Groundwater Flow Conditions Research Articles

Quantification of Lagrangian travel time statistics under nonstationary random groundwater flow conditions

AbstractThis study presents a Lagrangian description of advection dominated field‐scale transport of inert solutes, namely, the statistics of advective solute travel time and trajectory, in nonstationary random groundwater flow fields. The vertical flow field is generated by the effects of changes in total stress applied in fluid‐saturated heterogeneous deformable porous media. The Lagrangian statistics are developed directly from the velocity statistics based on the application of stochastic methodology such as the representation theorem and Fourier–Stieltjes integral representation. The focus of our numerical evaluation is placed on the influence of the soil compressibility on the Lagrangian statistics. The prediction on the statistics of solute travel time and trajectory may serve as the basic input to the environmental risk assessment.

Improving arsenopyrite oxidation rate laws: implications for arsenic mobilization during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR).

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and aquifer recharge (AR) provide technical solutions to address water supply deficits and growing future water demands. Unfortunately, the mobilization of naturally present arsenic due to ASR/AR operations has undermined its application on a larger scale. Predicting arsenic mobility in the subsurface during ASR/AR is further complicated by site-specific factors, including the arsenic mobilization mechanisms, groundwater flow conditions, and multi-phase geochemical interactions. In order to ensure safe and sustainable ASR/AR operation, a better understanding of these factors is needed. The current study thus aims to better characterize and model arsenic remobilization at ASR/AR sites by compiling and analyzing available kinetic data on arsenic mobilization from arsenopyrite under different aqueous conditions. More robust and widely applicable rate laws are developed for geochemical conditions relevant to ASR/AR. Sensitivity analysis of these new rate laws gives further insight into the controlling geochemical factors for arsenic mobilization. When improved rate laws are incorporated as the inputs for reactive transport modeling, arsenic mobilization in ASR/AR operations can be predicted with an improved accuracy. The outcomes will be used to guide groundwater monitoring and specify ASR/AR operational parameters, including water pretreatment requirements prior to injection.

The effects of floods on the temperature of riparian groundwater

AbstractThe transition area between rivers and their adjacent riparian aquifers, which may comprise the hyporheic zone, hosts important biochemical reactions, which control water quality. The rates of these reactions and metabolic processes are temperature dependent. Yet the thermal dynamics of riparian aquifers, especially during flooding and dynamic groundwater flow conditions, has seldom been studied. Thus, we investigated heat transport in riparian aquifers during 3 flood events of different magnitudes at 2 sites along the same river. River and riparian aquifer temperature and water‐level data along the Lower Colorado River in Central Texas, USA, were monitored across 2‐dimensional vertical sections perpendicular to the bank. At the downstream site, preflood temperature penetration distance into the bank suggested that advective heat transport from lateral hyporheic exchange of river water into the riparian aquifer was occurring during relatively steady low‐flow river conditions. Although a small (20‐cm stage increase) dam‐controlled flood pulse had no observable influence on groundwater temperature, larger floods (40‐cm and >3‐m stage increases) caused lateral movement of distinct heat plumes away from the river during flood stage, which then retreated back towards the river after flood recession. These plumes result from advective heat transport caused by flood waters being forced into the riparian aquifer. These flood‐induced temperature responses were controlled by the size of the flood, river water temperature during the flood, and local factors at the study sites, such as topography and local ambient water table configuration. For the intermediate and large floods, the thermal disturbance in the riparian aquifer lasted days after flood waters receded. Large floods therefore have impacts on the temperature regime of riparian aquifers lasting long beyond the flood's timescale. These persistent thermal disturbances may have a significant impact on biochemical reaction rates, nutrient cycling, and ecological niches in the river corridor.

Flow Pattern and Residence Time of Groundwater within Volta River Basin in Benin (Northwestern Benin)

The knowledge about groundwater flow conditions within Volta river basin in Benin, has restricted information coming to piezometry, water storage time, water path, and water quality. A good groundwater resources assessment of this sudano-sahelian area, is a huge condition for the sustainable management of water resources, which since the part of the 20th century is facing a severe drought that leads to a greater aridity. This article provides a summary with the main elements of carbon isotope (13C and 14C) as well as tritium (3H) coupled with hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. The goal is to improve the initial water recharging and the groundwater flow system within the aquifer. Two main results can be produced from the groundwater chemistry. First, the interactions between groundwater and clay minerals related to the residence time of groundwater are indicated by a slight evolution of Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 to Na-HCO3. Beside that towards water types Cl-NO3 indicates the anthropogenic influence on groundwater, related to agricultural activities and sanitation conditions. The carbon-14 activity measured on the TDIC is between 17.29 and 85.47 pmC. Therefore, it contains some samples covering a wide period of time from now to the Holocene implying a continuous system recharging over time. All the data confirm the assumption of a homogeneous, largely unified aquifer system with a multi-layer structure, but it also points out the low resource sustainability and a strong anthropogenic contamination of the most superficial horizons.

