Abstract
A fit for purpose (FFP) framework has been developed to evaluate the suitability of brackish water resources for various competing uses. The suitability or the extent of unsuitability for an intended use is quantified using an overall compatibility index (OCI). The approach is illustrated by applying it to evaluate the feasibility of the Dockum Hydrostratigraphic Unit (Dockum-HSU) as a water supply alternative in the Southern High Plains (SHP) region of Texas. The groundwater in Dockum-HSU is most compatible for hydraulic fracturing uses. While the water does not meet drinking water standards, it can be treated with existing desalination technologies over most of the study area, except perhaps near major population centers. The groundwater from Dockum-HSU is most compatible for cotton production, but not where it is currently grown. It can be a useful supplement to facilitate a smoother transition of corn to sorghum cropping shifts happening in parts of the SHP. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), sodium, sulfate, and radionuclides are major limiting constituents. Dockum-HSU can help reduce the freshwater footprint of the Ogallala Aquifer in the SHP by supporting non-agricultural uses. Greater regional collaboration and more holistic water management practices are however necessary to optimize brackish groundwater use.
Highlights
Groundwater-dependent agriculturally dominant environments (GRADEs) are mostly arid and semi-arid regions that are heavily dependent on existing groundwater resources for agricultural and livestock production [1]
This paper develops a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework for conducting spatially explicit “fit for purpose (FFP)” brackish groundwater resource assessments
FFP analysis results based
Summary
Groundwater-dependent agriculturally dominant environments (GRADEs) are mostly arid and semi-arid regions that are heavily dependent on existing groundwater resources for agricultural and livestock production [1]. GRADEs can be seen in many parts of the world and are important to ensure global food security [2]. Intensive agriculture and livestock breeding activities in GRADEs have led to severe declines in water levels in aquifers and have threatened the sustainability of these regions [3,4]. Global food security is critically affected, as groundwater withdrawals continue to exceed the replenishment rates in GRADEs [5]. Balancing the short-term water needs while ensuring long-term water availability for future generations is, a critical water management challenge in GRADEs, and it directly impacts the viability of rural areas
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