Artesian Wells Research Articles

Unregistered artesian Well Management in Pasuruan, Indonesia: An Attempt to Protect Groundwater Resources

The number of unregistered artesian wells increases every year in the northern slopes of Bromo Volcano, Pasuruan. Artesian wells are used for domestic needs and agricultural irrigation but are not followed by environmentally sound groundwater use. The purpose of this study is to assess the potential for groundwater, groundwater use, wasted groundwater, and recommendations for groundwater management. The groundwater potential was obtained by measuring the depth of the groundwater table, piezometric surface of artesian wells, and geoelectrical data. Water uses were obtained from calculations based on the Indonesian National Standard. The amount of wasted groundwater was obtained by comparing the groundwater potentials, groundwater uses, and groundwater discharges from unregistered artesian wells. Water transfer was assessed by selecting unregistered artesian wells with discharges able to fulfill the water demands of each village. Groundwater in the Sub-Districts of Gondang Wetan and Winongan has high potential consisting of 1 unconfined aquifer group and two confined aquifer groups. Gondang Wetan and Winongan Sub-Districts are characterized as wasting groundwater potential through unregistered artesian wells. The discharge flow of unregistered artesian wells exceeds the water needs (>100%) in Winongan and Gondang Wetan Sub-Districts. Groundwater can be managed by water transfer, closure of artesian wells, and regulation of artesian wells use. Water can be transferred to areas not covered by Artesian wells in 20 villages. The number of artesian wells used for water transfer is 20 with a discharge of 5-20 liters/s.

Frequency converter-based monitoring, diagnostics and control system for artesian well pumps

The article highlights the relevance of energy saving problems on a global scale and the need to regulate by state laws the production and application of frequency converters, which allow to reduce the energy consumption of asynchronous motors by 30-60% depending on the load as a result of the International Energy Agency's targeted energy policy. Different characteristics of controlling the asynchronous motor, which is the main transmission of artesian well pumps, with Straight and Frequency Transducer (Variable Frequency Transmission) from the power grid are compared; the principles of energy-saving frequency converter (FC) with pulse-width modulation, increasing the power factor (PF-Power Factor) are interpreted, as well as the principle of operation and bloc explained, including the principle of operation and the block diagram. The authors report on the positive results of the work carried out in the oil fields by the Institute of Control Systems of ANAS together with Cybernetics SDB on the identification of energy-saving sources and finding ways to save energy. The article substantiates the urgency of creating a frequency converter-based monitoring, diagnostic and control system for subartesian well pumps. At the same time, the surface and underground equipment of subartesian wells is studied, technical requirements for an automated control system for early diagnosis and optimal control of their technical condition are formulated, and the structure of a new SCADA system is proposed. A comparative analysis of the operation of the artesian well engine directly and by the FC-based Artesian Well Smooth Control Station (AWSCS) proposed in the system is given for different cases.

Deep groundwater recharge mechanism in the sedimentary and crystalline terrains of Sri Lanka: A study based on environmental isotope and chemical signatures

Springs discharge groundwater that travels along flow paths of different spatial and time domains. In many instances, it is difficult to describe its involved groundwater movement, availability as well as geochemical evolution due to its hidden nature. The present study has assessed the deep groundwater in the form of thermal and non-thermal springs in the Palavi and Vanathavillu basins of sedimentary terrain as well as the Southern, Eastern, and Eastern-North Central lowlands of the crystalline terrain of Sri Lanka, using isotope and geochemical approaches. The results revealed that cation exchange in the sedimentary aquifers, whereas rock-water interaction in hard rock and fairly deep aquifers, are the important factors that control the groundwater chemistry. Artesian wells in the sedimentary terrain are mainly recharged by meteoric water, moving through fractured basement rocks at elevations from 100 to 200m above sea level, and have a long residence time. Despite its proximity to the West coast, the data acquired do not indicate that there is seawater mixing. Mixing of percolated water through an unconsolidated geological matrix appears to promote an increase in the salinity of groundwater. Non-mixed, non-evaporated, and young groundwater with a recharge elevation of more than 1000 m above mean sea level can be found in the Southern lowlands of the crystalline terrain. In the Eastern North Central lowlands, groundwater is lowland originated, fast replanished and significantly mixed with evaporated surface water. Thermal waters do not contain tritium and therefore are older than 50 years and have deeply percolated. Artesian water in the Eastern region is high altitude originated and intensely rock-water interacted. Some hot springs in the same area emerging through weathered overburden have water significantly mixed with recent precipitation. Thermal springs that emerge through quartzite bedrock have a non-mixed, non-evaporated, and less rock-water interacted nature. Both thermal and non-thermal water with artesian conditions have clearly indicated that they originate from a common recharge source but with different flow paths, penetration depths, and travel distances, resulting in different chemical characteristics. Non-thermal springs are recharged by recent precipitation and have percolated only to shallow depths.