Hazards for buildings and structures caused by flood conditions

Floods are one of the common natural phenomena that can cause a huge danger to people and building objects located in flood plains. The particularly severe effects of such disasters are felt in heavily urbanized areas [1, 2]. The development of river valleys causes difficulties in the flow of flood water and the protective embankments limit the possibility of the temporary accumulation of water. The consequence of this situation is increasing the level of the flood wave and thereby intensifying its negative impact. Damages to the building during inundations can be the result of not only the direct activity of the flood wave and surface water, but also changes in groundwater flow conditions, including the increase of their piezometric level [3, 4]. An increasing of groundwater pressure can intensify or initiate new phenomena related to permeability (suffosion, colmatation, etc.) and consequently conduce disadvantageous changes of soil substrate parameters [5]. The influence of such processes can be revealed later, after the floods stage recede. The local conditions of water flow and the ground structure have a direct impact on the probability of occurrence of specific phenomena threatening construction objects (initiated by floods).

Biological Limitations of Dechlorination of cis-Dichloroethene during Transport in Porous Media.

We applied a mathematical model to data from experimental column studies to understand the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater under different flow conditions. In laboratory column experiments (reported previously), it was observed that complete dechlorination of cis-dichloroethene to ethene was sustained at high flow velocity (0.51 m/d), but that dechlorination failed at medium or low flow velocity (0.080 or 0.036 m/d). The mathematical model applied here accounts for transport of chlorinated ethenes in flowing groundwater, mass transfer of chlorinated ethenes between mobile groundwater and stationary biofilms, and diffusion and biodegradation within the biofilms. Monod kinetics with competitive inhibition are used to describe biodegradation. Nearly all parameters needed to solve the model are estimated independently from batch and nonreactive transport experiments. Comparing the model predictions to the experimental results permits the evaluation of three hypothesized biological limitations: insufficient supply of electron donor, decay of dechlorinators' biomass, and reduction in bacterial metabolism rates. Any of these three limitations are able to adequately describe observed experimental data, but insufficient supply of electron donor is the most plausible explanation for failure of dechlorination. Therefore, an important conclusion of this investigation is that insufficient hydrogen production occurs if groundwater flow is too slow to provide adequate flux of electron donor. Model simulations were in good agreement with experimental results for both successful and unsuccessful dechlorination, suggesting the model is a valid tool for describing transport and reductive dechlorination. An implication of our findings is that in engineered or natural bioremediation of chloroethene-contaminated groundwater, not only must the proper dechlorinating organisms be present, but also proper groundwater flow conditions must be maintained or else dechlorination may fail.

Impact of an historic underground gas well blowout on the current methane chemistry in a shallow groundwater system

Blowouts present a small but genuine risk when drilling into the deep subsurface and can have an immediate and significant impact on the surrounding environment. Nevertheless, studies that document their long-term impact are scarce. In 1965, a catastrophic underground blowout occurred during the drilling of a gas well in The Netherlands, which led to the uncontrolled release of large amounts of natural gas from the reservoir to the surface. In this study, the remaining impact on methane chemistry in the overlying aquifers was investigated. Methane concentrations higher than 10 mg/L (n = 12) were all found to have δ13C-CH4 values larger than -30‰, typical of a thermogenic origin. Both δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 correspond to the isotopic composition of the gas reservoir. Based on analysis of local groundwater flow conditions, this methane is not a remnant but most likely the result of ongoing leakage from the reservoir as a result of the blowout. Progressive enrichment of both δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 is observed with increasing distance and decreasing methane concentrations. The calculated isotopic fractionation factors of εC = 3 and εD = 54 suggest anaerobic methane oxidation is partly responsible for the observed decrease in concentrations. Elevated dissolved iron and manganese concentrations at the fringe of the methane plume show that oxidation is primarily mediated by the reduction of iron and manganese oxides. Combined, the data reveal the long-term impact that underground gas well blowouts may have on groundwater chemistry, as well as the important role of anaerobic oxidation in controlling the fate of dissolved methane.

