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Application of environmental isotope techniques for determining the origin and mechanisms of recharge of the Rashche Spring

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Abstract

This study is focused on the groundwater system of the Rashche Spring which serves as the main source of drinking water for the City of Skopje, located at the foot of the widely karstified Zeden massif. Investigations were made to define the mechanisms of groundwater recharge and its residence time. This was done using isotope tracers including 1H, 2H, 3H, and 18O in water samples from the local hydrological cycle, as well as noble gases for the application of 3H/3He dating method. A linear regression model of stable isotope data of precipitation samples resulted in the best-fit equation of δ2H = 7.46 · δ18O + 9.56, and shows a δ2H dependence from the altitude of precipitation formation with a gradient of − 3.06‰/100 m. Local precipitation, surface waters and Rashche Spring water showed a relatively narrow range of tritium values of 5 ± 1 TU, whereas the deep artesian water from Polog Valley yielded very low tritium contents (< 0.5 TU). In addition to this, we applied a one-cell mixing model with three inlet components (precipitation, Vardar River and deep artesian water). Numerical simulation based on tritium data of local precipitation and based on a defined ratio of the inlet components allowed calculation of the MRT (mean residence time) of 30 years for the water of the aquifer located below the Zeden Massif which is recharging the Rashche Spring. Using the 3H/3He dating method, the ages of observed ground water including the water from the Rashche Spring were determined showing a good agreement with the calculated MRT. This result also provides substantial information about the vulnerability of this water resource and the necessity for better conservation of the investigated local surface and groundwater.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr. Takuya Matsumoto from the Isotope Hydrology Section, IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Vienna, Austria, for his useful comments and suggestions toward improving the overall scope of the presented paper. Thanks are also directed to the Municipality of Skopje City, Republic of North Macedonia and to the IAEA, for their valuable support during the realization of the performed investigations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, “Rudjer Boskovic” No. 16, 1000, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

    Todor Anovski, Elena Anovska-Jovcheva, Kiril Lisichkov, Dejan Dimitrovski, Stefan Kuvendziev & Ljubomir Arsov

  2. Joanneum Research Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, Elisabethstrasse 18/II, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Albrecht Leis & Ralf Benischke

  3. Department for Geological Exploration and Technical Engineering, Geofluid, Bul. Jane Sandanski No. 110, 2/20, 1000, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

    Eftim Micevski

Authors
  1. Todor Anovski
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  2. Elena Anovska-Jovcheva
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  3. Kiril Lisichkov
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  4. Dejan Dimitrovski
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  5. Stefan Kuvendziev
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  6. Albrecht Leis
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  7. Ralf Benischke
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  8. Eftim Micevski
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  9. Ljubomir Arsov
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Correspondence to Stefan Kuvendziev.

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Anovski, T., Anovska-Jovcheva, E., Lisichkov, K. et al. Application of environmental isotope techniques for determining the origin and mechanisms of recharge of the Rashche Spring. Environ Earth Sci 78, 656 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8674-5

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