Potential Recharge Sites Research Articles

Transport, dispersion, and degradation of nonpoint source contaminants during flood‐managed aquifer recharge

AbstractIn water‐stressed regions of the world, the inundation of working landscapes to replenish aquifers—known as flood‐managed aquifer recharge (flood‐MAR)—has become a valuable tool for sustainable groundwater management. Due to their diverse land use histories, however, many potential recharge sites host nonpoint source contaminants (such as salts, pesticides, and fertilizers) within the vadose zone that may flush to groundwater during recharge operations. To identify the controls on contaminant migration, we perform stochastic simulations of flood‐MAR through a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer and apply transient particle tracking to evaluate conservative and reactive contaminant transport over 80 years of recharge operations. With semi‐annual recharge events, the water table begins to rise 0.13–1.84 years after the first inundation event while solutes take much longer (11 to 80 years) to transit the 45‐m thick unsaturated zone. We derive a parametric expression for the ratio of celerity (or rate of pressure transmission) to velocity of the flood‐MAR wetting front and show that this simplified expression agrees with values calculated from heterogeneous model simulations. Slow solute velocities (0.25–1.75 m year−1) allow for significant contaminant removal through denitrification, but the contaminant plume experiences minimal dispersion or dilution over this time, reaching the water table as a sharp front. Our results suggest that minimizing groundwater velocity and maximizing groundwater celerity during flood‐MAR should optimize increases in water supply while limiting water quality degradation.

Water Recharges Suitability in Kabul Aquifer System within the Upper Indus Basin

Groundwater is the main source of water for drinking, household use, and irrigation in Kabul; however, the water table is dropping due to the excessive extraction over the past two decades. The groundwater restoration criteria selection mainly depends on the techniques used to recharge the aquifer. The design of infiltration basins, for example, requires different technical criteria than the installation of infiltration wells. The different set of parameters is relevant to water being infiltrated at the surface in comparison with water being injected into the aquifers. Restoration of the groundwater resources are complicated and expensive tasks. An inexpensive preliminary investigation of the potential recharge areas, especially in developing countries such as Afghanistan with its complex Upper Indus River Basin, can be reasonably explored. The present research aims to identify the potential recharge sites through employing GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and combining remote sensing information with in situ and geospatial data obtained from related organizations in Afghanistan. These data sets were employed to document nine thematic layers which include slope, drainage density, rainfall, distance to fault, distance to river channel, lithology, and ground water table, land cover, and soil texture. All of the thematic layers were allocated and ranked, based on previous studies, and field surveys and extensive questionnaire surveys carried out with Afghan experts. Based on the collected and processed data output, the groundwater recharge values were determined. These recharge values were grouped into four classes assessing the suitability for recharge as very high (100%), high (63%), moderate (26%), and low (10%). The relative importance of the various geospatial layers was identified and shows that slope (19.2%) is the most important, and faults (3.8%) the least important. The selection of climatic characteristics and geological characteristics as the most important criteria in the artificial recharge of the aquifer are investigated in many regions with good access to data and opportunities for validation and verifications. However, in regions with limited data due to the complexities in collecting data in Afghanistan, proper researching with sufficient data is a challenge. The novelty of this research is the cross-disciplinary approach with incorporation of a compiled set of input data with the set of various criteria (nine criteria based on which layers are formed, including slope, drainage density, rainfall, distance to fault, distance to river channel, lithology, ground water table, land cover, and soil texture) and experts’ questionnaires. The AHP methodology expanded with the cross-disciplinary approach by adding the local experts´ questionnaires survey can be very handy in areas with limited access to data, to provide the preliminary investigations, and reduce expenses on the localized expensive and often dangerous field works.

