The Ionic Composition of Some Lowland Lake Waters from Cheshire, England

Abstract

Analyses are presented for the major dissolved constituents in waters from nine Cheshire meres. Calcium and bicarbonate ions predominate, but there are also large proportions of magnesium, sodium, sulphate, and chloride in these rather concentrated waters. The two lakes lacking inflow and outflow streams are chemically aberrant, and it appears that their ionic composition is greatly influenced by that of rain. The chemistry of the normal mere waters reflects the arid conditions in which the underlying Keuper marls were deposited.