| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Several water quality indicators have been proposed in the literature to identify groundwater that has been impacted by Salt Water Intrusion. However, in some regions the natural chemical evolution of the groundwater system can make it challenging to apply these indicators, for example, due to cation exchange processes that raise the relative concentration of sodium compared to calcium. This report briefly reviews some of the indicators that have been used for identifying salinization associated with SWI in coastal aquifers. These indicators, as well as a statistical approach, are then used to evaluate a comprehensive water chemistry database for the Gulf Islands. The objective of the assessment is to determine robust and defensible-indicators that can be used to identify wells that are impacted by salinity in a coastal setting. The salinity may be related to SWI, or progressing towards a state whereby SWI is likely. |
