Research Article
Bingqi Zhu
Abstract
This study evaluates the natural water suitability for drinking and agricultural purposes in the Jungar Basin in Central Asia. The ionic chemistry of natural waters from the basin changes considerably on a regional scale. The waters are neutral to alkaline and most of them are soft-fresh waters. The total dissolved solid (TDS) varies over two orders of magnitude. Much of the solutes and physicochemical parameters in water are under the highest desirable limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking purpose and a relationship between sodium adsorption ratio versus EC shows that most waters are of good water quality for irrigation. The effects of local pollution are minimal in the montane and piedmont areas of these watersheds but are significant in the oases and central areas of the drainage basins.