Relation of tectonic structure to groundwater flow in the Beypazari region, NW Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

The Beypazari region in NW Anatolia (Turkey) is characterized by high water demand and stress on available water resources. Tectonic structures control the groundwater flow, hydraulic head and well yield in the study area, which is located in the central part of the Beypazari Neogen basin. The impact of major tectonic structures on groundwater flow in the Cakiloba-Karadoruk aquifer is described. This aquifer is of sedimentary composition and underwent tectonic deformation, post-Miocene, forming northeast-striking asymmetric synclines, anticlines, monoclines, high-angle reverse faults and N–S striking tensional faults. Some of these structures affect groundwater flow by separating the aquifer system into sub-compartments, each having unique recharge, boundary and flow conditions. The groundwater system is compartmentalized into three sub-systems under the impacts of the Zaviye and Kanliceviz faults: (1) Arisekisi, (2) Elmabeli and (3) Southern sub-systems. The southern part of the Arisekisi sub-system and the Southern sub-system are characterized by a syncline and the aquifer is confined in the central part of the syncline. The Elmabeli sub-system has unconfined conditions. Consequently, the effects of tectonic structures are shown to be important for selecting well locations, evaluating groundwater use, groundwater management, and contaminant control in the study area, and also in other tectonic regions.