Use of Biomphalaria glabrata as a bioindicator of groundwater quality under the influence of NORM

The Brazilian northeast is known to have sedimentary areas that contain minerals with anomalous concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). This characteristic can contribute to the elevation of natural radiation in the air, soil, and groundwater. Due to the inefficiency of drinking water distribution in this region, the use of water from wells has become essential for the population. Therefore, the objective of this research was to monitor the concentration of 238U and 232Th associated with biomonitoring with the species of mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata in waters of residential artesian wells, used for domestic consumption, in the municipalities of Abreu e Lima and São José do Sabugi, Brazil. To check the concentration of 238U and 232Th, ICP-MS was used. For biomonitoring, ecotoxicity techniques such as embryotoxicity and genotoxicity were used. The monitoring results confirmed high concentrations of natural uranium in one of the residential artesian wells, the data being above the limit allowed by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, whose study reference is the World Health Organization (WHO). The results of the bioassays showed embryotoxicity, with malformations and deaths in the exposed organisms being observed. The comet assay showed that groundwater caused changes in the mollusc's DNA, indicating genotoxicity. The bioassays suggest that embryotoxicity and genotoxicity were caused mainly by the high concentration of natural uranium. Therefore, the bioindicator B. glabrata was shown to be sensitive to the toxic effects of anomalous concentrations of NORM present in groundwater.

Mesorhizobium comanense sp. nov., isolated from groundwater.

Strain 3P27G6T was isolated from an artesian well connected to the thermal water basin of Comano Terme, Province of Trento, Italy. In phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus sequence analysis, strain 3P27G6T clustered together with Mesorhizobium australicum WSM2073T. Genome sequencing produced a 99.51 % complete genome, with a length of 7 363 057 bp and G+C content of 63.53 mol%, containing 6897 coding sequences, 55 tRNA and three rRNA. Average nucleotide identity analysis revealed that all distances calculated between strain 3P27G6T and the other Mesorhizobium genomes were below 0.9, indicating that strain 3P27G6T represents a new species. Therefore, we propose the name Mesorhizobium comanense sp. nov. with the type strain 3P27G6T (=DSM 110654T=CECT 30067T). Strain 3P27G6T is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium. Growth condition, antibiotic susceptibility, metabolic and fatty acid-methyl esters profiles of the strain were determined. Only few nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes were found in the genome, suggesting that this strain may not be specialized in nodulation or in nitrogen fixation.

Hydrogeological simulation of head changes of a south Benin artesian aquifer

Artesian basins include groundwater that may rise above the land surface with free-flow conditions which make it possible to exploit groundwater without pumping. The change to non-artesian conditions may have large implications for local people using artesian wells for drinking and other purposes. We applied a 3D physically based model to assess future head developments in the Turonian-Coniacian artesian (T.C.) aquifer of southern Benin under different artesian outflows and climate scenarios. A sensitivity analysis of the hydraulic and storage properties of the subsurface layers was performed to determine the importance of each property. Results revealed that artesian basins are structured into peripheral and central zones behaving differently to external stresses. Head amplitudes in the peripheral zones which are adjacent to recharge zones are higher and decrease towards the central artesian zones due to the influence of the confined aquifer's hydraulic diffusivity and the leakance of the confining layer. Based on the regional climate model (RACMO) that better reproduces the historical rainfall in the study area, lower recharge is predicted for the period until 2030 and will lead to head drops by 1 m at the peripheral artesian zone. However, such head drops will likely recover during the period 2030–2050 for which higher recharge is predicted. If the current artesian outflows double by 2050 this would cause heads to reduce by only a few centimeters both in the central and at the periphery of the artesian zone. Among all the subsurface layers properties, the hydraulic conductivity of the confined T.C. aquifer is most influencing the simulated heads across the artesian zone and its specific storage is revealed as the least influencing one.

