Intensive Groundwater Extraction Research Articles (Page 1)

Intensive groundwater extraction and a severe 2021 drought have worsened land subsidence in Taiwan's Choshui Delta, highlighting the need for effective predictive modeling to guide mitigation. In this study, we develop a machine learning framework for subsidence analysis using electricity consumption data from pumping wells as a proxy for groundwater extraction. A long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is trained to reconstruct missing subsidence records and forecast subsidence trends, while an artificial neural network links well electricity usage to groundwater level fluctuations. Using these tools, we identify groundwater-level decline from pumping as a key driver of subsidence. The LSTM model achieves high accuracy in reproducing historical subsidence and provides reliable predictions of subsidence behavior. Scenario simulations indicate that reducing groundwater pumping, simulated by lowering well electricity use, allows groundwater levels to recover and significantly slows the rate of land subsidence. To assess the effectiveness of pumping reduction strategies, two artificial scenarios were simulated. The average subsidence rate at the Xiutan Elementary School multi-layer compression monitoring well (MLCW) decreased from 2.23 cm/year (observed) to 1.94 cm/year in first scenario and 1.34 cm/year in second scenario, demonstrating the potential of groundwater control in mitigating land subsidence. These findings underscore the importance of integrating groundwater-use indicators into subsidence models and demonstrate that curtailing groundwater extraction can effectively mitigate land subsidence in vulnerable deltaic regions.

We estimated surface deformation using SBAS-InSAR and the Mogi Source Model is then adopted to elucidate the mechanisms and spatial variability of surface deformation within the Semarang-Demak Alluvial Plain and its impacts on infrastructures. By analyzing predicted vertical and horizontal velocities, we identify intensive groundwater extraction as the primary driver of aquifer compaction, with vertical subsidence exceeding -120 mm/year and volume loss rates surpassing -6,000 m³/year in the urbanized Semarang-Demak region. These findings highlight the three-dimensional characteristics of deformation, forming a characteristic “bowl-shaped” pattern and revealing the sensitivity of infrastructure—expressways, railways, national roads, local roads, and airports—to high strain and tilt gradients. The integrated analysis thus underscores the necessity of sustainable groundwater management and adaptive land-use strategies to mitigate deformation-induced risks. This approach is crucial for safeguarding the long-term functionality and resilience of vital infrastructure in this subsidence-prone coastal region, guiding decision-makers toward strategic and sustainable development practices.

Northeast China, as a primary grain-producing region, has long drawn attention for its intensive groundwater extraction for irrigation. However, previous studies on the future spatiotemporal changes of groundwater storage (GWS) are lacking. Utilizing the Global Land Data Assimilation System Version 2.2 (GLDAS-2.2), which simulates groundwater storage (as Equivalent Water Height) using the Catchment Land Surface Model (CLSM-F2.5) and calibrates it with terrestrial water storage data from the GRACE satellite, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of GWS in northeast China and employed a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network model to quantify the responses of GWS to future climate change. Maintaining current socio–economic factors and combining climate factors from four scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585) under the CMIP6 model, we predicted GWS from 2022 to 2100. The results indicate that historically, groundwater storage exhibits a decreasing trend in the south and an increasing trend in the north, with a 44° N latitude boundary. Under the four scenarios, the predicted GWS increments in northeast China are 0.08 ± 0.09 mm/yr in SSP126, 0.11 ± 0.08 mm/yr in SSP245, 0.12 ± 0.09 mm/yr in SSP370, and 0.20 ± 0.07 mm/yr in SSP585. Although overall groundwater storage has slightly increased and the model projections indicate a continued increase, the southern part of the region may not return to past levels and faces water stress risks. This study provides an important reference for the development of sustainable groundwater management strategies.

