Title: Dimensional (temporal/spatial) and origin (natural/anthropogenic) characterisation of groundwater quality parameters in alluvial aquifer case study: Ivanščak catchment, Koprivnica, Croatia

Authors: Damir Ruk; Jasna Nemčić-Jurec; Višnja Oreščanin; Ivan Kovač; Igor Horvat; Boris Ivaniš

Addresses: Koprivnica Water Supply, Mosna 15a, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia ' Institute of Public Health of Koprivnica-Križevci County, Trg Tomislava dr. Bardeka 10/10, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia ' Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia ' Faculty of Geotechnics, University of Zagreb, Hallerova aleja 7, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia ' Koprivnica Water Supply, Mosna 15a, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia ' Koprivnica Water Supply, Mosna 15a, 48000 Koprivnica, Croatia

Abstract: A few decades of intensive urbanisation and agriculture had negative side effects on groundwater quality at Ivanščak catchment, so primary intention of the study is comprehensive analysis of catchment quality status. For that purpose, the database of standard water parameters was processed by: 1) trend analysis; 2) multiple regression analysis, multivariate discriminant analysis and Newman-Kuels test for spatial/temporal characterisation; 3) cross correlation analysis for origin characterisation. Continuation of temporal trends could cause reaching of groundwater pH minimum (6.50) and nitrates maximum (50 mg/l) admissible concentrations in 16 years. Results of multistatistical spatio/temporal analysis are coherent because site dependent parameters, defined by multiple regression analysis, have the highest index of Newman-Kuels test and significant influence on results of multivariate discriminant analysis (except of dissolved oxygen). Origin analysis assigned nitrate and chloride as anthropogenically originated but of different spatial pattern. Probable direct global warming effects are identified in groundwater temperature rising of 0.3°C in the last 14 years and indirect insignificant variance of quality parameters during and/or immediately after over-average precipitation periods - decreasing of pH and increasing of nitrate.

Keywords: groundwater; catchment; quality parameters; spatial/temporal; natural/anthropogenic; local/global; Croatia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2022.123167

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2022 Vol.13 No.4, pp.403 - 423

Received: 25 Mar 2020
Accepted: 13 Aug 2020
Published online: 01 Jun 2022 *

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