Radon Monitoring in Artesian Wells at Mato-san Area of South Taiwan for Mud Eruption Studies

Abstract In the present study, radon monitoring in the artesian wells of Mato-san areas of south Taiwan were carried out to know the working of the mud eruption and the dependence of the eruption cycle with radon changes. Radon monitoring in water was carried out by using RAD7. Water samples were collected at different depths from different wells for the period of two weeks to one month. This study shows that anomalous radon value has been observed before and after to some eruptions during the study periods. The opposite radon behaviors at well No. 2 and well No. 3(B) were observed during the eruption. Noted behavior of these wells may be due to the movement of gas fluxes during the eruption period.

Disinfection of drinking water with ozone by the method of electrodispersion

This article analyzes the existing methods for disinfecting drinking water with ozone and identifies their disadvantages. The substantiation of the method of water disinfection with ozone using electrodispersion is given. The description of the technological scheme of water disinfection using the method of electrodispersion is given. The description of the design of the electric spray is given. The results of production tests of a device for water disinfection on the water of open reservoirs and artesian wells are presented.

The extreme well-loss component of drawdown in two deep artesian wells in Israel

The extreme well-loss component of drawdown in two deep artesian wells in Israel

New insight into the response and transport of nitrate in karst groundwater to rainfall events

Although numerous studies focused on nitrate source, transformation and transport of river water in karst area have been reported, it's still unclear in understanding nitrate main source and transformation in karst groundwater system and how nitrate transport from soil to water during rainfall events in karst critical zone. In order to explore the response and transport of nitrate in karst groundwater to rainfall events, different depths of well water before, during and after rainfall event were sampled, and hillslope runoff, surface runoff of different land-use types during rainfall event were sampled synchronously at a typical karst agricultural catchment in Southwest China. Results showed that fluctuations of EC, pH and DO in deep borehole well (W1) and artesian well (W2) were small, on the contrary, variations of EC and DO in shallow well (W3) were large during sampling period. The nitrate concentrations and isotopic values indicated that nitrate in karst groundwater mainly originated from chemical fertilizer (CF), and influenced by denitrification process. High intensity of denitrification was observed in deep groundwater (87%) and artesian well water (almost 100%). Extremely high dual nitrate isotope values up to 46.8 ± 1.5‰ and 24.7 ± 0.5‰ were found in the deep artesian well. The small variation of water chemistry (EC, DO and pH), nitrate concentration and dual nitrate isotope values in deep wells during sampling period suggested that newly supplied nitrogen in deep groundwater during rainfall events also comes from deep groundwater. Low nitrogen concentrations in hillslope subsurface flow and surface runoff suggests that nitrogen transport process leading to increase of water nitrogen content mainly occur in depression. Nitrogen in depression soil is mainly transported to groundwater through fissures, fractures and conduits, rather than through vertical migration processes in the soil during rainfall events.

Stochastic Model and Method of Optimization of Operation Modes of a Group of Artesian Wells in Water Supply Systems

Groups of spatially distributed wells interconnected by sections of pipelines (a common collector) supplying water to a clean water reservoir are used in water supply systems in order to provide drinking water to settlements. A group of wells together with a clean water reservoir is called a water intake facility of the water supply system. Further, water is supplied from the clean water reservoir to consumers in settlements by means of second stage pumping stations. In terms of each well the operating mode of the submersible pumping unit, i.e. the position of its operating point at a fixed moment in time, depends on the actual values ​​of many internal and external factors: dynamic water level in the well; the actual characteristics of the pumping unit; the position of the final control elements (drive speed, opening degree of the regulating valve); hydraulic resistances of pipeline sections of the water intake facility; the water level in the clean water reservoir; the number and operating modes of pumping units in other wells of the water intake facility.
 The paper describes a deterministic model of a water intake well. At the same time, the processes of water consumption are random processes, since they depend on many uncontrolled and unmanageable factors. The parameters of the technological equipment of the water intake facility are also random values, since they are estimated from experimental data of finite length.
 Therefore, a stochastic model of a water intake well is also proposed. A model of a quasi-stationary operation mode of a water intake facility, which is used to optimize the operation of a group of artesian wells operating on a common collector, is considered.

