Spatial and temporal small-scale variation in groundwater quality of a shallow sandy aquifer

The groundwater quality of a shallow unconfined sandy aquifer has been characterized for pH, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in terms of vertical and horizontal variations (350 groundwater samples). The test area is located within a farmland lot. The geology of the area described on the basis of 31 sediment cores appears relatively homogeneous.

Large vertical and horizontal variations were observed. The vertical variations are strongly affected by the deviating composition of the agricultural infiltration water. The horizontal variations show very limited correlation ranges (less than 10m) and large variations are found over a few metres. The temporal variations observed over a period of 15 months were modest.

The observed large variations should be taken into account when designing groundwater sampling and monitoring.