Minimization of Transient Groundwater Pumping Cost - Analytical and Practical Solutions

In this paper, we study pumping cost minimization for any number and layout of wells under transient groundwater flow conditions in infinite confined aquifers and semi-infinite ones, to which the method of images applies. Moreover, we take into account additional steady-state flow, which is independent of the well system and results in non-horizontal initial hydraulic head level distribution. We prove analytically that, at any time, the instant pumping cost is minimum, when the following condition holds: the observed at that instant differences between hydraulic head values at the locations of the wells are equal to the half of the initial ones, which are due to the additional steady-state flow. Based on this proof, an analytical calculation procedure of the time-dependent optimal distribution of the required total flow rate to the individual wells is also presented. Moreover, as well flow rates usually remain constant over the pumping period, an approximate calculation of the optimal constant well flow rate distribution is outlined, based again on an analytical procedure.

Cooling tests, numerical modeling and economic analysis of semi-open loop ground source heat pump system

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are serving the heating and cooling demands of buildings worldwide. However, the widespread usage of these systems is limited because of their higher initial costs compared with conventional heating and cooling systems, especially in countries with high drilling costs like Japan. The semi-open loop GSHP system was introduced by authors and the results of heating tests and numerical modeling have been published. This system comprises two ungrouted vertical Ground heat exchangers (GHEs) in which groundwater is pumped from one well and injected to another using a water pump. The purpose of the water pumping and injection is to create an artificial groundwater flow around the GHEs to increase the heat advection between the GHEs and the surrounding environment.In this study, cooling tests on the semi-open loop GSHP system were performed and the thermal performance of the system was measured in each test. The developed numerical model was validated using the results of the cooling tests. Then, a sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the system performance under different operational and geological conditions during cooling operation. The results showed that in comparison with conventional GSHP operation, cooling coefficient of performance (COP) and system coefficient of performance (COPsys) can be enhanced by 13.1% and 6.6%, respectively, under fast groundwater flow conditions, as expected at the experimental site. In the absence of groundwater flow, the semi-open loop system is estimated to boost the cooling COP and COPsys by 101% and 62%, respectively, for cooling operations. Finally, an economic analysis was performed, considering the capital and running costs of the system and also the additional equipment costs associated with semi-open loop systems. The results of the economic analysis showed that water pumping and injection can reduce GSHP system costs by 22–36%.

Hydraulic evaluation of the hypogenic karst area in Budapest (Hungary)

The Buda Thermal Karst area, in central Hungary, is in the focus of research interest because of its thermal water resources and the on-going hypogenic karstification processes at the boundary of unconfined and confined carbonates. Understanding of the discharge phenomena and the karstification processes requires clarification of the groundwater flow conditions in the area. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to present a hydraulic evaluation of the flow systems based on analyses of the archival measured hydraulic data of wells. Pressure vs. elevation profiles, tomographic fluid-potential maps and hydraulic cross sections were constructed, based on the data distribution. As a result, gravitational flow systems, hydraulic continuity, and the modifying effects of aquitard units and faults were identified in the karst area. The location of natural discharge areas could be explained and the hydraulic behavior of the Northeastern Margin Fault of the Buda Hills could be determined. The flow pattern determines the differences in the discharge distribution (one- and two-component) and related cave-forming processes between the Central System (Rozsadomb area) and Southern System (Gellert Hill area) natural discharge areas. Among the premises of hypogenic karstification, regional upward flow conditions were confirmed along the main discharge zone of the River Danube.