Possible use of precipitation for water recirculation system of a machine building site: analysis

An urgent task for industrial enterprises of metallurgical complexes is to create a rational and most environmentally friendly cycle of recycling water supply. One of the options for optimizing the efficiency of the water supply system is the collection and use of precipitation. This article presents the conducted studies of the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation collected from the roof of the mechanical assembly shop of a machine-building enterprise in the Moscow region, as well as the possibilities of their further use in the circulating water supply cycle of this enterprise. At the first stage of the experiments, a primary assessment of the chemical and microbiological indicators of the quality of atmospheric precipitation was carried out depending on the season, and the data obtained were compared with the requirements of regulatory documents. In order to inhibit biological processes occurring during the collection and accumulation of atmospheric precipitation, a technology for the disinfection of effluents was proposed, based on the use of hydrodynamic cavitation devices. A method for calculating the applied hydrodynamic devices is presented. The technology of ultrafiltration purification through ceramic membrane filters was proposed as the final stage of additional purification of atmospheric precipitation but with standard values. This stage allows with a high degree of efficiency to remove from the water micro-impurities of suspended solids, as well as formed in the process of hydrodynamic treatment of insoluble compounds. The proposed technology of hydrodynamic treatment of atmospheric water with subsequent ultrafiltration was subsequently successfully tested in real conditions. The calculation of the expected volumes of formation and collection of atmospheric precipitation was carried out with an assessment of the possibility of reducing the volume of water consumption from an artesian well. The high prospects of using atmospheric precipitation for feeding individual operations (galvanic processes, boiler water) have been confirmed. This research was carried out under a programme aimed at giving support to young research and teaching staff of D.Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia; Application No. К-2020-015.

EVALUATION OF PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT IN GHARBIA GOVERNORATE

Water scarcity and difficulty of effective communication and coordination among all water users have become one of the most important obstacles to the agricultural sector development. Therefore, it was necessary for decision makers to take the necessary decisions to raise the efficiency of water resource use and conservation through participation of water users by establishing of non-governmental non-profit organizations that include all beneficiaries called Water User Organizations (Shindo & Yamamoto 2017). research problem is summarized in continuous deterioration of irrigation network infrastructure, where efficiency of water transmission and distribution is about 70% (Medium-Term Sustainable Development Plan, 2019), and due to insufficient allocations of the government sector to implement all infrastructure development procedures, which requires participation of farmers through branch canals water users' associations in the work of improving irrigation network infrastructure. Therefore, the research aims to identify the problems of participation and suggestions for solving these problems, and research also aims to conduct an assessment of the associations’ capability to financial participation in maintenance costs and study possibility of farmers’ financial participation in the maintenance costs that are currently implemented from the state budget, research depended on descriptive and quantitative methods of analysis, as well as on published and unpublished secondary data, as well as primary data from data collection of questionnaire forms that are completed in a personal interview from members of the study sample, whether from representatives of water users associations, and irrigation engineers. The most important results of the research are that 83% of associations’ members reported that they participate in maintenance work on the branch canals, and that 63% of study associations members stated that priorities of implement maintenance works are taken with participation of association board members and engineering. The most important problems of participation from point of view associations’ representatives were lack of irrigation water due to deterioration branch canals infrastructure, problem of some officials not being convinced of the associations’ role and their marginalization. The most important suggestions of the associations’ representatives to solve participation problems were improving active participation of water user’s associations with engineering, increase officials obligation towards association’s role. While problems of participation from irrigation districts engineers point of view were summarized in absence of a law that regulating work of water user’s associations, rejection of associations to be responsible of artesian wells. The most important distinguished practices of associations were infringements removal and violations and participation in maintenance cost at association expense. As for study results about possibility of farmers’ financial participation in maintenance costs of branch canals, four proposed scenarios were developed with rates of 25%, 50%, 75 %, 100% with the value of feddan participation estimated at 105 pounds, 211 pounds, 316 pounds, 422 pounds, respectively, Research recommended adoption of awareness campaigns and persuasion of farmers about the importance of maintaining canals and importance of participation in bearing maintenance cost, as well as holding periodic seminars and trainings for engineering engineers to consolidate concepts and policies of farmers’ participation and recognition as a partner in water management. The research also recommended importance of being guided by scenarios of participation of water user associations in maintenance costs commensurate with farmers' material capabilities so that water management is gradually transferred.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPRINGS, SELF-FLOWING ARTESIAN WELLS, UNDERGROUND CAVE LAKES OF WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN IN TOURISM

