AdamL

In south west of Western Australia there are naturally occurring acid saline groundwaters (pH<4, TDS> 30000 mg/L). The surface water can be alkaline and saline through various reduction reactions. With the clearing of native vegetation for agriculture, it has increased recharge to groundwater, watertables have risen and increased baseflow to surface water bodies. With the increase of baseflow of acid saline groundwaters to some surface waters, it has led to acidification of these water bodies. I am trying to simulate the process of acidification of surface waters by gradually adding acid saline groundwater solution to a surface water solution and modelling the changes in water quality. I am interested in the fate of metals particularly Al+++ due to its environmental toxicity. Can this be done? acid Groundwater (in mg/l) Ca++ 132 Mg++ 1355 Na+ 12500 K+ 241 SO4-- 2960 Cl- 20400 Br- 42 Al total 122 Fe total 37 Mn total 0.94 pH 3.48 Surface waters Ca++ 454 Mg++ 2490 Na+ 18300 K+ 249 HCO3- 265 SO4-- 4380 Cl- 30400 pH 8.1 O2(aq) 1.36