Field Analysis of Stepwise Effective Thermal Conductivity along a Borehole Heat Exchanger under Artificial Conditions of Groundwater Flow

Heat advection caused by groundwater flow can potentially improve the performance of a borehole heat exchanger. However, the required flow velocity is not achieved under most natural conditions. This study focuses on artificial groundwater flow generated by pumping and investigates the associated effect in a lowland area near the Toyohira River alluvial fan, Sapporo, Japan. Thermal response test results are compared under natural and artificial groundwater flow conditions. A pumping well is constructed one meter from the borehole. Temperature profiles are measured in the U-tube during testing, using a pair of optic fiber distributed temperature sensors. The effective thermal conductivity is calculated from the profiles obtained in each 10-m sub-layer; this thermal conductivity is termed the stepwise thermal conductivity. Additionally, the upward flow velocity in the pumping well is measured to estimate the mean groundwater flow velocity at the borehole. The results show that effective thermal conductivity increases at depths less than 50 m, where the pumping creates mean velocities greater than 0.1 m d−1 in each sub-layer (1.5 md−1 on average). Thus, a borehole length of 50 m is more reasonable at the test site for its efficiency in a ground source heat pump system coupled with the pumping well than that used.

An efficient approach for characterizing basin-scale hydrodynamics

As the upstream oil and gas sector continues to use more groundwater resources for their operations, a comprehensive understanding of formation fluids at the sedimentary basin scale is required to inventory and manage available groundwater resources. Basin-scale fluid flow is often simplified to only assess pre-development groundwater conditions without understanding how large-scale hydrocarbon development might be changing regional flow patterns. This study focuses on two aspects of hydrogeological mapping for characterizing basin-scale hydrodynamics: (1) assessing the influence of hydrocarbon production and injection on pressure measurements used to map hydraulic heads and infer groundwater conditions; and (2) determining the effects of variable density groundwater on understanding the magnitude and direction of flow primarily in saline formation water aquifers. Drillstem Tests (DST's) are transient pressure tests that are used to infer regional groundwater flow, but they can be strongly affected when the sample location is located within the vicinity of a hydrocarbon production or injection well. To identify production and injection influences this study implements a Cumulative Interference Index (CII) methodology. This implementation can be used to map pre-development groundwater flow conditions and evaluate regional changes or effects due to historical oil and gas activity. Density effects are often neglected and can have considerable effect on groundwater flow in cases where aquifers contain dense brines, are inclined and sloping, or possess weaker hydraulic gradients than the buoyancy force potential. This study implements a vectorial analysis to identify flow directions in regions where density driven flow is important and can change the inferred magnitude and direction of flow. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of these methodologies at evaluating basin-scale hydrodynamics.

Selection of Colloidal Silica Grouts with Respect to Gelling and Erosion Behaviour

Cembinder, Eka EXP36, and MEYCO MP320 are three colloidal silica materials that have been proposed for post-excavation grouting of deep tunnels in a radioactive waste repository. In this study, samples of these colloidal silicas were tested for their particle size distribution, gel induction time (tG), gel time (TG), and physical erosion, under mildly saline groundwater flow conditions. In order to achieve a desired gel time range, from 15 to 50 min, it is recommended that the colloidal silica is mixed with a NaCl accelerator at a 5:1 volume ratio. At 20 °C, the concentration range for the NaCl solution should be 1.5 to 1.7 M for MEYCO, 1.23 to 1.38 M for Eka EXP36, and 1.3 to 1.47 M for Cembinder. The physical erosion of the set silicas remained steady during a 10 h flow cell experiment, when grouts were subjected to 0.05 M NaCl at a superficial velocity of 2.2 × 10−5 m/s. For these test conditions, the results show that MEYCO has the highest average erosion rate (0.85 mg/h) of the three grout materials, as well as the greatest variability in this rate. Cembinder performed best with the lowest silica removal rate. Extrapolation of the measured erosion rates suggests that grout fracture dilation would not be significant under natural quiescent groundwater flow conditions, but would be high if there was hydraulic communication between the geosphere and the repository.

Identifying modern and historic recharge events from tracer‐derived groundwater age distributions

AbstractUnderstanding groundwater ages offers insight into the time scales of recharge, aquifer storage turnover times, and contaminant protection time frames. The ability to quantify groundwater age distributions heavily depends on the choice of the interpretive model, and often important features of the age distribution cannot be identified with the subset of available models. In this paper, we implemented a multiple tracer method using a technique that assumes limited details regarding the shape of the age distribution and applied it to dewatering wells at a mine site in the Pilbara region of north‐western Australia. Using our method, we were able to identify distinct age components in the groundwater. We calculated the presence of four distinct age groups in the samples. All wells contained water aged between zero and 20 years. However, the rest of the samples were composed of water between 50 and 100 years, 100 and 600 years, or water approximately 1000 years old. These were consistent with local recharge sources (50–100 years) and knowledge of paleoclimate from lake sediment records. We found that although the age components were well constrained, the relative proportions of each component were highly sensitive to errors of environmental tracer data. Our results show that our method can identify distinct age groups in groundwater samples without prior knowledge of the age distribution. The presence of distinct recharge times gives insight into groundwater flow conditions over long periods of time.