The phenomenon of tidal flood in the northern coastal areas of Java Island, which frequently occurs nowadays, is likely a consequence of rising sea levels due to global warming. The phenomena of urbanization and industrialization in the northern coastal areas of Tegal Regency can also contribute to the increase in built-up areas, adding pressure to the land surface in the coastal regions. Additionally, intensive groundwater extraction is occurring in densely populated coastal areas due to various activities. The high concentration of industrial and residential zones along the coast of Tegal Regency, coupled with extensive land subsidence due to intensive water abstraction, can lead to subsidence phenomena. The combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence can exacerbate the impact of tidal floods, making them more widespread and severe. The coastal areas of Tegal Regency are among those frequently affected by tidal floods. Analyzing tidal floods is crucial for integrated coastal management to support regional development. Assistance in developing a tidal flood mitigation plan in this coastal area is instrumental for local governments in planning and spatial arrangement in Tegal Regency. Support has been provided to local authorities, including BAPPEDA and Litbang Tegal Regency, to plan spatial arrangements in the northern coastal areas of Tegal Regency. The assistance activities include drone photography in the most severely affected areas, such as Kramat District. Additionally, the team periodically measures elevation to help local governments identify the potential occurrence of land subsidence. Furthermore, a Forum Group Discussion has been conducted to formulate the most suitable mitigation plan considering the conditions in Tegal Regency.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, rapid urbanization and intensive groundwater extraction have led to significant land subsidence, posing challenges for sustainable urban management. This study utilized Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) integrated with multi-track data analysis to generate refined time-series and velocities of 2D displacement across Greater Jakarta. This study reveals notable variation in subsidence rates across different areas, with the most significant subsidence observed in Cikarang and the coastal regions of North Jakarta, which remains linear to this day. Notably, while the 2D approach improved accuracy by up to 53% at some locations, discrepancies at others indicated that simpler descending projections might sometimes yield better results. This underscores the necessity for a nuanced application of geodetic methods based on specific site conditions to effectively monitor and manage land subsidence in complex urban environments. Our findings highlight the critical importance of integrating multiple monitoring approaches to comprehensively address both vertical and horizontal displacement.

The analysis of deformation dynamics in Guatemala city and its surrounding region presented in this paper holds significant relevance due to the high vulnerability of this area to natural disasters, combined with its rapid urbanization, similar to most Central American cities, contrasting with a lack of InSAR and deformation studies in the region. A total of 226 SAR images from Sentinel-1 A and B satellites in both ascending and descending geometries were processed with the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique employing the SNAP-StaMPS integrated processing chain. The study area encompasses the Metropolitan Region of Guatemala, which is characterized by a diverse and active geological framework, with a historical record of earthquakes, intense groundwater extraction, and local subsidence phenomena, causing fissures and sinkholes. Four active areas were identified in the study area, each covering more than 50 hectares, with subsidence velocities greater than 10 mm/yr. This study provides valuable insights into fostering the sustainable development of this region by identifying deformation patterns, characterizing main active areas, and evaluating associated risks for disaster management and prevention. The results can also aid informed decision-making processes and guide urban planning and resource management strategies in other Central American countries. The application of InSAR studies is crucial for improving safety and sustainability in urban environments and natural resource management in vulnerable regions.

Groundwater is critical to the socioeconomic development of any region. Infiltration of surface water into the ground is influenced by a variety of factors such as soil pores, folds, fractures, faults, and joints, all of which contribute to groundwater recharge. Groundwater is an important source of freshwater in the drought-prone Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. Therefore, the search for groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) is critical. The present study focuses on the investigation of potential groundwater zones using geospatial techniques. Geology, land use and land cover, geomorphology, soil, drainage density, lineament, and groundwater levels were obtained from state and non-state associations. ArcGIS version 10.8 was used to create all thematic layers and classified grids. The intensive use of groundwater in arid and semiarid regions is becoming a problem for the public to meet their freshwater needs. The condition of arid and semi-arid regions due to intensive groundwater extraction has become one of the most important environmental problems for the public. In this study, a powerful groundwater potential mapping technique was developed using integrated remote sensing data from GIS-AHP. Using AHP techniques, thematic layers for geology, geomorphology, and soil followed by drainage, drainage density and lineament, lineament density, slope, water level, and lithological parameters were created, classified, weighted, and integrated into a GIS environment. According to the results of the study, it is estimated that 14% of the groundwater potential in the study area is good, 49% is moderate and 36% is poor. A groundwater level map was used to verify the groundwater potential. In addition, the model was validated with a single-layer sensitivity analysis, which showed that geology was the most influential layer and water level was the least influential thematic layer. The low-potential areas identified on the groundwater potential map can be used for further study to identify ideal locations for artificial recharge. In low potential areas, the groundwater potential map can be used to find ideal locations for artificial recharge. The water table in the area must be raised by artificial recharge structures such as infiltration basins, recharge pits, and agricultural ponds. Artificial recharge structures such as infiltration basins, recharge pits, and agricultural ponds can be used for groundwater development in the low potential zones. The GWPZ map was successfully validated with three proxy data, such as the number of wells, groundwater level, and well density, obtained from well inventory information. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the geographic analysis of groundwater potential and help policy makers in this drought-prone area to create more sustainable water supply systems.

