Determination of Groundwater Quality Index in Rural Area: The Case of Bartın City

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the change of groundwater quality in rural areas in rainy and dry periods with respect to physicochemical parameters. pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate hardness, chloride, turbidity and color parameters were investigated. The water quality index (WQI) is widely used for detecting and evaluating water pollution. Water quality index was determined to be 35 and 32 in rainy and dry periods for drinking water. It was also calculated to be 37 for the rainy and dry periods according to the irrigation water limit values. As a result, since WQI<50, groundwater can be used as irrigation water as well as in domestic, industrial use. The difference between the rainy and dry period concentrations of some parameters (color, turbidity, PO4-3) was significant in the rural area. Color and turbidity were higher in the rainy period unlike TDS, EC and PO4. In the urban area, significant increases were detected in NO3-, SO4-2, Cl- concentrations in the rainy period. According to the correlation matrix, groundwater quality in rural areas is affected by multiple sources (aquifer geology, rocks, domestic wastewater, animal waste, river water interference).