The use of springs is becoming increasingly important in tourism. There are many springs in Western Kazakhstan that can be used to develop various types of tourism. Springs can be used for health, ecological, religious and other types of tourism. Today, health and spa tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of world tourism. The historical and cultural heritage, and biodiversity associated with the springs also fascinate people, and many of them can become unique tourist destinations with high visual impact. The article gives characteristics of springs, self-flowing artesian wells, underground cave lakes of Western Kazakhstan and indicates their tourist potential for travellers and local. However, despite the high recreational potential of springs, tourism as a whole is not developed enough to provide quality tourism services and attract a large number of tourists to the region. An analysis of the tradition of tourist use of springs has been carried out and the main types of modern recreation are justified based on an assessment of the tourist potential of springs.

Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques

Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, using remote sensing and geophysical techniques

Shutter of the Artesanian Well Gushing Abandons in Monzoungoudo, Benin

The artesian well of Monzoungoudo has been abandoned since 2005. The non-mastery of artesianism springing up at this water point constitutes a waste of the resource and has caused environmental damage. It is a question of an uncontrolled flow of the artesian well induced by the depressurization of the aquifer, resulting in a potential loss of capacity of neighbouring wells and continuous flow of the well at the mouth of its casing. In contact of the recovered water with the surrounding soil, it may generate local flooding, gullying, soil subsidence, the formation of sinkholes and cause damage to the infrastructures located nearby. In addition, the water from the artesian aquifer on the surface migrates to the Monzoun River, while transporting suspended particles or contaminants encountered on its path. The receiving environment of this water could then be affected by an input of turbid water or various contaminants. All these reasons justify the validity of this study, which proposes to address the technique of plugging the abandoned artesian wells of Monzoungoudo in order to stop or control the gushing water. Keywords: Abandons; Artesian well; Captive aquifer; Gushing; Monzoungoudo; Shutter.

Assessment of the radiation safety of drinking water and surface water bodies used for recreational purposes in the Voronezh region

AIM: This study aimed to assess the radiation safety of surface water bodies used for recreational purposes and drinking water used by the population of the Voronezh Region (VR).
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The fond materials of the Rospotrebnadzor Administration in VR in 20152019 were used. The following parameters were analyzed: total and activities and specific activity of radioactive substances in the water of open reservoirs (137Сs, 210Po, 226Ra, and 228Ra) and in the sources of drinking water (210Po and 222Rn). The annual effective dose was calculated on the basis of the probable consumption of drinking water from the centralized drinking water supply systems. The content of radionuclides in the water of open reservoirs was analyzed in three control points and in drinking water found in 2,036 water intake artesian wells of the centralized drinking water supply systems. Then, 100% of the sources were surveyed in terms of total and activities. The radiation safety of bottled drinking water from nine manufacturers was assessed on the basis of the data of the Federal State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance. Water in open reservoirs and drinking water, including water packaged in containers, were laboratory controlled on the basis of an accredited testing laboratory center (Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the VR) by using MKS-01A Multirad spectrometric installation (Akvilon, Russia). UMF-2000 - and -radiometers were utilized to measure small activities (NPP, Doza, Russia).
 RESULTS: According to the regional databases of Rospotrebnadzor Administration regarding water from open water bodies for the population (three monitoring points: Tikhaya Sosna, Sukhaya Khvorostan, and Usman rivers) in 20152019, values did not exceed the intervention limit that was registered in terms of the content of the controlled radioactive substances (210Ро, 234U, 222Rn, and 137Сs) and the total and activities. Water from artesian wells used for drinking and domestic purposes fully met the requirements of radiation safety. The average annual effective radiation doses (AAERD) of the population in the VO in 74 settlements within the zones of radioactive contamination due to the Chernobyl disaster ranged from 0.05 mSv/year to 0.12 mSv/year, which was significantly lower than the threshold value (1 mSv/year). The analyzed drinking water samples, water packaged in containers, and the samples produced in the region were in compliance with sanitary and epidemiological requirements, including those for 90Sr and 137Cs radionuclide contents.
 CONCLUSION: Radiation monitoring in the VR revealed that the content of technogenic radionuclides (137Cs and 90Sr) and other standardized parameters of radiation safety in water of open reservoirs and drinking water did not exceed the threshold values.