The judicious use and management of natural resources is vital to achieve sustainable development. Land and water are prime natural resources, and their depletion and degradation can lead to serious threats like land subsidence. Land subsidence is a phenomenon of the alteration of elevation at a point on the earth through the sinking of the surface. It occurs when the earth's surface loses its support. The major causes of land subsidence include groundwater extraction, mining, construction overload, and other similar factors that increase pressure on the surface and eventually subsidize the land. Urban centers with excessive groundwater extraction and infrastructure development are at a high risk of subsidence. Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan, is undergoing an enormous increase in population density, uncontrolled urbanization with very large-scale construction projects, and intensive groundwater extraction which are responsible for subsidence directly or indirectly. Therefore, studies on groundwater status and unplanned urban appraisals have seriously urged monitoring of the subsidence in Lahore. Herein, we used freely available Sentinel-1 data for one year (from August 2018 to August 2019), with a high spatial and temporal resolution, to monitor subsidence in Lahore. The data were processed using the SNAP/StaMPS approach for Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSI) analysis, which is an advanced InSAR technique. The displacement velocity map from InSAR processing shows a significant land deformation in the area with values ranging from –114 to 15 mm yr–1. Along with the Sentinel-1 data, we also used supplementary data obtained from various government agencies of Pakistan to study the land cover map, transportation network and waterways of Lahore, soil types, population density, and field points for assessing the results and understanding the roles of various factors in the occurrence of uplift or subsidence. A strong correlation was established between subsidence and various parameters such as groundwater extraction and lowering of the water table, soil type variations, land cover changes, surface water channels, and population density. The deformation map confirms the greatest subsidence in the central part of Lahore, while the uplift is observed in the less populated and rural areas situated near Ravi River. The land subsidence and uplift could be attributed to groundwater extraction and recharge through the canal system and the river, respectively.

ABSTRACT Climate change and trans-boundary development in the major deltas of the world, including the Vietnamese Mekong Delta have exacerbated environmental risks. Land subsidence, riverbed sand mining, and intensive groundwater extraction have all contributed to lower channel bed levels, resulting in riverbank erosion and the loss of assets and livelihoods for local residents. This study investigated the drivers, and classified the social vulnerability of local communities affected by riverbank erosion along two main branches in the Vietnamese Mekong. Direct interviews were conducted with 218 erosion-affected households along the Mekong and Bassac rivers in Dong Thap and An Giang provinces in order to create a social vulnerability index. More than 70% of the total surveyed households belonged to the highly, moderately, or low vulnerability groups, suggesting a range of affected communities within the sample, some of whom had the ability to cope with its short-term impacts. However, the estimated social vulnerability index revealed significant geographical heterogeneity, with communities along the Mekong branch being more vulnerable than those along the Bassac. The recommendations from our investigations include the establishment of community awareness programmes, as well as policy changes that ensure and support local residents’ livelihoods adaptation. Stakeholder participation and enhanced community engagement was found to be the most important tools available in terms of aiding local people cope with the complex impacts of riverbank erosion.

The presented study is aimed towards determining the reasons for manganese pollution of drinking water extracted from the terrace of Vacha River. The results show that this is due to the seepage of from the artificial lake, formed after the construction of a small hydropower plant. Another possible reason is the natural accumulation in the upper parts of the river terrace of poorly soluble in water manganese compounds that turn into soluble ones as a result of changes in the redox environment, which take place in the conditions of very intensive groundwater extraction.

