Safeguarding Sustainable Water Resources byNitrate Contamination Analysis in Isfahan City WaterWells

In regions where underground water is the primary water source, its overexploitation depletes theaquifer's volume. Isfahan city water supply is provided through the Babasheikhali water treatmentplant fed by ۶۴ auxiliary wells during peak consumption periods and hot seasons. The objective hereis to assess the influence of Zayandeh Rud River irrigation and well depth on Isfahan City concerningnitrate levels in drinking water wells. To accomplish this task, samples are collected from ۶۴ drinkingwater wells dispersed in the Isfahan city area, between ۲۰۲۰ and ۲۰۲۲. The nitrate concentration ismeasured through the HACH model DR۵۰۰۰ spectrophotometer, following standardized protocols.The Zayandeh Rud River irrigation data is acquired from the Isfahan Regional Water Company. Thefindings here are subject to thorough analysis through SPSS ۲۵ software. The nitrate levels follow anascending trend from a minimum of ۶.۵۶ in ۲۰۲۱ to a maximum of ۱۳۹.۹۰ in ۲۰۲۲. The findingsindicate that river flooding had no considerable effect on nitrate levels. In this assessment, an inverserelation is evident between well depth and nitrate concentration, where deeper wells have lowernitrate levels. The average nitrate concentration increased from about ۲۲ mg/liter in ۲۰۲۰ to ۲۸mg/liter in ۲۰۲۲. Though these nitrate concentrations still comply with Iran's drinking waterstandards, urgent measures are necessary to assure the city's safe drinking water supply. Toencounter this challenge, the solutions are: ۱) adopting enhanced water management practices inagriculture, ۲) having strict regulations on chemical fertilizer consumption and ۳) improving irrigationand drainage systems. This multi-dimensional approach offers a promising path while underscoringthe necessity for in-depth research and effective, timely action.