Survey and zoning the concentration of heavy metals in the water of wells along the Sistan River from zero point border to Hamoun International Wetland

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular Article

Authors

1 Former M.Sc. Student/ Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Assistant Professor/ Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Assistant Professor/ Department of Natural Ecosystems, Hamoun International Wetland Research Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
The main activity of people in the Sistan region is agriculture and animal husbandry, which due to the drought and the unavailability of surface water and the intermittent flow of water in the Sistan River, the digging of irrigation wells has expanded in this area. The Sistan River continues of Afghanistan's Helmand River, which passes through agricultural and urban areas. Therefore, it is possible that some kinds of pollutants, especially heavy metals, can come from different sources. On the other hand, after entering the Sistan Plain, the river affects the water level of wells along the river. Therefore, in case of contamination, it may increase the concentration of heavy metals in wells. However, until now, the concentration of heavy metals in the water wells has not been investigated and only the salinity factor has been considered from the point of view of water quality. The quality of drinking water is associated with the concentration of physicochemical compounds such as nitrate, phosphate, various anions and cations, and organic and inorganic pollutants such as heavy metals. Drinking water contaminated with metals is turning into a primary health concern for human health care. Therefore, surveying the quality of water can be helpful in management. The aim of this study is to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in the wells along the Sistan River, in order to ensure the quality of water for agriculture, husbandry, and human consumption.
 
Materials and Methods
In this research, in order to ensure the appropriate quality of water in terms of the concentration of heavy metals and also the possible effect of EC and pH factors on their changes, the concentration of some elements and factors were mentioned in the water samples of 26 active wells. The samples were collected along the Sistan River (with a maximum distance of 1000 meters buffer zone) from the border point to the entrance to Hamoun Hirmand (Afzal-Abad branch, Lorg Bagh and Khwaje mountain) from January to March 2022. According to the investigation of the Afzal-Abad branch and the absence of wells, no samples were obtained from this section. At the same time as the sampling, the characteristics of the well, such as the year of establishment and the type of water usage were recorded. Sampling was done in three repetitions and during sampling pH, EC, TDS, and salinity variables were measured by a portable calibrated device and recorded three times. The collected samples were transferred to the laboratory in order to measure heavy metals in sterilized frosted glass containers. The standard method of the American Public Health Association (APHA) was used to measure each of the considered factors. After the preparation of samples, the concentration of heavy metals was measured with ICP. The obtained results were zoned using the normal kriging and co-kriging methods based on the selected model resulting from the prediction standard error. Geostatistical kriging methods (such as simple kriging, normal kriging, and co-kriging) were used for interpolation of heavy metals distribution. In the semi-variable analysis, the variability of the factors with respect to the spatial distance was organized by different linear, spherical, etc. functions using ArcGIS software.
 
Results and Discussion
The average amount of pH was measured at 8.31. The concentrations of salinity and TDS were 3.74 and 4.62 g l-1, respectively. EC value was also measured as 6322 µS/cm. The average concentration of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb was also obtained at 2.64, 124, 10, 5.9, 33, 17, 1.43, and 2.79 µg l-1 respectively. The trend of elements obtained Fe>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd. The results indicated a low concentration of Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn While Pb concentration was higher than the standard. The low concentration of the mentioned elements is due to the alkaline pH of water, which acts as a buffer and causes the elements to become insoluble and precipitate. Some dangerous elements such as mercury could not be measured due to their low concentration. The amount of salinity and EC factors also showed that the well water is not suitable for agriculture and livestock. The result of element zoning also showed that the concentration of metals increases from the border towards the lake. According to the age of the wells, it can be said that the reason for the decrease in the concentration of metals is due to the longer life of the wells and the chance of water mixing during the Sistan River water harvesting.
 
Conclusion
The result showed that the concentration of metals, except lead, is lower than the standard value. The low concentration of elements may be due to the alkaline condition of water, which acts as a buffer and causes the insoluble and finally precipitate. Or it can be due to the lower concentration in the bedrock, which can be obtained by surveying the geology of the bed of the wells. The variation in metal concentration among the sampling sites may be due to the age of the well. So up to the Sistan dam, where the wells are older, the concentration of elements is lower. It may be due to river flow, which can cause dilution of metals in wells during high water season. According to the amount of salinity and EC, irrigation with water can cause a quality decrease of soil that leads to loss of cultivated area. Moreover, the fact that water is not suitable for livestock and alternative sources should be introduced.

