• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.72-84
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• 2024

Recently, the vulnerability of water resources has been increasing owing to climate change, highlighting the importance of groundwater. In particular, the Nakdong River Basin, located in the southern part of Korea, experiences frequent water scarcity phenomena, such as droughts. This study analyzed the hydrogeological characteristics of the study area by examining groundwater and stream water in the Gwangrye Stream, downstream of the Nakdong River Basin, in August and October 2023. Therefore, we collected samples from 54 groundwater wells and five streams for water quality analysis. The results of the field tests indicated an increasing trend in electrical conductivity from upstream to downstream in the study area. Laboratory analyses confirmed that the concentration of Na increased from upstream to downstream more than that of Ca. In conclusion, both stream water and groundwater were influenced by anthropogenic contamination. These changes were closely related to land use in the study area. The upstream areas are primarily composed of forests, whereas the downstream areas are composed of industrial complexes, wastewater treatment facilities, and agricultural areas, which are likely to affect both stream water and groundwater.