Identification of groundwater characteristic pollution components in Shandong Province

Groundwater environment monitoring data were used to identify typical groundwater pollution components, to understand regional groundwater environment status, and to guarantee social and economic development and water quality safety. Factor analysis (FA) was used to identify typical polluted components in groundwater in Shandong. Groundwater environmental quality in Shandong Province was found to be mainly controlled by natural geochemical characteristics of the aquifer. Typical pollution components were found to be COD, F^-, Se, Pb, Hg, Cr and As. Organic pollutants were found to have the greatest impact on groundwater environmental pollution, followed by fluorine and selenium, and by heavy metal pollutants. Organic pollutants were mainly related to chemical companies, especially in the petroleum processing industry. Fluorine and selenium mainly came from seawater intrusion and natural hydrogeochemical processes. Heavy metal pollutants came from urban sewage, agricultural activities, mining and port industry. Introduction of new technologies might reduce pollutant emissions and protect groundwater environment.