Determination of Groundwater Quality Index in Rural Area: The Case of Bartın City

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the change of groundwater quality in rural areas in rainy and dry periods with physicochemical parameters. pH, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity were measured with Hanna (HI 9812-5) multi parameter device during sampling and all analyzes were made according to APHA (2012). Nitrate, sulfate and phosphate analyzes were determined by UV VIS spectrophotometer (Hach Lange 6000 DR), hardness was determined by Ca+2, Mg+2, chloride by titrimetric method. Turbidity and color parameters were determined by turbidimeter (Hach 2100 Q) and colorimeter (Hach Lico 620), respectively. The difference between the rainy and dry period concentrations of some parameters (color, turbidity, PO4) was significant in the rural area. Color and turbidity were higher in the rainy period unlike TDS, EC and PO4. In the urban area, significant increases were detected in NO3, SO4, Cl- concentrations in the rainy period. Since the WQI is