Controls on distributions of sulphate, fluoride, and salinity in aquitard porewater from the North China Plain: Long-term implications for groundwater quality

Intensive groundwater extraction is a changing groundwater system. It is also the main challenge for future groundwater availability. In this study, numerical groundwater flow model was developed in Kombolcha catchment, Ethiopia by using MODFLOW-OWHM. To address this concern, the conceptual model was built by analyzing the hydrogeological data. The groundwater model was calibrated under the steady-state condition to produce the best match between the simulated and observed hydraulic head. The simulated outflow of the MODFLOW model was 358,221.09 m3/day which is nearly equal to 358,221.08 m3/day of groundwater inflow with a difference 0.01 m3/day and zero discrepancies. The subsurface inflow covers the most percentage (76%) in the budget and surface outflow contributes about 66% of the total groundwater outflow. The model result shows that the Kombolcha aquifer system is highly sensitive to change of hydraulic conductivity. Prediction of this aquifer behavior for increasing well withdrawal and decreasing recharge scenarios has been carried out. The effect of increasing withdrawal by 25, 50 and 100% results in a decline of groundwater level by 6.77, 12.15 and 24.37 m, respectively, whereas the effect of decreasing groundwater recharge by the same percentage of withdrawal results in a decline of groundwater level by 4.27, 6.34 and 11.25 m, respectively. This model can be as a tool to understand the aquifer system and sustainable utilization of groundwater resources.

Modelling the effects of climate change and population growth in four intensively exploited Mediterranean aquifers. The Mijas range, southern Spain

Purpose- Land subsidence is caused by natural factors and human activities around the world. Fars Province, located in the south of Iran, is subject to land subsidence due to the uncontrolled exploitation of groundwater, causing damages to the population and human settlements and also environmental, social and economic areas. Design/methodology/approach- The present research is descriptive in terms of describing land subsidence in the case study region, whereas it is also analytical as time series analysis techniques based on Radar Interferometry (InSAR) is applied to monitor temporal changes in subsidence in Darab and Fasa Plains, including 470 rural points. Using 8 ENVISAT ASAR images spanning between 2005 and 2010, nine Interferograms were processed. In the study area. Geographic Information System (GIS) is then used to study groundwater level decline at the well locations in a 24-year period (from 1991 to 2015). Findings- The results of the research confirm that there is a significant correlation between groundwater water level decline and land surface subsidence. Time series analysis of the processed Interferograms indicate the mean displacement velocity map, demonstrating the maximum subsidence rate of 25 cm/yr. The InSAR analysis reveal within the study area subsidence rate of 25 cm/year in 24 years period and locally exceeding 30 cm/yr in the last decade. This area of significant subsidence is limited in its spatial extent to the agricultural land and is partly influenced by the large-scale over-exploitation of groundwater resources in the region study. The temporal and areal relationships of subsidence and groundwater level data suggest that a significant part of the observed subsidence in the Darab region is caused by intense groundwater extraction which has led to widespread compaction within the upper parts of the up to 300m. Socioeconomic analysis and the subsidence hazard map show that 105523 people are generally at risk of subsidence, of 65068 who are at high risk. In addition, there are 2679 socioeconomic infrastructures such as public service at risk of damage by land subsidence. Research limitations/implications- Limitation in In SAR data access, especially for long-term data was one of the main limitations in land subsidence research and also in this research. Practical implications- Integrated water resource management and the observed extraction of groundwater could influence the subsidence rate in the regions exposed to land subsidence. Originality/value- This research will be important to provide vulnerability in regions with groundwater overexploitation.

Land subsidence in Beijing and its relationship with geological faults revealed by Sentinel-1 InSAR observations

Quantifying anthropogenic contributions to elemental cycles provides useful information regarding the flow of elements important to industrial and agricultural development and is key to understanding the environmental impacts of human activity. In particular, when anthropogenic fluxes reach levels large enough to influence an element's overall cycle the risk of adverse environmental impacts rises. While intensive groundwater pumping has been observed to affect a wide-range of environmental processes, the role of intensive groundwater extraction on global anthropogenic element cycles has not yet been characterized. Relying on comprehensive datasets of groundwater and produced water (groundwater pumped during oil/gas extraction) chemistry from the U.S. Geological Survey along with estimates of global groundwater usage, I estimate elemental fluxes from global pumping, consumptive use, and depletion of groundwater. I find that groundwater fluxes appreciably contribute to a number of elements overall cycles and thus these cycles were underestimated in prior studies, which did not recognize groundwater pumping's role. I also estimate elemental loadings to agricultural soils in the United States and find that in some regions, groundwater may provide a significant portion (more than 10%) of crop requirements of key nutrients (K, N). With nearly 40% of globally irrigated land under groundwater irrigation, characterizing nutrient and toxic element fluxes to these soils, which ultimately influence crop yields, is important to our understanding of agricultural production. Thus, this study improves our basic understanding of anthropogenic elemental cycles and demonstrates that quantification of groundwater pumping elemental fluxes provides valuable information about the potential for environmental impacts from groundwater pumping.

