Water quality as an indicator of hydrogeological conditions: a case study of the Belgrade Groundwater Source (Sava/Danube confluence area)

The City of Belgrade receives most of its drinking water supply from the alluvial aquifer of the Sava River. The wells are radial, placed in the lower part of the aquifer, so they partly run below the Sava riverbed. However, the groundwater quality of the wells in one part of the source (near the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers) is found to differ somewhat from the groundwater quality of the other wells. The finding gave rise to additional investigations. The results revealed the existence of a deeper, limestone aquifer which is isolated from upper alluvial sediments by a thick layer of clay in most of the terrain. The naturally potential hydraulic contact of the two aquifers was additionally maintained by well operation in this part of the source. According to multiple analyses of groundwater flow using a hydrodynamic mathematical model, a hydrogeological and hydraulic system of groundwater flow was defined. Although the wells are situated adjacent to the river, and some well laterals are below the riverbed, most of the groundwater that flows to the wells is partly from the wider zone of the alluvial aquifer, and partly from the deeper aquifer. The initial results of hydrochemical investigations also showed an unexpected, inverse oxic character of the groundwater in these two aquifers.