestern districts as reference, the concentration of chloride ion fluctuated slightly according to the sampling sites and dates, and the concentration of nitrate-nitrogen in some sites exceeded the criteria of drinking water. These were thought that the surface contaminants rather than the intrusion of seawater influenced mainly the groundwater, considering the correlation(r=0.732) of chloride ion and nitrate-nitrogen. 5) Then we must consider the regional characteristies of soil profile in order to prevent the contamination of groundwater, and moniter also the movement of main components within the sol1 profile, not only the research of the intrusion of seawater.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2016

Objectives: To ensure the microbiological safety of groundwater, it was confirmed whether waterborne pathogenic bacteria in groundwater samples tested positive for total coliforms in the Chungcheongnam-do Province region. Methods: Total colony counts, total coliforms and fecal coliforms were tested according to the process mandated by the drinking water quality testing standards of Korea. DNA was extracted from the samples, tested positive for total coliforms, and then subjected to real-time PCR to detect waterborne pathogenic bacteria. Results: A total of 115 samples were inadequate for drinking water. Thirty-one cases (27%) showed positive for fecal coliforms and nine cases (7.8%) showed total colony counts exceeding drinking water standards. Twenty-seven cases (23.5%) showed three items (total colony counts, total coliforms and fecal coliforms). Using the real-time PCR method, waterborne pathogens were detected in 57 cases (49.6%) in 115 samples. Seventy-eight cases of waterborne pathogenic bacteria were detected (including duplications): 27 cases of pathogenic E. coli (EPEC (19), ETEC (5), EHEC (1), EAEC (1) and EIEC (1)); 45 of Bacillus cereus; two of Yersinia spp.; two of Salmonella spp.; one of Staphylococcus aureus; one of Clostridium perfringens. Conclusion: The real-time PCR method can offer rapid and accurate detection of waterborne pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, this assay could be an alternative to conventional culture methods and can further ensure the microbiological safety of groundwater.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2020

As studies and developments of nano-material increase, the release of the nano-sized material to water environment increase. Especially, silver nanoparticles have been found as dissolved and particulate state since nano-silver particle have been intensively used in industrial and our living environment due to the anti-bacterial effect of the nano-particles. The silver nano-particles and silver ion gives adverse effect on ecology and US-EPA set a secondary drinking water standards as 0.1 mg/L. Current study focused on the analysis of silver in groundwater, small scale water supply systems in Gyeongbook area. The results have been compared with the secondary drinking water standards and discussed at the point of characteristics of the local area and purpose of use of the water sample. Among the total of 298 samples, 2 samples exceed the secondary drinking water standards of EPA, 0.64% rate. Community drinking water and simplified water service showed relatively high detection rate and groundwater gave relatively higher concentration of silver indicating anthropogenic source and natural source could contribute simultaneously on groundwater.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.143-149
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• 2011

In order to figure out the characteristics of radionuclides concentrations of nine provinces, we analyzed uranium and radon in 681 samples of groundwater. Most of uranium concentrations in each province were less than $10{\mu}g/L$, and Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Jeju provinces did not have groundwaters exceeding the US EPA drinking water MCL ($30{\mu}g/L$) of uranium. The ratio of radon values exceeding US EPA drinking water AMCL (4,000 pCi/L) was 22.6% (154/681) and Gyeongnam and Jeju provinces had no groundwaters exceeding the AMCL (alternative maximum contaminant level). Uranium and radon concentrations in groundwaters of Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Chungnam mainly composed of the Mesozoic granite and the Precambrian gneiss were relatively high, but the concentrations of Gyeongnam and Jeju widely comprised of the sedimentary rock and the volcanic rock were relatively low. A week correlation between uranium and radon values showed in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi provinces.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.9-27
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• 2018

In recent years, the sales of bottled spring water (BSW) have been drastically increasing in Korea and other countries, which accompanied great interests in conservation and reclamation of natural mineral water (NMW). In this study, management and research activities on NMW in Europe, USA, and Codex Alimentarius were reviewed. In each region, NMW is regulated with its own quality standards that differ from ordinary drinking water, and management actions are strictly implemented to protect water resources and to secure quality of NMW. Many studies on NMW were carried out for monitoring inorganic constituents including major and trace elements in national levels for bottled NMW, groundwater, and tap water in other countries. In Korea, NMW became commercialized in 1995 when BSW was legally approved as a drinking water. To further promote utilization of various types of NMW in Korea, regulations and policies for NMW need to be revised in accordance with international NMW management trends. Further, studies of NMW that compile a comprehensive set of physical and chemical parameters of NMW are also needed to properly understand occurrences, hydrogeological and geochemical processes of NMW, as well as to evaluate its potential use as a natural resource.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.754-761
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• 2012

Several drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) produce the bottled tap waters (BTWs) as pilot production and provide them for noncommercial use. In 2008, acetaldehyde and chloral hydrate were detected in some BTWs and the public worry over the safety of the water. In this study, the BTWs produced from 7 DWTPs were tested for 13 chemicals including disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The level of four trihalomethanes (THMs) were increased up to 15 days. The average concentration of them was 0.0075 mg/L at the time of bottling and it was increased to 0.0214 mg/L after 15 days. The average acetaldehyde concentration was 0.0406 mg/L at the time of bottling but it was went up to 0.2251 mg/L after 11 days and then decreased. Although the initial concentrations of DBPs were below the drinking water standard, we also traced them at different storage conditions. Temperature affected the formations of THMs and acetaldehyde concentrations significantly. While the average concentration of THMs ranged from 0.0113 to 0.0182 mg/L at $25^{\circ}C$, it was increased to 0.0132 ~ 0.0256 mg/L at $50^{\circ}C$. In case of acetaldehyde, concentration ranged from 0.0901 to 0.2251 mg/L at $25^{\circ}C$, it was increased to 0.3394 ~ 1.0591 mg/L at $50^{\circ}C$. Throughout the tests with 7 BTWs samples, none of the chemicals was exceeded the drinking water standard of Korea. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid the exposure of BTWs to sunlight or high temperature during distribution and storage.

• KCID journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 1995

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2022

This work aims to assess the threat to human health of hazardous materials in groundwater that is used domestically and for drinking. Two distinct sub-assessments are considered: cancer and non-cancer risk. The studied groundwater is in an agricultural area of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, and is contaminated by arsenic at a mean level of 16.27 ㎍/L, far greater than the WHO guideline (10 ㎍/L for drinking water). We collected groundwater data from the National Groundwater Information Center (gims.go.kr) and assessed the risk to human health following the methodology of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We considered three exposure scenarios: domestic use (scenario 1) and drinking use with different doses (scenarios 2 and 3). Scenario 1 had a median hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.77 and a cancer risk (CR) of 0.013. Scenario 2 had a median HQ of 0.08 and a CR of 3.69 × 10^-5, and the values for scenario 3 were 0.11 and 4.82 × 10^-5, respectively. Scenario 1 is likely the most hazardous to human health. Further study of the origin of arsenic in groundwater in the study area is required, as are remedial measures to mitigate its health effects.