Lyell Collection
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tellam, J. H.
Right arrow Articles by Lloyd, J. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology; 1986; v. 19; issue.4; p. 389-398;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1986.019.04.05
© 1986 Geological Society of London

Article

Problems in the recognition of seawater intrusion by chemical means: an example of apparent chemical equivalence

J. H. Tellam & J. W. Lloyd

Hydrogeology Section, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Birmingham, P.O. Box 363, Birmingham B15 2TT

The determination of the origin of saline groundwaters is sometimes crucial for the successful exploitation of an aquifer system. Although hydrochemical methods provide a direct approach to the problem, modification of intruding water can often give rise to interpretational difficulties. By means of a case history from the Permo-Triassic sandstone aquifer of the Widnes-Manchester area, the problems encountered are illustrated. The major ion chemistries of (a) saline waters originating from upconing of deep old saline water and (b) saline groundwaters resulting from recent intrusion are compared using computer modelling techniques with a third group of waters of unknown provenance. It is concluded that in some cases an apparent chemical equivalence, in which the same chemical product can arise through more than one set of processes, can occur; in such cases major ion analyses alone are not of use in determining groundwater origins. Explicit discussion of equivalence problems has rarely been undertaken in the hydrochemical literature, and the results presented have implications beyond saline intrusion studies.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and HydrogeologyHome page
M.R. Lelliott, D. McC. Bridge, H. Kessler, S.J. Price, and K.J. Seymour
The application of 3D geological modelling to aquifer recharge assessments in an urban environment
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 2006; 39: 293 - 302.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
J. H. Tellam and R. D. Barker
Towards prediction of saturated-zone pollutant movement in groundwaters in fractured permeable-matrix aquifers: the case of the UK Permo-Triassic sandstones
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006; 263: 1 - 48.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
S. H. Bottrell, L. J. West, and K. Yoshida
Combined isotopic and modelling approach to determing the source of saline groundwaters in the Selby Triassic sandstone aquifer, UK
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006; 263: 325 - 338.
[Abstract] [PDF]