• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.103-117
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• 2021

The severe effects of climate change, such as global warming and the El Niño phenomenon, have become more prevalent. In recent years, natural disasters such as drought, heavy rain, and typhoons have taken place, resulting in noticeable damage. Korea is affected by droughts that cause damage to rice fields and crops. Societal interest in droughts is growing, and measures are urgently needed to address their impacts. As the demand for high-quality agricultural products expands, farmers have become more interested in water management, and the demand for field irrigation is increasing. Therefore, we investigated water demand in the irrigation of drought-vulnerable crops. Specifically, we determined the water requirements for crops including cabbage, red pepper, apple, and bean in four regions by calculating the consumptive water use (evapotranspiration), effective rainfall, and irrigation capacity. The total consumptive water use (crop evapotranspiration) estimates for Dangjin-si (cabbage), Yesan-gun (apple), Cheongyang-gun (pepper) in Chungnam, and Goesan-gun (bean) in Chungbuk were 33.5, 206.4, 86.1, and 204.5 mm, respectively. The volumes of groundwater available in the four regions were determined to be the following: Dangjin-si, 4,968,000 m³; Yesan-gun, 4,300,000 m³; Cheongyang-gun, 1,114,000 m³, and Goesan-gun, 3,794,000 m³. The annual amounts available for the representative crops, compared to the amount of evapotranspiration, were 313.9% in Dangjin-si, 29.5% in Yesan-gun, 56.1% in Cheongyang-gun, and 20.1% in Goesan-gun.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2024

In Korea, the common remedial process for reclamation of agricultural soils nearby abandoned mines involves chemical soil stabilization followed by covering with clean soil. This study investigated the chemical properties of cover soils and the validity of HCl extraction method in assessing the degree of As and heavy metal stabilization in stabilized soils collected from 14 plots where mine reclamation had been completed. The results revealed there were no major differences in contaminants extraction rate between the stabilized soils and contaminated soils, suggesting HCl extraction procedure is a less feasible method to determine the efficiency of the stabilization. Soil quality indicators including OM, SiO₂, P₂O₅, etc. of the land-covering soils were generally lower than those of stabilized soils that used to be the cultivation layer before the stabilization. Nonetheless, the value of those indicators didn't meet the regulatry limits of agricultural soil. Therefore, future strategy for mine reclamation should concentrate not only on contaminant concentration but also on soil quality parameters for agricultural use of the reclaimed soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.35-53
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• 2007

Geochemical and isotope studies on the groundwater system of the Youngcheon area were carried out. Most groundwaters belong to Ca-$HCO_3$ and Ca-$SO_4$ types and some groundwaters belong to Na-$HCO_3$ type. Geochemical characteristics of these groundwaters were mainly affected by their basement rocks around the boreholes. High $SO_4$ content of groundwater is the result of reaction with sulfate or sulfide minerals in the host rock. Ca was originated from the carbonate minerals in the sedimentary rock. After the groundwater was saturated with calcite, the Na-$HCO_3$ type groundwaters were evolved by the reaction with plagioclase for a relatively long residence time. This explanation was supported by low tritium contents of Na-$HCO_3$ type groundwaters. ${\delt}a^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ data indicate that the groundwaters are of meteoric water origin and there was no difference between the various types of waters. Grondwaters from the boreholes BH-1, BH-9 and BH-12 showed the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of deep groundwater. Most borehole groundwaters except them did not show the systematic geochemical variations with sampling depth indicating that the shallow and deep groundwaters were mixed with each other throughout the study area. The results of water quality analysis indicate that the study area is highly contaminated by the introduction of agricultural sewage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.485-498
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• 2001

This study was objected to identify the temporal and spatial variations oi groundwater quality and contamination using monthly groundwater monitoring data collected from 30 wells in Daejung watershed, Jeju Island. Water samples were analyzed for major cations. anions, and environmental isotopes including $^{18}0-H_2$O,$^{2}H-H_2$O and$^{15}$ N-NO$_3$The groundwater represented mostly Na(Mg)-HCO$_3$ type, with local change toward Ca-HCO$_3$ type and Na-Cl type. Groundwater quality depends upon various factors such as the local groundwater flowpaths, input of surface contaminants with recharge events, and sea-water intrusion along the coastal area. Nitrate contamination changed temporally according to recharge events and spatially. $\delta$$^{18}$ O-$\delta$$_2$H data for monthly sampled groundwaters showed distinctive clusters, implying that groundwater was originated from independent precipitation, and subsequently recharged very fash. Using$\delta$$^{15}$ N-NO$_3$ data, major sources of nitrate and its areas of influence could be identified. The areas under influence of livestock farms showed relatively high NO$_3$-N concentrations and$\delta$$^{15}$ N values higher than 5$\textperthousand$. The agricultural areas in southeastern part showed very high concentrations of NO$_3$-N with the $\delta$$^{15}$ N values of lower than 5$\textperthousand$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.613-629
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• 2004