Highlights

References

Aamizadegan, A., & Asrari, E. (2018). Investigating the concentration of heavy metals in drinking water wells in Jahrom city. First National Conference on safety, health and Environment. 2018-10-18, Tehran, Iran, Pp. 1-9. https://civilica.com/doc/854786 [In Persian]

AL-Huqail, A.A., Kumar, P., Eid, E.M., Adelodun, B., Abou Fayssal, S., Singh, J., Arya, A.K., Goala, M., Kumar, V., & Širi´C, I. (2022). Risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in soil and two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties irrigated with paper mill effluent. Agriculture, 12, 1864. doi:10.3390/agriculture12111864

APHA. (2017). Standard method for examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association.

Arsalan, H., & Turan, N.A. (2015). Estimation of spatial distribution of heavy metals in groundwater using interpolation methods and multivariate statistical techniques; its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(8), 4725. doi: 10.1007/s10661-015-4725-x

Arshadi, A., & Zare, J. (2020). Technical and productivity assessment study fish culture in reservoir pond in Sistan province. New Technologies in Aquaculture Development, 14(4), 8-18. dor:20.1001.1.20080026.1398.13.4.2.4 [In Persian]

Astuti, R.D.P., Mallongi, A., Amiruddin, R., Hatta, M., & Rauf, A.U. (2021). Risk identificationof heavy metals in well water surrounds watershed area of Pangkajene, Indonesia. Gasenta Sanitaria, 35(1), 33-37. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.12.010

Belkhiri, A., Tiri, A., & Mouni, L. (2020). Spatial distribution of groundwater quality using kringing and co-kriging interpolations. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 11, 100473. doi:10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100473

Cangemi, M., Madonia, P., Albano, L., Banfordeci, A., Figlia, M.G.D., Martino, R.M.R., Nicolos, M., & Favara, R. (2019). Heavy metal concentrations in the groundwater of the Barcellona-Milazzo plain (Italy): contributions from geogenic and anthropogenic sources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health, 16(2), 285. doi:10.3390/ijerph16020285

 Caporale, A., & Violante, A. (2016). Chemical processes affecting the mobility of heavy metals and metalloids in soil environments. Current Pollution Reports, 2(1), 0024. doi:10.1007/s40726-015-0024-y

Chai, T., & Draxler, R.R. (2014). Root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE)?–Arguments against avoiding RMSE in the literature. Geo Scientific Model Development, 7(3), 1247-1250. doi:10.5194/gmd-7-1247-2014, 2014

Cruz-Lopes, Luísa, P., Macena, M., Esteves, B., Guiné, & Raquel, P.F. (2021). Ideal pH for the adsorption of metal ions Cr6+, Ni2+, Pb2+ in aqueous solution with different adsorbent materials. Open Agriculture, 6(1), 115-123. doi:10.1515/opag-2021-0225

Docheshmeh Gorgij, A., & Asghari Moghaddam, A. (2019). Using of moran spatial autocorrelation index and bayesian kriging in groundwater quality assessment (case study: Azarshahr palin). Iranian Water Researches Journal, 13(2), 81-90. https://iwrj.sku.ac.ir/article_10638.html?lang=en [In Persian]

Einollahipeer, F., Ghaffari, M., & Dahmardeh Behrooz, R. (2020). Evaluation of urban wastewater with CWQI model for agriculture and aquaculture reuse (case study in Zabol, Sistan and Baloochestan, Iran). Journal of Animal Environment, 12(4), 581-592. doi: 10.22034/AEJ.2020.130405 [In Persian]

Fathi Hafshejani, E., & Beigi Harchegani, H. (2013). Spatial variability and mapping of nitrate and phosphate in shahrekord groundwater over a period of five years. Water and Soil Sciences, 17(65), 63-75. dor:20.1001.1.24763594.1392.17.65.14.6 [In Persian]

Fotouhi Firoozabad, F., Ekhtesasi, M.R., Sefid, M., & Morovvati Sharifabadi, A. (2018). Zonation and comparing quality characteristics of drinking water wells in the city of Yazd using geostatistics. Range and Watershed Managment, 71(1), 223-240. doi:10.22059/jrwm.2018.228480.1102 [In Persian]

Hafezi Moghadas, N., Solouki, H.R., Jalilvand, R., & Rahnama Rad, J. (2012). Sistan river engineering geomorphology study. Journal of Geotechnical Geology, 18(1), 1-18. https://www.sid.ir/paper/127099/en. [In Persian]

Joghatayi, H., Dabiri, R., Moslempour, M.E., Otari, M., & Sharifiyan Attar, R. (2015). Groundwater quality assessment using the groundwater quality index and gis in joghatay plain, ne Iran. Human and Environment, 13(4), 17-25. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1539008 [In Persian]