The Tulare Basin in Central California is a site of intensive agricultural activity and extraction of groundwater, with pronounced ground subsidence and degradation of water resources over the past century. Spatially extensive observations of ground displacements from satellite-based remote sensing allow us to infer the response of the aquifer system to changes in usage and to marked recharge events such as the heavy winter rainfall in 2017. Radar imagery from the Sentinel-1a/b satellites (November 2014 to October 2017) illuminates secular and seasonal trends modulated by changes in withdrawal rates and the magnitude of winter precipitation. Despite the increased precipitation in early 2017 that led to a marked decrease, or in some areas, reversal, of subsidence rates, subsidence returned to rates observed during the drought within a matter of months.

The exploitation of groundwater resources is of high importance and has become very crucial in the last decades, especially in coastal areas of arid and semi-arid regions. The coastal aquifers in these regions are particularly at risk due to intrusion of salty marine water. One example is the case of Tripoli city at the Mediterranean coast of Jifarah Plain, North West Libya. Libya has experienced progressive seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifers since the 1930s because of its ever increasing water demand from underground water resources. Tripoli city is a typical area where the contamination of the aquifer in the form of saltwater intrusion is very developed. Sixty-four groundwater samples were collected from the study area and analyzed for certain parameters that indicate salinization and pollution of the aquifer. The results demonstrate high values of the parameters Electrical Conductivity, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl− and SO42−, which can be attributed to seawater intrusion, where Cl− is the major pollutant of the aquifer. The water types according to the Stuyfzand groundwater classification are mostly CaCl, NaCl and Ca/MgMix. These water types indicate that groundwater chemistry is changed by cation exchange reactions during the mixing process between freshwater and seawater. The intensive extraction of groundwater from the aquifer reduces freshwater outflow to the sea, creates drawdown cones and lowering of the water table to as much as 25 m below mean sea level. Irrigation with nitrogen fertilizers and domestic sewage and movement of contaminants in areas of high hydraulic gradients within the drawdown cones probably are responsible for the high NO3− concentration in the region.

Jakarta has been experiencing land subsidence for ten years due toerecting weight building and intensive extraction of groundwater for society drink water through ground water wells. Many groundwater extraction for drinkingwater has caused intensive scouring of land rock and further triggering land subsidence developed widely in coastal area of Jakarta. Measurement of the land subsidence has been performed by various experts and institutes. Between 1974 to 2010 subsidence has happened between 3 to 4.1 meters especially in Jakarta coastal area. Two major causes of the subsidence are identified. The first major cause is a result of erecting weight building such as hotels, appartments, and various human activities buildings. The second major cause is extracting ground water from aquifers bellow Jakarta land due to water deep wells down to the aquifer and traditional shallow water well of shallow or subsurface uncovered ground water. Weighter building and higher debit of water flow from deep water wells has fastened and deepened the land subsidence. Continuous measurement of land subsidence by means of geodetic as well as geophysical earth behaviour measurements need to be performed to monitor the rate, location as well as mapping of the land subsidence.

Overextraction of groundwater is widely occurring along the coast where good quality groundwater is at risk, due to urbanization, tourist development and intensive agriculture. The Sabratah area at the northern central part of Jifarah Plain, Northwest Libya, is a typical area where the contamination of the aquifer in the form of saltwater intrusion, gypsum/anhydrite dissolution and high nitrate concentrations is very developed. Fifty groundwater samples were collected from the study area and analysed for certain parameters that indicate salinization and pollution of the aquifer. The results demonstrate high values of the parameters electrical conductivity, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and sulphate which can be attributed to seawater intrusion. The intensive extraction of groundwater from the aquifer reduces freshwater outflow to the sea, creates drawdown cones and lowering of the water table to as much as 30 m below mean sea level. Irrigation with nitrogen fertilizers and domestic sewage and movement of contaminants in areas of high hydraulic gradients within the drawdown cones probably are responsible for the high nitrate concentration towards the south of the region. Seawater intrusion and deep salt water upconing result in general high SO4 2− concentrations in groundwater near the shoreline, where localized SO4 2− anomalies are also due to the dissolution of sebkha deposits for few wells in the nearby sebkhas. Upstream, the increase in SO4 2− concentrations in the south is ascribed to the dissolution of gypsum at depth in the upper aquifer.