Contamination of groundwater by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated for 168 groundwater wells in Ulsan area to study the natural attenuation of organic compounds in the aquifers. As groundwater contamination by VOCs is closely related to land use, 168 groundwater samples were classified into 4 different groups; agricultural, forestry, industrial, and residential & business. From analysis 65 out of 168 groundwater samples contained more than one VOC. Analysis of samples were performed fir 36 halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons and 25 petroleum hydrocarbons set up by NAWQA of US geological survey. Twelve petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in 26 groundwater wells, but their concentrations were less than 1.5 g/L except for MTBE. Twenty three chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, composed of 11 methanes, 6 ethanes and 6 ethenes, were detected in 63 groundwater samples. The range of methanes concentration was $ND\~330\;/gL,\;ethanes\;ND\~84\;gL$, and PCE and their derivatives $ND\~62\;g/L$. As the study area was comprised of the aerobic/denitrification zones and $Fe^{+3}$ redox condition, most of petroleum hydrocarbons were degraded well, while halogenated hydrocarbons were slowly biodegradation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2017

Excessive abstraction of groundwater near streams for agricultural, domestic, or industrial use can significantly reduce the streamflow. Therefore, proper management of water resources must involve careful monitoring of groundwater use near streams. This study investigates the current status of groundwater intake plans in the Anseongcheon watershed, Korea, in order to understand the portion of groundwater wells according to distance from the stream and the distribution of wells near the stream. Among all the wells in the watershed, 20.5% were permitted and 31.3% were declared within 300m from the stream. In particular, among the wells located near streams, 11.4% were permitted and 88.6% were declared among the wells near streams. Therefore, the total amount of groundwater pumping rates from the declared wells is much higher than that from the permitted wells near the stream. Under current guidelines, investigations of the impact of groundwater use near a stream on streamflow depletion should only consider wells permitted by groundwater law. However, prudent management should also pay attention to declared wells, given their large number.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

This study was conducted to understand the chemical characteristics of groundwater in carbonate areas of Korea. In this study, data on pH, electric conductivity (EC), $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $HCO_3{^-}$ were collected from 97 wells which were installed in various carbonate rock regions of Korea. The pH values ranged from 5.7 to 9.9, and the average value was 7.3. The concentration range showed differences between the maximum value of $HCO_3{^-}$ and the medium to minimum values of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $K^+$ in the study area. The average value of EC was $374{\mu}S/cm$, higher than in granite and gneiss areas, where the value is $176{\mu}S/cm$. Most of the groundwater was type $Ca-HCO_3$, and some was type $Mg-HCO_3$. The relationship between $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, and $HCO_3{^-}$, respectively, and EC showed relatively significant positive correlations compared to the other dissolved components. However, the determination coefficients for $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $K^+$ were very low less than 0.2. These results indicate that the source of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ is relatively simple (carbonate dissolution) compared to other sources. The sources of $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $HCO_3{^-}$ might be not only water-rock interactions, but also irrigation return flow, because many groundwater wells had been developed for irrigation purposes. Subsequently, the influence of agriculture on groundwater chemistry was evaluated using a cumulative plot of $SO_4{^{2-}}$. The threshold value of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ calculated from the cumulative frequency curve was 29.2 mg/L. Therefore, 12.4% of all the groundwater wells were affected by agricultural activity.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.245-261
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• 2019

Radioactive contaminant from a nuclear facility moves to the ecosystem by run-off or groundwater flow. Among the two mechanisms, contaminant plume through a river can be easily detected through a surface water monitoring system, but radioactive contaminant transport in groundwater is difficult to monitor because of lack of information on flow path. To understand the contaminant flow in groundwater, understanding of the geo-environment is needed. We suggest a method to decide on monitoring location and points around an imaginary nuclear facility by using the results of site characterization in the study area. To decide the location of a monitoring well, groundwater flow modeling around the study area was conducted. The results show that, taking account of groundwater flow direction, the monitoring well should be located at the downstream area. Also, monitoring sections in the monitoring well were selected, points at which groundwater moves fast through the flow path. The method suggested in the study will be widely used to detect potential groundwater contamination in the field of oil storage caverns, pollution by agricultural use, as well as nuclear use facilities including nuclear power plants.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 2024

This study examines the European Union (EU)'s policies on managing nitrate contamination in groundwater and provides implications for the future groundwater management in South Korea. Initiated by the 1991 Nitrate Directive, the EU has pursued a multifaceted approach to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution through sustainable ('good') farming practices, regular nitrate level monitoring, and designating Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. Further policy integrations, like the Water Framework Directive and Groundwater Directive, have established comprehensive protection strategies, including the use of pollutant threshold values. Recently, the 2019 Green Deal escalated efforts against nitrates, aligning with broader environmental and climate objectives. This review aims to explore these developments, highlighting key mitigation strategies against nitrate pollution, and providing valuable insights for the future sustainable groundwater nitrate management in South Korea, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and collaborative efforts to restore and improve groundwater quality.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.112-122
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• 1998

Measurement of electrical resistivity in soils has been used for many years with purpose of estimating in situ porosity or density. Recently electrical resistivity has also been used as an indicator of soil contaimination. This paper presents the result of laboratory experiment to investigate the resistivity variation in contaminated sandy soils. The results can be used with the Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) result to analyse ground condition. In the experiment, the water content and leachate concentration of soils were controlled by groundwater and leachate, and then the resistivity measurement was made with 'STING-R1' by Advanced Geosciences Inc. In the case of using groundwater, the resistivity was in the range of over 1000${\omega}{\cdot}m$, but in the case of using polluted water by leachate, the resistivity decreased significantly down to 10~ 100${\omega}{\cdot}m$ for the same moisture content. Also the resistivity varied according to the degree of saturatrion. Therefore, if soil is contaminated by leachate, the CPT with electrical resistivity sensor might be used to investigate the contamination status and plume migration. But exact component of leachate and the pollutant concentration are still hard to identify.