Kazemi, A., Esmaeilbeigi, M., Sahebi, Z., & Ansari, A. (2022). Health risk assessment of total chromium in the qanat as historical drinking water supplying system. Science of the Total Environment, 807, 150795. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150795

Keikha, M., Keikha, G.H., Akbari Moghadam, A., & Dahmardeh, K.H. (2014). Geological studies of the Sistan plain. Final report of research project, Research Project of Sistan Agriculture and Natural Research Center, 170-173 pages. [In Persian]

Khalili, R., Montaseri, H., Mottaghi, H., & Jalili, M. (2021a). Evaluation of water quality in the chalus river using the statistical analysis and water quality index (WQI). Water and Soil Management and Modeling, 1(3), 38-52. doi: 10.22098/MMWS.2021.9300.1031 [In Persian]

Khalili, R., Montaseri, H., Mottaghi, H., & Jalili, M.B. (2021b). Water quality assessment of the Talar River in Mazandaran Province based on a combination of water quality indicators and multivariate modeling. Water and Soil Management and Modeling, 1(4), 30-47. doi: 10.22098/MMWS.2021.9322.1033 [In Persian]

Khosravi, M. (2010).Temporal and Spatial Analysis of the Stability of the Hamoon Lakes. Iran-Water Resources Research, 6(3), 68-79. https://www.iwrr.ir/article_15984.html?lang=en [In Persian]

Magno, M., Luffman, I., & Nandi, A. (2021). Evaluating spatial regression-informed co- kriging of metals in soils near Abandoned Mines in Bumpus Cove, Tennessee, USA. Geosciences, 11(11), 434. doi:10.3390/geosciences11110434

Maghami, Y., Ghazavi, R., Vali, A.A., & Sharafi, S. (2011). Evaluation of spatial interpolation methods for water quality zoning using GIS Case study, Abadeh Township. Geography and Environmental Planning, 22(2), 171-182. dor:20.1001.1.20085362.1390.22.2.10.3 [In Persian]

Mughal, A., Sultan, K., Ashraf, K., Hassan, A., Zaman, Q.u., Haider, F.U., & Shahzad, B. (2022). Risk analysis of heavy metals and groundwater quality indices in residential areas: A Case Study in the Rajanpur District, Pakistan. Water, 14(21), 3551. doi:10.3390/w14213551

Pant, P.P., Tripathi, A.K., & Dwivedi, Vivek. (2011). Effect of heavy metals on some biochemical parameters of sal (Shorea robusta) seedling at nursery level, Doon Valley, India. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2(1), 45-51. doi:10.1080/09766898.2011.11884667

Piri, H., & Ansari, H. (2013). Study of drought in Sistan Plain and its impact on Hamoun international wetland. Wetland, 5(1), 63-74. https://www.sid.ir/paper/174970/en [In Persian]

Qiao, J., Zhu, Y., Jia, X., Shao, M., Niu, X., & Liu, J. (2020). Distributions of arsenic and other heavy metals, and health risk assessments for groundwater in the Guanzhong plain region of China. Environmental Research, 181(108957), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108957

Roodari, A., Hassanpour, F., Yaghoobzadeh, M., & Delavar, M. (2019). Investigation of relation between meteorological and hydrological drought in Sistan plain. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(6), 33-44. doi: 10.22034/JEST.2018.18561.2745 [In Persian]

Sadeghian, M., Rezaei, H., Behmanesh, J., & Khanmohammadi, N. (2018). Evaluation of groundwater quality parameters using GIS and Geostatistical (case study: Urmia plain). Iran-Water Resources Research, 14(2), 284-289. https://www.iwrr.ir/article_60705.html?lang=en. [In Persian]

Shen, R., Li, J., Yang, M., Zeng, M. (2015). Spatial distribution of heavy metals in roadside soils based on Voronoi diagram: a case study of Wuhan city. Communications in Computer and Information Sciences, 482, 732-739. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45737-5_71

Valinejhad, F., Hassani, A.H., & Sayadi, M. (2016). Investigation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Islamshahr groundwater resources and their regional distribution pattern in GIS. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 18(2), 187-199. https://journals.srbiau.ac.ir/article_9822.html. [In Persian]

Zhou, Q., Yang, N., Li, Y., Ren, B., Ding, X., Bian, H., & Yao, X. (2020). Total concentrations and sources of heavy metal pollution in global river and lake water bodies from 1972 to 2017. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, 00925. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00925