Applications of geospatial analysis and analytical hierarchy process to identify the groundwater recharge potential zones and suitable recharge structures in the Ajani-Jhiri watershed of north Maharashtra, India

The present study undertakes the integration of hydrogeological, geospatial and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques to identify groundwater recharge potential zones and suitable recharge structures in parts of the Ajani-Jhiri watershed of the Tapi river basin, north Maharashtra, India. Hydrogeological thematic layers include drainage density, lineament density, geology, geomorphology, land use/landcover, soil and slope, which are the demarcating factors in identification of potential recharge sites of the watershed. An analytical hierarchy process model based on MCDA methodologies was adapted to determine the overall weightage distribution for individual layers for weighted overlay to be executed in GIS environment. Groundwater recharges potential zones are divided into high, moderate, and low classes. Results showed that only 272.72 km2 (38.02%) area has high recharge potential, while 316.94 km2 (44.07%) has moderate groundwater recharge potential. The low groundwater potential recharge zone (129.35 km2; 17.98%) is located in the southern part of the watershed, which is mountainous terrain. Locations of new recharge structures, including six stream bunds, five check dams and two percolation tanks are recommended to meet the regional domestic and agricultural needs. The water bodies in the region are partially silted with loose materials, hence three desiltation tanks proposed.

Investigation of groundwater recharge prospect and hydrological response of groundwater augmentation measures in Upper Kosi watershed, Kumaun Himalaya, India

The discharge pattern of springs in the Himalayan region is highly variable due to diverse lithology, complex hydro-geological formations and dynamic tectonic activities. Therefore, delineation of groundwater recharge potential zones is extremely essential for sustainability of groundwater resources in Himalayan region. Apart from delineating potential zone, it becomes more important to evaluate the identified recharge zones for their validity. The current study therefore, was aimed to delineate recharge potential zones that suggested the suitable sites where potential of recharging groundwater is more. Second objective of the study included evaluation of identified recharge sites/zone through implementation of groundwater recharge structures followed by monitoring discharge in Upper Kosi watershed in Uttarakhand, Kumaun Himalaya, India. Standard technique was established in order to detect potential recharge sites through allocating weightage as well as score to various controlling through multi-criteria decision-making approach in GIS domain. The results indicated that only 19.6% area in the Upper Kosi basin lied in good to excellent recharge potential. However, 31.7% and 15.2% area lied in fair and moderate recharge potential which was also considered as suitable for execution of artificial recharge structures. Moreover, a slow recession in discharge was observed from the treated micro-watershed as compared to the untreated one. This validates the legitimacy of the recharge zone(s) identified using the contended approach.

Identifying Potential Sites for Artificial Recharge in the Plain Area of the Daqing River Catchment Using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis

As an essential component for the development of the Xiong’an New Area, China’s second capital, groundwater in the area has been overexploited, resulting in ecological and environmental geological problems. Therefore, artificial groundwater replenishment measures are urgently required, for which the evaluation of the recharge potential is an important prerequisite. In this study, a GIS (Geographic Information System)-based multi-criteria evaluation system was constructed, considering the source water conditions, recharge infiltration conditions, aquifer storage conditions, and environmental conditions. In addition, factors such as the distance to a canal, source water quality, slope, vadose zone infiltration rate, drainage density, groundwater depth, aquifer hydraulic conductivity, aquifer thickness, groundwater quality, soil quality, and distance to sensitive areas were also analyzed. GIS was used to draw and calculate potential artificial recharge sites. The results showed that the potential recharge sites in the study area are mainly distributed in the alluvial plains on both sides of the river, with a total area of 2103.9 km2, accounting for 15.8% of the total study area. In the Xiong’an New Area, the potential sites are mainly distributed in the alluvial–proluvial plains on both sides of the Baigou River in the north-central area, with a total area of 39.4 km2, accounting for approximately 2.2% of the total area of the Xiong’an New Area.

Development of recharge and conservation site suitability model for groundwater retrieval and evaluation of artificial recharge potential in a complex hydro-geological spring-fed river basin