In-situ identification of groundwater drainage conditions in a selected section within the Parsęta River valley

Drainage of groundwater by surface water, i.e. groundwater inflow into a stream or lake, is an essential component of the water balance. Moreover, the drainage and its spatial distribution determine geomorphological processes taking place in the riverbed. In order to identify the spatial distribution of groundwater inflow into the river, prototypes of two new meters filtrometer and gradientmeter) were designed and developed. The filtrometer allows to directly measure the groundwater-surface water seepage through bottom sediments at the place where the meter is embedded into the riverbed. The gradientmeter allows to measure hydraulic gradient within bottom sediments between groundwater and the river. Both parameters measured directly in the riverbed allow to specify the conditions of groundwater flow through bottom sediments. The field research studies conducted by means of the specified meters (filtrometer and gradientmeter) within the Parseta River valley at Storkowo were aimed to investigate the drainage of groundwater and its conditions. A section of the Parseta River with a length of 1600 meters and having no tributaries was selected. Three series of field measurements: spring, summer and autumn ones were conducted. During each series approximately 30 measurements were made by means of the filtrometer and the gradientmeter. The conducted measurements made it possible to calculate flow rates of the drainage of groundwater within the examined section of the Parseta. The obtained results were verified on the basis of control measurements with the application of the differential river flow method. Moreover, it was possible to assess the spatial distribution of specific discharge, hydraulic gradient and hydraulic conductivity in bottom sediments of the Parseta. On an annual basis, the largest drainage of groundwater was found within meander erosive areas where it reached nearly 150% of the average value for the examined section within the Parseta valley. Within meander accumulative areas, the drainage level was at approximately 110% of the average value. At straight sections the drainage of groundwater was the lowest and amounted about 66% of the average value. The research studies conducted in the Parseta valley confirmed the usefulness of the new method to assess the drainage of groundwater and its conditions within the river.

Analysis of the influence of different groundwater flow conditions on the thermal response test in Tangshan

Comprehensive thermal conductivity of the rock and soil is generally measured by thermal response test ignoring the effect on groundwater flow. However, the influence of the groundwater flow on thermal conductivity is drastic, so the design of ground heat exchangers with no consideration of groundwater flow is inaccurate. Tangshan is distributed in the river alluvial–proluvial fan of Luanhe River system and groundwater flow rapidly. Hence, analysis of thermal conductivity with thinking about groundwater flow is necessary. In this paper, the comprehensive thermal conductivity within depth of 100 m in Tangshan is measured by two methods: thermal response test and laboratory experiment. Pumping test and tracer test are implemented to simulate of groundwater flow field with different flow conditions. Test results show that: (1) Laboratory experiment results cannot truly represent the comprehensive thermal conductivity of layers. The average thermal conductivity of natural flow field is 23% higher than the laboratory experiment weighted results. (2) The comprehensive thermal conductivity increased 23% with the groundwater flow from the 1.026 to 4.176 m/d. Acceleration of groundwater flow is propitious to improve the thermal conductivity. (3) With the increase in groundwater flow, the initial temperature of ground decreases about 2.3 °C, the results of the stable thermal flow test and the stable operation condition test gradually rise slightly. So acceleration of groundwater flow is conducive to heat exchange. It is proved that the influence of groundwater flow cannot be ignored.

Gas-phase formation during thermal energy storage in near-surface aquifers: experimental and modelling results

