Investigation of the role of industry in polluting the groundwater aquifers (Case study: Urmia aquifer, Northwest of Iran)

Abstract

A huge part of water utilization all around the world, especially in drinking section, supplied from groundwater sources. In many situations, groundwater contamination is recognized when the purification of the aquifer is quite inconceivable. Thus the conservation of water quality is very significant subject. Recognizing places vulnerable to contamination, is one of the best methods to prevent contamination of groundwater. In this investigation, in order to evaluate the pollution of Urmia aquifer, one of the most important aquifers in northwest of Iran, numerous wells were sampled near the industrial centers. The main targets of this investigation are alterations in quality of parameters of groundwater resources and recognizing areas which are vulnerable to pollution. Consequences demonstrate that water quality of selected wells for most parameters of anions and cations are much lower than standard limits.