Investigation of Physical and Chemical Quality of Hot Springs in South Khorasan, Iran

Background & Aims of the Study: Many people use natural springs for many years to provide therapeutic, recreational, and in some cases, drinking water. The investigation of physicochemical properties and promotion of its indices in hot springs are very important for maintaining the health and well-being of individuals. The present study aimed to investigate some physicochemical properties of hot springs in South Khorasan, Iran, and compare them with the standards in 2018. Materials and Methods: In order to assess the physicochemical quality of hot springs in South Khorasan, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity, and total hardness parameters were measured and analyzed using standard methods. Data analysis was performed using Excel software (version 2010). Results: Based on the obtained results, the highest temperature and EC were observed in Dig-e Rostam hot spring with 54.3°C and Ferdowshotspringwith10.43 μs/cm, respectively. Furthermore, the highest pH, alkalinity, and total hardness were obtained in Qaen hot spring with 7.87, Sarbisheh hot spring with 2018 mg/L CaCo3, and Ferdows hot spring with 1204 mg/L CaCo3, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from the review of the physicochemical quality of the hot springs in the southern Khorasan, most of the measured parameters of the springs were not within the standard range.

Keywords:

physicochemical quality , Hot water springs , South Khorasan