Assessment of water quality and pollution of the Lake Seyfe basin, Kirsehir, Turkey

Lake Seyfe is located in a closed basin near Krsehir in the central Anatolian region, Turkey. The aim of this study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and effects of lithogenic contamination carried out in the Lake Seyfe basin, which is represented by various lithologies and groundwater types. Seyfe, Horla and Akpinar springs are recharged through marbles at the western and southwestern of the basin are ultimately and discharged into the Kizilirrmak Formation and Lake Seyfe. The waters of deep wells drilled into the marbles are of bicarbonate type (type I) in the Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-HCO(3)(-) and Ca2(+)-HCO(3)(-) facies.Ozluhuyuk spring and waters from most of trenches and shallow wells, which are fed by the Kizilirmak Formation, have a mixed (type II) composition in the Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-HCO(3)(-)-Cl(-) facies. Groundwater in the alluvium and Kizilirmak Formation along Lake Seyfe has a salty (type III) character in the Na(+)-Cl(-) facies. The main reasons of formation and change of the groundwater salinity and hydrochemical facies in the Seyfe basin are causing the various (a) lithogenic pollution and heterogeneity of the Kizilirmak Formation, (b) salinity of the upper soil zones, and (c) evaporation of the trench and channel waters open to the atmosphere. Considering parameters such as sodium hazard, specific conductivity, bicarbonate and carbonate hazards, waters in the study area are generally suitable for agricultural usage.