Investigation of Aluminum Element Changes in Surface and Groundwater of Sarcheshmeh Watershed in Kerman Province

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most important types of pollution in different waters. With the advancement of industries, the rate of contamination with heavy metals into surface and underground waters increases. There are many regions in the world that naturally contain large quantities of heavy metals. However, what usually causes contamination of surface and underground waters are industrial activities. Studying heavy metals due to environmental pollution is becoming increasingly important around the world. Also, determining their concentration, especially in rivers, wells and aqueducts holds great importance around the world, especially in Iran. Sarcheshmeh copper mine is one of the largest mining industrial complexes in the world. The Shour River is one of the most important seasonal rivers in Sarcheshmeh region. The sediment dam of Sarcheshmeh copper factory has been constructed on one of its branches, and the dam's spillway contaminates it.

In this study, water pollution in the Shour River, some wells and aqueducts were investigated and changes in Aluminum element in surface and groundwater of the region were investigated. Then, statistical comparison and distribution of Aluminum contamination in Shour river water, several aqueducts and wells in the watershed of the river was performed in wet and dry seasons using t-test method. Wet season sampling was performed in late April and early May and in dry season from late September to early October.

Special attention has been given to Sarcheshmeh copper mine in Iran and the world due to its place on the world copper belt. This mine can be named as the best copper producer in Iran, which is a subsidiary of The National Iranian Copper Industries Company. Therefore, scientific research on heavy metals in surface and groundwater of this mine and other similar mines in Iran and the world is becoming more and more important. The results showed that in dry and wet seasons, the amount of Aluminum in Sarcheshmeh copper mine is highest, ranging from 1 to 1.77 mg L-1. Distance from the mine lowers the concentration of this element. By examining the distribution of the Aluminum element in groundwater in the dry season, it can be observed that the concentration of Aluminum element is high in the epitome of aqueducts closer to the Sarcheshmeh copper mine. In the wet season, for the Aluminum element, the expansion of its concentration was such that the trend of Aluminum concentration changes is almost the same for all aqueducts.

The results of this study showed that in dry and wet seasons, the concentration of Aluminum in surface and underground waters of the study area has a direct relationship with the distance of the sampling location of the waters of the region from the mine; the closer the sampling location, the higher the concentration of the element. The results also showed that the surface water and groundwater of this region have more Aluminum than the world health organization limits and are not drinkable. The results also showed that the concentration of Aluminum in wet season in the surface water of the study area is higher than the dry season and the concentration of Aluminum element in the aqueducts and well of the study area in the dry season is higher than the wet season.