Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 1222-1235.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.07.06

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distribution characteristics and influencing factors of distribution of boron in surface water and groundwater in the oasis area of Qiemo County and factors influencing it

LIU Liang1,2,3(), DONG Jiangwei4,5, ZHOU Jinlong1,2,3(), LI Jiang4   

  1. 1. College of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Research Center, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    3. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Security and Water Disasters Prevention, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    4. College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
    5. Water Conservancy Integrated Service Center of Qiemo County, Qiemo 841900, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-07-10 Revised:2024-11-07 Online:2025-07-15 Published:2025-07-07
  • Contact: ZHOU Jinlong E-mail:1343912341@qq.com;zjzhoujl@163.com

Abstract:

There are high levels of boron in surface water and groundwater in the oasis area of Qiemo County, Xinjiang, which seriously affects the health of residents. To clarify the chemical characteristics of the oasis water and the main source of the boron, 24 groundwater samples from each of 20 locations were collected in 2023. They were then analyzed using a Piper three-line plot, Gibbs diagram, and correlation analysis, along with evaluations of hydrogen-oxygen isotopes. An APCS-MLR (absolute principal component-multiple linear regression) model of the chemical characteristics of surface water and groundwater and the source of the boron was also constructed, as well as quantitative evaluation of the contribution of different factors to water boron levels and other hydrochemical components. The results showed that the surface water and groundwater in the oasis area of Qiemo County are weakly alkaline, the mean pH is 8.22, the groundwater is mainly brackish water, and the anode ions are mainly S O 4 2 -and Na+. There are many types of hydrochemistry, with surface water and groundwater mainly containing SO4·Cl-Na·Mg. The mean level of boron in the surface water in the study area was 2.34 mg·L-1, with an exceeding rate of 100%; meanwhile, the corresponding value in the groundwater was 1.73 mg·L-1, with an exceeding rate of 70%. APCS-MLR receptor model analysis revealed that the hydrochemical components and boron sources were mainly soluble filter-enrichment factors (F1: 58.21%), native geological factors (F2: 15.42%), human activity factors (F3: 11.18%), and unknown sources. These findings clarify the cause of the excessive boron in the area, and show that the geological environment has a great influence on the accumulation of boron in water.

Key words: high boron groundwater, high boron surface water, hydrochemical characteristics, analysis of influencing factors, Qiemo County