Stochastic model and method of optimization of operating modes groups of artesian wells in water supply systems

Water supply of large cities is carried out, as a rule, from open reservoirs - lakes, reservoirs, large rivers, ie from sources with significant water reserves. In this case, the water supply scheme includes: pumping stations of the first rise, which take water directly from the water; water treatment system (purification); pumping stations of the second and third rise, pumping clean water over long distances and supplying it to settlements [1]. If the settlement is located in an area where there are no large open water sources, or the geographical location of the settlement allows the use of groundwater, in which case artesian wells are used as a source of water supply. Usually small settlements are supplied with water from artesian wells. Artesian wells are widely used for water supply of villages, industrial water supply, for irrigation (irrigation systems), in the mining industry, to reduce the level of groundwater. The advantage of using artesian wells to supply the population with drinking water is that the water is extracted from great depths and purified using natural filters [2]. Thus, the cost of water treatment is significantly reduced. The disadvantage of using artesian wells is usually low productivity of the well, the strong dependence of water volumes in the well on climatic and weather conditions, depletion of the well as a result of large-scale construction or extraction of natural minerals such as shale gas [3].

Сумарна альфа-активність та активність радону-222 у підземній воді в різних регіонах України

Objective: We aimed to analyze the results of the measurements of the total alpha activity and activity of radon-222 in the water of artesian wells to establish the geographical regions of Ukraine which require a deep attention to the assessment of the radioactivity of the groundwater. Methods: We used empirical, analytical, radiometric, spectrometric methods and method of mathematical statistics in the study. Materials: We carried out a statistical analysis of the results of the measurements of the total alpha activity and the activity of radon-222 in water samples from the artesian wells of 23 administrative regions of Ukraine studied during 2016 - 2020. Results: Analysis of the results of the measurements of the total alpha-activity and radon-222 activity in the water of artesian wells showed their significant heterogeneity for different regions of Ukraine and a connection with the geological features of the area. The statistical distribution of the values of the total alpha activity and the activity of radon-222 in water samples, diagrams of the range of measured values within the regions of Ukraine and between regions are presented in the work; the measurement results were plotted on the hydrogeological map of Ukraine. Conclusion: The values of the total alpha activity and the activity of radon-222 indicate that these indicators are extremely heterogeneous for the territory of Ukraine and reflect the geological features of the area. The results of the analysis can be useful for making recommendations to collective and individual water consumers, well owners regarding the need in more detailed study of the content of natural radionuclides in the sources of water and the use of the appropriate methods of water treatment in cases of non-compliance with the accepted standards. It is shown that it is necessary to develop a strategy for radiation monitoring of the groundwater quality in the country in order to study objectively the existing state and the achievement of an acceptable quality of the water consumed by the population.

Groundwater-Extracting Rice Production in the Rejoso Watershed (Indonesia) Reducing Urban Water Availability: Characterisation and Intervention Priorities

Production landscapes depend on, but also affect, ecosystem services. In the Rejoso watershed (East Java, Indonesia), uncontrolled groundwater use for paddies reduces flow of lowland pressure-driven artesian springs that supply drinking water to urban stakeholders. Analysis of the water balance suggested that the decline by about 30% in spring discharge in the past decades is attributed for 47 and 53%, respectively, to upland degradation and lowland groundwater abstraction. Consequently, current spring restoration efforts support upland agroforestry development while aiming to reduce lowland groundwater wasting. To clarify spatial and social targeting of lowland interventions five clusters (replicable patterns) of lowland paddy farming were distinguished from spatial data on, among other factors, reliance on river versus artesian wells delivering groundwater, use of crop rotation, rice yield, fertiliser rates and intensity of rodent control. A survey of farming households (461 respondents), complemented and verified through in-depth interviews and group discussions, identified opportunities for interventions and associated risks. Changes in artesian well design, allowing outflow control, can support water-saving, sustainable paddy cultivation methods. With rodents as a major yield-reducing factor, solutions likely depend on more synchronized planting calendars and thus on collective action for effectiveness at scale. Interventions based on this design are currently tested.