Bacterial contamination of goundwater in Jeju Island
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the contaminated groundwater with biological elements. The study area is located in Jeju Island, Korea. The island is formed with volcanic rock. To evaluate the chemical composition of the groundwater in the island, three rounds of water samplings were performed (August, October and November of 2007). Prior to water sampling for laboratory analysis, water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were measured in field. Parameters for laboratory analysis are major cations and anions, organic carbons (DOC and TOC), stable isotopes (oxygen and hydrogen) and microorganisms. The water temperature showed a seasonal variation. The pH values for the groundwaters were near neutral. Relative ionic abundances in the groundwaters at the island showed the trends of HCO3- or Cl- > NO3- > SO4- for the anions and Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ for the cations. Drinking water quality standard of general bacteria is 100 CFU/mL in Korea. The mean levels of general bacteria were 466 CFU/mL, 238 CFU/mL and 162 CFU/mL in August, October and November of 2007. Drinking water quality standard of nitrate is 10 mg/L. Four groundwater samples exceeded the nitrate standard in the sampling site. Result of oxygen isotope analysis showed -7.6 ‰ (mean) and hydrogen isotope analysis showed -49.0 ‰ (mean). The bacterial groundwater contamination in the island was inferred to be derived from the industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater and old sewer pipe leakage. This paper is based on the investigation results of contaminated groundwater in 2008 (Ministry of Environment and EMC), conducted by GeoGreen21 Co., Ltd. and its presentation is supported by Ministry of Environment as “The GAIA project (No. 173-092-010)”.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.H11D0827J
- Keywords:
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- 1831 HYDROLOGY / Groundwater quality