Heating of groundwater by thermal energy storage (TES) poses a potential for the formation of a separate gas phase. Necessary boundary conditions, potential effects and monitoring feasibility of this process were not focused within previous studies. Since the formation of a gas phase could change groundwater flow conditions, hydrochemistry, porous media properties and thus efficiency of TES applications, improved understanding of the process is needed. The temperature of percolated sediment column tests was adjusted to 10, 25, 40 and 70 degrees C to quantify temperature-induced physical gas-phase formation and its effect on electrical resistance. Gas-phase formation, its accumulation and effects on hydraulic conductivity, heat conductivity and heat capacity were investigated using scenario calculations based on a closed-loop borehole TES system at 60 degrees C for different geochemical conditions. Experimentally quantified degassing ratios were within the expected range of thermodynamic calculations. The laboratory time-lapse electrical resistivity measurements proofed as a suitable tool to identify the onset and location of the gas-phase formation. Depending on the geochemical conditions, hydraulic conductivity in the area of the simulated heat storage site decreased between 60% and up to one order of magnitude in consequence of degassing within the scenario calculations. Heat conductivity and heat capacity decreased by maximally 3 and 16%, respectively. The results indicate that gas-phase formation as a result of aquifer heating can have pronounced effects especially on groundwater flow conditions and therefore should be considered particularly for nearly or fully gas-saturated groundwater and aquifers containing gas sources.

Spatial variation in porosity and permeability of the Rupel Clay Member in the Netherlands

AbstractThe spatial distribution of porosity and permeability of the Rupel Clay Member is of key importance to evaluate the spatial variation of its sealing capacity and groundwater flow condition. There are only a limited number of measured porosity and permeability data of the Rupel Clay Member in the onshore Netherlands and these data are restricted to shallow depths in the order of tens of metres below surface. Grain sizes measured by laser diffraction and SediGraph® in samples of the Rupel Clay Member taken from boreholes spread across the country were used to generate new porosity and permeability data for the Rupel Clay Member located at greater burial depth. Effective stress and clay content are important parameters in the applied grain-size based calculations of porosity and permeability.The calculation method was first tested on measured data of the Belgian Boom Clay. The test results showed good agreement between calculated permeability and measured hydraulic conductivity for depths exceeding 200m.The spatial variation in lithology, heterogeneity and also burial depth of the Rupel Clay Member in the Netherlands are apparent in the variation of the calculated permeability. The samples from the north of the country consist almost entirely of muds and as a consequence show little lithology-related variation in permeability. The vertical variation in permeability in the more heterogeneous Rupel Clay Member in the southern and east-southeastern part of the country can reach several orders of magnitude due to increased permeability of the coarser-grained layers.

Effects of a New Hydrological Barrier on the Temperatures in the Organic Archaeological Remains at Bryggen in Bergen, Norway

The World Heritage Site of Bryggen in Bergen, Norway, has experienced significant degradation of archaeological deposits as a consequence of changes in the soil water and groundwater balance after urban redevelopment adjacent to the heritage site. Additionally, groundwater temperatures below the heritage site were found to be significantly higher closer to the redeveloped area. One of the main mitigation measures taken to reduce the degradation of the archaeology has been the construction of a hydrological barrier along the sheet piling that divides the redeveloped area and the historic site. A shallow subsurface infiltration system was designed to achieve groundwater levels and flow conditions that are optimal for the preservation of archaeological remains directly along the sheet pile, while reducing drainage and subsidence also further upstream. Monitoring of groundwater level and temperatures after implementation of the hydrological barrier shows that groundwater levels and flow conditions have improved with respect to optimal preservation conditions, and groundwater temperatures have generally been reduced by up to 2 °C.

Investigation of discharge-area groundwaters for recharge source characterization on different scales: the case of Jinan in northern China

Discharge-area groundwater in Jinan, a typical karst region in northern China, was investigated by studying both the hydrological and chemical processes evolving from the recharge in mountainous terrains to the karst-spring outflows in the metropolitan area. Large-scale exploitation of karst groundwater has led to a disturbing trend in the ever-decreasing spring outflow rates and groundwater level. There is insufficient information about the Jinan karst aquifers, which provide the main water sources to meet human demand and to sustain spring outflow. The coupling of hydrological and chemical processes quantifies the flow system through aqueous chemistry characterization of the water sources. This approach is used to study the groundwater flow discharges in different locations and geological settings. The potentiometric data indicated limited vertical connectivity between distinct hydrogeological units and alteration of the recharge regime by the faults and by artificial exploitation. Shallow groundwater primarily belongs to the local flow system, with high nitrate concentration and enriched stable isotopic contents. Thermal groundwater has high concentrations of chloride and total dissolved solids, derived from a regional flow system with the highest recharge altitudes and long residence time. Non-thermal karst water may be attributed to the intermediate flow system, with uniform HCO3–Ca(Mg) facies and low nitrate concentration. This work highlighted discharge as a fingerprint of groundwater flow conditions and provides a better insight into the hydrogeological system.