The investigation of physical and geochemical properties of drinking waters in the Şiran (Gümüşhane) district center

The study area is located of Şiran District Center in the southwest of Gümüşhane (NE Turkey) and their surroundings. In this study, physical and geochemical features of drinking water in Şiran district center were examined and metal element contents were determined. In the study area, the basement rocks are represented by Early-Middle Eocene sedimentary rocks (Kelkit Formation). This formation composed of sandstone, claystone, marl, shale and tuff. The Kelkit formation is covered unconformably by the Quaternary aged alluvium, which constitutes the youngest units of the study area. Water samples were generally collected from water reservoirs in public buildings and sources on Alluvium and Kelkit Formation rocks. The pH, conductivity and hardness values of the samples vary between 5.41-7.68, 106.9-827.0 µS/cm and 8.4-70.8 Fr, respectively. According to the classification of Intra-Continental Water Resources, these data show that the samples are mostly class-I and II, rarely class-III water quality characteristics, and indicating basic character rather than the acidic environment. In addition, the hardness results showed that the water samples in Şiran area were classified as a range of the very soft-hard water. The physical parameters of water for all samples are suitable in terms of color, turbidity, taste and odor values. The waters in the study area are generally classified as carbonated (Ca+Mg > Na+K) and sulfated waters and generally, their weak acid roots are more than strong acid roots (HCO3¯ > SO4-2 +Cl¯). Besides, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn and Al values of the studied samples are generally within the permissible range and comply with TS-266 and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Except for a few, the concentration of dissolved metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb) in the samples were distributed within acceptable limits. The physical and geochemical parameters of the waters also show similar distribution with the drinking water values of Gümüşhane Province. Consequently, it was determined that most of the samples were in the category of good class waters in terms of drinking water.