Application of Statistical Methods and Saturation Indices in Groundwater Quality Assessment of the Marand Plain

Marand plain is one of the fertile plains of East Azerbaijan Province which 80 percent of its water demands supply by groundwater. Therefore, qualitative protection of groundwater resources of this Plain is vital. In this Study, Statistical Methods and Saturation Indices are used for assessment of quality parameters. For this purpose, 48 water samples were collected from groundwater resources and analyzed for major and some minor ions and species (NO3-, F- and SiO2). Groundwater resources are separated by cluster analyzing in three distinct groups. In first group the water type is bicarbonate sodic and in second and third groups its coloro sodic. The results of factor analysis indicated that three factors such as salty geologic formations dissolve of minerals and increasing of evaporation control about 75% of the total samples variance. To identify geochemical processes governing to the aquifer, saturation indices of calcite, dolomite and gypsum of the samples were evaluated. The results showed that the chemical composition of ground water affected by recharging water from the river, water and formation reactions and evaporation from the groundwater.