Distribution and origin of iron in groundwater of the Zhujiang delta

Abstract:In order to understand the content and origin of iron in groundwater of the Zhujiang delta, the authors took and analyzed 352 groups of groundwater samples and 12 groups of surface water samples. The results show that the iron content in groundwater of the Zhujiang delta range from undetected to 94.8 mg/L with an average of 1.46 mg/L. The distribution of iron content in groundwater of the area is closely related to the extent of industrialization and recharge, runoff, discharge conditions of the Zhujiang delta, especially in the plain area, where the content of iron in groundwater is more closely related to the pollution degree of rivers. The content of iron in groundwater decreased significantly far away from the polluted surface rivers. The factors that play a dominant role in iron content of groundwater are different in different areas of the Zhujiang delta. The redox condition is one of the main factors for affecting the distribution of iron content in groundwater in the Zhujiang delta, while the pH values and ground pollution only play a dominant role in the distribution of iron content in groundwater in some areas of the Zhujiang delta. In addition, such factors as the components of aquifer media, runoff conditions and characteristics of overlying soils all exert a certain effect on the iron content of groundwater in the Zhujiang delta.