Original Papers
Vol. 14 No. 4 (2025)
Assessment of groundwater influenced by seawater using geochemical modeling and statistical analysis: Basrah Province, Iraq
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 23 December 2025
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Seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers is a complicated phenomenon that requires a practical framework to assess the constituents’ groundwater source. The current paper focuses on the processes influencing coastal groundwater in the southeastern region of Basrah, southern Iraq. Thirteen groundwater samples were subjected to comprehensive hydrogeochemical treatments, including hydrogeochemical analysis with Piper, Schoeller, and Gibbs plots, geochemical modeling, and statistical analysis supported by hierarchical cluster analysis. The results of the Piper plot indicated that the analyzed groundwater is characterized as Na-Cl (77%) and Ca-Mg-Cl (23%) and belongs to the order of Cl–>Na+>SO42–>Ca2+>Mg2+>HCO3– as identified by Schoeller results. Gibbs’ plot results indicated the processes of evaporation and seawater dominance. Saturation indices of minerals in groundwater revealed a slight supersaturation (SI>0) with calcite and dolomite, suggesting limited precipitation of carbonate minerals. In contrast, gypsum and anhydrite showed a slight undersaturation (SI<0), indicating minimal dissolution of evaporite minerals, while halite and sylvite minerals suggested a strong undersaturation (SI<0), reflecting that dissolution of salts is a common process in the coastal areas. Furthermore, cluster analysis demonstrated that the ionic content of groundwater was significantly affected by seawater, evaporation processes, and minimal sedimentation of carbonate minerals. These techniques are recommended for controlling the groundwater extraction within the study area.
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Assessment of groundwater influenced by seawater using geochemical modeling and statistical analysis: Basrah Province, Iraq. (2025). Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2025-917
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