Abstract
Investigating the quantity and quality interaction of the surface and groundwater resources plays an essential role in the integrated management of the surface and groundwater resources. In this study, to estimate the discharge and nitrate concentration of the interaction between the Chadegan aquifer and the Zayandeh-Roud reservoir, a quantitative-qualitative simulation model is developed using MODFLOW and MT3DMS codes. Here, the model is calibrated using the data from the beginning of winter 2011 to the end of winter 2014, and validated for spring 2014 to summer 2020. For the quantitative calibration, in the steady and unsteady conditions, the RMSE values of the water level are 0.74 m and 1.84 m, respectively, and for the qualitative calibration, the measured nitrate concentration values is 1.89 mg/L. In addition, for the validation state of the proposed model, the values of RMSE for the water levels and nitrate concentrations are 3.76 m and 2.85 mg/L, respectively. The results indicate that the aquifer has always been recharged by the reservoir during this time. In addition, the exchange nitrate concentration value is between 39.56 and 48.85 mg/L. The decreasing trend of the water level and the increase in the nitrate concentration, which exceed the permissible limit in some areas, indicate the necessity of adopting the immediate managerial policies. Five managerial scenarios are proposed and the effect on the aquifer conditions in terms of increase in the water level and the decrease of nitrate concentration is investigated. The results indicate that the 20% gradual reduction of the agricultural water consumption and simultaneously a 20% gradual reduction in nitrate fertilizers consumption and completing the urban wastewater treatment systems is the most effective quantitative-qualitative scenario for this region, with a 0.24% increase in the average water level and a 11.36% decrease in the average concentration of the nitrate in the aquifer by the end of the forecasting period.
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