Mehrdad Mohammadnia, S.A.Kowsar
Fars Research Center For Natural Resources
and Animal Husbandry
P.O.Box 71365-458, Shiraz, Iran
E-mail: nafssis@sums.ac.ir

The critical water shortage, an abundance of floodwaters and the very large empty spaces available in the potential aquifers have made artificial recharge of groundwater (ARG) the method of choice for storage and transport of the required water in the Iranian deserts. The Bisheh Zard Aquifer, with the capacity of more than 100x106 m³, provides an ideal underground reservoir that could supply water to 4 villages for 5 years if fully recharged. However, the presence of geologic-N in the watershed is a cause for concern. Although the inhabitants of the Gareh Bygone Plain (GBP), who consume the water that drains from the watershed do not report any ill effects. The reported cases of digestive track cancer and the blue baby syndrome in the USA make us apprehensive for the water users’ safety. As palygorskite translocation to a depth of 7.5 m has been ascertained in a previous study and the reported anion exchange capacity of this clay species is considerable, therefore, the N pollution of the aquifer and groundwater in the ARG systems of the GBP is a possibility. The relationships between the clay translocation and the contamination of the aquifer will be discussed.