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
Aamizadegan, A., & Asrari, E. (2018). Investigating the concentration of heavy metals in drinking water wells in Jahrom city. First National Conference on safety, health and Environment. 2018-10-18, Tehran, Iran, Pp. 1-9. https://civilica.com/doc/854786 [In Persian]
AL-Huqail, A.A., Kumar, P., Eid, E.M., Adelodun, B., Abou Fayssal, S., Singh, J., Arya, A.K., Goala, M., Kumar, V., & Širi´C, I. (2022). Risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in soil and two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties irrigated with paper mill effluent. Agriculture, 12, 1864. doi:10.3390/agriculture12111864
APHA. (2017). Standard method for examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association.
Arsalan, H., & Turan, N.A. (2015). Estimation of spatial distribution of heavy metals in groundwater using interpolation methods and multivariate statistical techniques; its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(8), 4725. doi: 10.1007/s10661-015-4725-x
Arshadi, A., & Zare, J. (2020). Technical and productivity assessment study fish culture in reservoir pond in Sistan province. New Technologies in Aquaculture Development, 14(4), 8-18. dor:20.1001.1.20080026.1398.13.4.2.4 [In Persian]
Astuti, R.D.P., Mallongi, A., Amiruddin, R., Hatta, M., & Rauf, A.U. (2021). Risk identificationof heavy metals in well water surrounds watershed area of Pangkajene, Indonesia. Gasenta Sanitaria, 35(1), 33-37. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.12.010
Belkhiri, A., Tiri, A., & Mouni, L. (2020). Spatial distribution of groundwater quality using kringing and co-kriging interpolations. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 11, 100473. doi:10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100473
Cangemi, M., Madonia, P., Albano, L., Banfordeci, A., Figlia, M.G.D., Martino, R.M.R., Nicolos, M., & Favara, R. (2019). Heavy metal concentrations in the groundwater of the Barcellona-Milazzo plain (Italy): contributions from geogenic and anthropogenic sources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health, 16(2), 285. doi:10.3390/ijerph16020285
 Caporale, A., & Violante, A. (2016). Chemical processes affecting the mobility of heavy metals and metalloids in soil environments. Current Pollution Reports, 2(1), 0024. doi:10.1007/s40726-015-0024-y
Chai, T., & Draxler, R.R. (2014). Root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE)?–Arguments against avoiding RMSE in the literature. Geo Scientific Model Development, 7(3), 1247-1250. doi:10.5194/gmd-7-1247-2014, 2014
Cruz-Lopes, Luísa, P., Macena, M., Esteves, B., Guiné, & Raquel, P.F. (2021). Ideal pH for the adsorption of metal ions Cr6+, Ni2+, Pb2+ in aqueous solution with different adsorbent materials. Open Agriculture, 6(1), 115-123. doi:10.1515/opag-2021-0225
Docheshmeh Gorgij, A., & Asghari Moghaddam, A. (2019). Using of moran spatial autocorrelation index and bayesian kriging in groundwater quality assessment (case study: Azarshahr palin). Iranian Water Researches Journal, 13(2), 81-90. https://iwrj.sku.ac.ir/article_10638.html?lang=en [In Persian]
Einollahipeer, F., Ghaffari, M., & Dahmardeh Behrooz, R. (2020). Evaluation of urban wastewater with CWQI model for agriculture and aquaculture reuse (case study in Zabol, Sistan and Baloochestan, Iran). Journal of Animal Environment, 12(4), 581-592. doi: 10.22034/AEJ.2020.130405 [In Persian]
Fathi Hafshejani, E., & Beigi Harchegani, H. (2013). Spatial variability and mapping of nitrate and phosphate in shahrekord groundwater over a period of five years. Water and Soil Sciences, 17(65), 63-75. dor:20.1001.1.24763594.1392.17.65.14.6 [In Persian]
Fotouhi Firoozabad, F., Ekhtesasi, M.R., Sefid, M., & Morovvati Sharifabadi, A. (2018). Zonation and comparing quality characteristics of drinking water wells in the city of Yazd using geostatistics. Range and Watershed Managment, 71(1), 223-240. doi:10.22059/jrwm.2018.228480.1102 [In Persian]
Hafezi Moghadas, N., Solouki, H.R., Jalilvand, R., & Rahnama Rad, J. (2012). Sistan river engineering geomorphology study. Journal of Geotechnical Geology, 18(1), 1-18. https://www.sid.ir/paper/127099/en. [In Persian]
Joghatayi, H., Dabiri, R., Moslempour, M.E., Otari, M., & Sharifiyan Attar, R. (2015). Groundwater quality assessment using the groundwater quality index and gis in joghatay plain, ne Iran. Human and Environment, 13(4), 17-25. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1539008 [In Persian]
