HYDROCHEMICAL AND ISOTOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLANDS IN THE CIHANBEYLI (KONYA) BASIN, CENTRAL ANATOLIA, TURKEY

Cihanbeyli basin is located in the northern part of Konya in the Central Anatolia, Turkey. This wetland is characterized with four lakes (Salt Lake, Bolluk Lake, Tersakan Lake and Gok Lake). The Salt Lake, Tersakan Lake and Bolluk Lake are so important because of its contribution to country economy and enabling ecosystem services for endangered bird species. In recent years, The Salt, Tersakan and Bolluk Lakes are in danger of completely drying. The main reasons of drying of the lakes are global warming, the lack of precipitation, shallowness of the lakes, excessive evaporation and inadequate recharge sources. The Salt Lake, Tersakan Lake and Bolluk Lake have Na-Cl water type and EC values can be reached 592.670 mu S/cm in rainy season. Research findings point out a thundering rise at SO4 concentration in addition to Cl ion in the Bolluk and Tersakan Lakes. The Gok Lake has Na-HCO3 water type in rainy season, while it has Na-Cl water type in dry season. EC values of the Go Lake range from 1058 to 1573 mu S/cm in both seasons. All of the lakes are alkaline type with 8.15 and 9.46 pH values. Al, As, P and B values in the Salt Lake; As, Se, P and B values in the Tersakan Lake; Se, P, Pb and B values in the Bolluk Lake; As and B values in the Gok Lake are clearly exceed the aqualitic life standards. The reasons of high values of this ions in the lakes are probably due to discharging of sewage, domestic and medical wastes without purification from Konya, Cihanbeyli and the surrounding settlements to the Salt Lake, Bolluk Lake and Tersakan Lake. The delta O-18 and delta H-2 values of the lakes are range between -6.14 parts per thousand and 1.44 parts per thousand, -48.59 parts per thousand and -7.53 parts per thousand, respectively. All of the waters have meteoric origin. The samples collected from all of the lake waters show an evaporation effect. In comparison to the other lake waters, isotopic value of the Gok Lake water is poor than the other lake waters. This position shows a mixing of regional groundwater and the lake water.