Hydrochemical Characteristics Investigation of Khoy Plain Aquifer and Determination of Probable Anomalies Sources

Khoy plain is one of the main industrial and agricultural centers in West Azerbaijan province that the water requirement for agriculture, industry and drinking water is generally supplied by groundwater. Therefore, the quality of available water seems very important in this area. Groundwater quality is generally dependent on hydrogeochemical processes that regnant the water resources system. For this purpose, in order to better understand the hydrochemical processes in Khoy plain aquifer, graphical and multi-variable statistical methods were used to interpret the results obtained from the analysis of 54 samples taken in September 2016 from groundwater resources. The results of the Piper diagram and the expanded Durov diagram shows that the groundwater type in the region is mostly calcium and magnesium carbonate, sodium chloride and the mixed type. In hierarchical cluster analysis, the samples are placed in two main clusters and five sub-clusters. The Stiff graphs identified eight general groups with saline, calcareous, basaltic, igneous and calcareous composition, Saline shale composition, shale and lime composition (Marne) and mixed type. The results of the factor analysis method suggested a three-component model for the data. In the first component, sodium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium were interdependent; in the second component, nitrate and arsenic were linked; while in the third component, iron was partially related to the others. The first and third factors have geogenic sources and the second factor shows both geogenic and anthropogenic sources for groundwater contaminants.