In view of complex hydro-geological system and continuous groundwater depletion in mountainous region, there is an urgent need for replenishment groundwater sources in order to secure their long-term sustainability. The current study was aimed to develop a model that will efficiently suggest suitable sites in spring-fed Kosi watershed of Kumaun Himalayas for recharging groundwater. Factors affecting groundwater recharge were found to play a much more complex role in mountainous regions compared to plains due to diversified geological formations, lithological and chronological variations, and complex tectonic framework. In this study, behaviour of influencing factor in complex topographical region has been quantified independently as well as interdependently for identification of cumulative impact of these hydro-geological factors in recharging groundwater. A standard methodology was further developed to identify potential recharge sites by assigning intra-layer weightage and inter-layer score by quantifying the influence of each and every component influencing potential for groundwater recharge using integrated remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technique. Study conducted in Bhatgaon micro-catchment of Kosi basin revealed that 24.1% area fall under the category having good to moderate recharge potential while 61.9% area have poor to moderate recharge potential, hence found less suitable for implementation of artificial recharge structures for conservation of groundwater. A GIS-based recharge and conservation site suitability (RCSS) model was developed with unique query-based codes that would guide for suitable sites in order to implement apposite groundwater augmentation measures for sustentation of Bhatgaon micro-catchment of Kosi basin. Furthermore, this kind of study is very helpful for groundwater managers to found best suitable site for implementing groundwater augmentation measures for long-term sustainability of natural groundwater sources in hilly terrain.

Identifying Groundwater Recharge Sites through Environmental Stable Isotopes in an Alluvial Aquifer

Environmental isotope tracers have been a useful tool in providing new insights into hydrologic processes. In Mexico, there have been several studies reporting different values for δ 18 O and δ 2 H for certain geographical areas. The objective of this study is to achieve the isotopic characterization of rainfall and groundwater and to report the comprehensive understanding of groundwater flow processes around and within the Calera aquifer and, consequently, its potential recharge sites. The samples used for the stable isotope analysis ( δ 18 O , δ 2 H ) were measured using a GV-Isoprime isotope-ratio mass spectrometer at the Isotopy Laboratory of the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean. The δ D of precipitation ranged between −110.20‰ and 10.11‰, with a mean of −55.67‰ ± 27.81‰. The δ 18 O ranged between −17.80‰ and 2.74‰, with a mean of −9.44‰ ± 4.74‰. The δ D of groundwater ranged between −81.92‰ and −36.45‰, with a mean of −66.05‰ ± 8.58‰. The δ 18 O ranged between −18.26‰ and −8.84‰, with a mean of −12.35‰ ± 2.12‰. The local meteoric water line of the Zacatecas state is δ D = − 2.03 + 5.68 δ 18 O . The groundwater samples were clustered into four groups. The clustering of the samples led to the finding that streamflows play a significant role in the hydrological balance as a source of local recharge to the aquifer.

3-D hydrogeological model of limestone aquifer for managed aquifer recharge in Raipur of central India

Raipur of Chhattisgarh state, central India, is facing water problems due to rapid urbanization and altered hydrological processes despite adequate rainfall. Deteriorated surface water, diminished recharge and elevated pumping have reduced water availability in the region. Therefore, proper measures like managed aquifer recharge (MAR) need to be successfully implemented to conserve rain water for long-term sustainability. Hydrogeological data, combined with geophysical investigations lead to the construction of a conceptual model of the Chandi limestone aquifer for this purpose. The results indicate that the compact and massive limestone has negligible primary porosity, but solution weathering (karstification) has developed secondary pores at variable depths that favour recharge, groundwater storage and movement. The study helped to locate potential recharge sites that have significance in optimizing MAR structures such as check dams and injection wells. The hydrogeological model has a great significance in managing these complex and heterogeneous aquifers for better future water supply in the region.

Assessment of Potential Recharge Sites based on Drinking and Irrigation Groundwater Quality in Panamaruthupatti Block, Salem, India using GIS Technique

The groundwater storage and the recharge is the fundamental component of hydrological system. It is the result of water percolating through various layers of soil and rocks due to the atmospheric precipitation and snow. The amount of percolation varies from place to place and it depends on rainfall, characteristics of soils and characteristics of rocks, nature of terrain, temperature and humidity. But most of the places are contaminated due to anthropogenic and natural processes. In the present study an attempt has been made to assessment the potential recharge sites based on groundwater quality in terms of drinking and irrigation parameters in Panamarathupatti block, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. The spatial distribution of water quality of the study area has been prepared based on GIS data. Village wise water qualities for drinking purpose suitable and unsuitable area are worked out. The irrigation quality has also been worked out for safe and unsafe area for individual villages. The results have show significant percentage of drinking and irrigation quality were unsuitable for recharge in the study area. As a result, both the water fields require protection from the anthropogenic activities to prevent further groundwater contamination.

Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence for flow paths of karst waters collected in the Heshang Cave, Central China

Understanding of hydrological processes in caves is important to help us interpret paleoclimate records from speleothems. In this study, we integrated hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical properties to characterize the hydraulic behavior of karst waters in the Heshang Cave, Central China. Using geological and topographical analyses, we identified regional watershed boundaries and hydrogeological connections that were controlled by anticlinal geometry and faults. Water samples were collected from the Heshang Cave and potential recharge sites. Geochemical data of c(Sr2+)/c(Ca2+) and c(Mg2+)/c(Ca2+) ratios suggest that the drainage system in Heshang Cave consists of two flow paths. For vadose waters, including drip water and rimstone pool water, c(Sr2+)/c(Ca2+) ratio ranges from 0.000 6 to 0.001 1, and c(Mg2+)/c(Ca2+) ratio ranges from 0.97 to 1.1, indicating that recharge was mainly from rainfall infiltration through the overlying Cambrian dolomite stratum. In contrast, slope current and underground river waters have higher c(Sr2+)/c(Ca2+) ratios (values from 0.002 2 to 0.002 8), and lower c(Mg2+)/c(Ca2+) ratios (values from 0.50 to 0.64). These waters show homogeneous isotopic composition (δ18O: −7.15‰–−6.95‰; δD: −52.73‰–−51.31‰), implying recharge of allogeneic water from the Xiaoer River via karst conduits that pass through Ordovician limestone and Cambrian dolomite stratum.

Chemical and isotopic indicators of point-source recharge to a karst aquifer, South Australia

Several hundred sinkholes, swamps and open drainage boreholes throughout the semi-arid to sub-humid areas of the southeast of South Australia are potential recharge sites to the upper part of the Gambier Limestone aquifer. This paper presents the results from a hydrochemical (Cl− and carbonate chemistry) and isotopic (δ2H, S 18O and 36Cl study used to estimate the importance of localised recharge from these point-source features to the karstic groundwater system. Results show that water recharging the groundwater via point-source features is detectable only on a local scale. Chemical and isotopic compositions of groundwaters more than 150 m from the larger of the point-source features are indistinguishable from regional groundwater compositions. Chloride concentrations, carbonate chemistry, and isotope data show that annual input of water via point sources contributes less than 10% of total recharge, with diffuse recharge providing the remainder to the study area as a whole. Point-source recharge is generally intermittent, and was observed to occur only for a few days at a time and only after a threshold of sustained rainfall had been exceeded (i.e. greater than 2.5 mm day−1 for more than 3 days).The stable isotopic composition of waters recharging via sinkholes tends to be enriched in 2H and 18O relative to regional groundwater and local precipitation. This is probably caused by a small degree of evaporation (less than 596 of water falling within the catchment) occurring during winter at high relative humidity (greater than 9596) before recharge. 36Cl from weapons testing is detectable in groundwaters near sinkholes and indicates significant retardation of Cl− within soils of the respective sub-drainage systems. Recharge has therefore occurred within the past 30 years, but cannot be quantified with any reliable precision from the 36Cl data.

Artificial Recharge in South Platte River Basin

A reconnaissance level study of the potential for artificially recharging the alluvial aquifer along 110 miles (180 km) of the South Platte River from Fort Morgan to Julesburg, Colorado, was made based on published hydrologic and geologic information. Analyses were made to determine the availability of water for recharge; anticipated infiltration rates; potential storage capacity of the ground-water reservoir; the degree of ground-water mounding beneath potential recharge sites; the magnitude of annual drain-out loss to the river; possible water quality problems; and the potential effects on the South Platte River flows. Artificially recharging the alluvial aquifer appears to be technically feasible. Waterlogging conditions are likely to develop in areas that lie within 1 mile or 2 miles (1.6 km or 3.2 km) of the river. Due to the high dissolved solids concentration of the recharge water, the quality of the ground water in some areas may deteriorate and preclude its use for domestic and municipal water supplies.