Kazemi, A., Esmaeilbeigi, M., Sahebi, Z., & Ansari, A. (2022). Health risk assessment of total chromium in the qanat as historical drinking water supplying system. Science of the Total Environment, 807, 150795. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150795
Keikha, M., Keikha, G.H., Akbari Moghadam, A., & Dahmardeh, K.H. (2014). Geological studies of the Sistan plain. Final report of research project, Research Project of Sistan Agriculture and Natural Research Center, 170-173 pages. [In Persian]
Khalili, R., Montaseri, H., Mottaghi, H., & Jalili, M. (2021a). Evaluation of water quality in the chalus river using the statistical analysis and water quality index (WQI). Water and Soil Management and Modeling, 1(3), 38-52. doi: 10.22098/MMWS.2021.9300.1031 [In Persian]
Khalili, R., Montaseri, H., Mottaghi, H., & Jalili, M.B. (2021b). Water quality assessment of the Talar River in Mazandaran Province based on a combination of water quality indicators and multivariate modeling. Water and Soil Management and Modeling, 1(4), 30-47. doi: 10.22098/MMWS.2021.9322.1033 [In Persian]
Khosravi, M. (2010).Temporal and Spatial Analysis of the Stability of the Hamoon Lakes. Iran-Water Resources Research, 6(3), 68-79. https://www.iwrr.ir/article_15984.html?lang=en [In Persian]
Magno, M., Luffman, I., & Nandi, A. (2021). Evaluating spatial regression-informed co- kriging of metals in soils near Abandoned Mines in Bumpus Cove, Tennessee, USA. Geosciences, 11(11), 434. doi:10.3390/geosciences11110434
Maghami, Y., Ghazavi, R., Vali, A.A., & Sharafi, S. (2011). Evaluation of spatial interpolation methods for water quality zoning using GIS Case study, Abadeh Township. Geography and Environmental Planning, 22(2), 171-182. dor:20.1001.1.20085362.1390.22.2.10.3 [In Persian]
Mughal, A., Sultan, K., Ashraf, K., Hassan, A., Zaman, Q.u., Haider, F.U., & Shahzad, B. (2022). Risk analysis of heavy metals and groundwater quality indices in residential areas: A Case Study in the Rajanpur District, Pakistan. Water, 14(21), 3551. doi:10.3390/w14213551
Pant, P.P., Tripathi, A.K., & Dwivedi, Vivek. (2011). Effect of heavy metals on some biochemical parameters of sal (Shorea robusta) seedling at nursery level, Doon Valley, India. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2(1), 45-51. doi:10.1080/09766898.2011.11884667
Piri, H., & Ansari, H. (2013). Study of drought in Sistan Plain and its impact on Hamoun international wetland. Wetland, 5(1), 63-74. https://www.sid.ir/paper/174970/en [In Persian]
Qiao, J., Zhu, Y., Jia, X., Shao, M., Niu, X., & Liu, J. (2020). Distributions of arsenic and other heavy metals, and health risk assessments for groundwater in the Guanzhong plain region of China. Environmental Research, 181(108957), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108957
Roodari, A., Hassanpour, F., Yaghoobzadeh, M., & Delavar, M. (2019). Investigation of relation between meteorological and hydrological drought in Sistan plain. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21(6), 33-44. doi: 10.22034/JEST.2018.18561.2745 [In Persian]
Sadeghian, M., Rezaei, H., Behmanesh, J., & Khanmohammadi, N. (2018). Evaluation of groundwater quality parameters using GIS and Geostatistical (case study: Urmia plain). Iran-Water Resources Research, 14(2), 284-289. https://www.iwrr.ir/article_60705.html?lang=en. [In Persian]
Shen, R., Li, J., Yang, M., Zeng, M. (2015). Spatial distribution of heavy metals in roadside soils based on Voronoi diagram: a case study of Wuhan city. Communications in Computer and Information Sciences, 482, 732-739. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45737-5_71
Valinejhad, F., Hassani, A.H., & Sayadi, M. (2016). Investigation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Islamshahr groundwater resources and their regional distribution pattern in GIS. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 18(2), 187-199. https://journals.srbiau.ac.ir/article_9822.html. [In Persian]
Zhou, Q., Yang, N., Li, Y., Ren, B., Ding, X., Bian, H., & Yao, X. (2020). Total concentrations and sources of heavy metal pollution in global river and lake water bodies from 1972 to 2017. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, 00925. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00925
Water and Soil Management and Modelling
Volume 4, Issue 1
January 2024
Pages 52-69

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History

  • Receive Date: 28 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 06 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 27 February 2023

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