Evolution of metal pollution in groundwater of Pleistocene aquifers in Ho Chi Minh City in the period 2000 - 2016

Abstract

Underground water pollution, especially groundwater of the Pleistocene layers has been recognized by many researchers. These records are often based on the results of water quality monitoring of different monitoring networks: the National Monitoring Network, the monitoring network of the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Ho Chi Minh city, the monitoring network of the Saigon Water Supply Company. The records show that in the underground water of the Pleistocene layers appeared metals such as copper, lead (Pb), zinc, arsenic, cadmium, manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), nickel, mercury... However, the content of many metals has not reached the limit of pollution. In this study, the authors used the monitoring results of the National Monitoring Network for the period 2000 - 2016 and focused on metals such as Al, Mn and Pb in the water of Pleistocene aquifers - It has already exceeded the allowable standards at some monitoring sites. The results show that the content of Mn and Al metals in the Pleistocene aquifers varies significantly between 2009 and 2013, while for Pb - a sharp increase from 2013 to 1016. Causes leading to the development of Al and Mn pollution, mainly due to geological, hydro-geological conditions and impacts caused by heavy groundwater exploitation in the Pleistocene aquifers.