Hydrogeological and hydrochemical properties of Boceli and Kazanpinar karst springs (Denizli)

Abstract

Boceli and Kazanpinar karst springs in the SE part of the curuksu Basin (Denizli) provide the drinking and utility water requirement of more than 24000 people in 21 neighborhoods The karst springs are very important due to the springs and drilling waters in the curuksu Basin are generally non-drinkable. The spring waters come from travertines fed from the Mesozoic carbonate rocks. The waters whose temperatures and electrical conductivity (EC) vary between 16.6-18.2 degrees C and 790-910 mu S/cm, respectively, are hydrochemically of Ca-Mg-HCO3-SO4 type. Isotope contents (delta O-18, delta D and tritium) showed that the waters are of meteoric origin and feed from relatively modern precipitation. The delta C-1(3) (DIC) values refer to freshwater carbonates and Mesozoic marine limestones as the origin of carbon in waters. In periodic major ion analysis, it was determined that there was no significant seasonal change in the ion composition of the waters. Considering the flowrates (225 and 1571/s respectively) and major ion compositions of the Boceli and Kazanpinar springs, it was understood that these springs could provide future water requirement of the waterless neighborhoods as long as the current situation is not compromised by natural or artificial negative factors.