Groundwater Recharge Research Articles

Comprehending hydrochemical fingerprint, spatial patterns, and driving forces of groundwater in a topical coastal plain of Northern China based on hydrochemical and isotopic evaluations

To comprehensively comprehend the hydrochemical features, spatial patterns, and controlling mechanisms of groundwater in the Longkou coastal plain (LCP), a prime coastal plain in northern China, a detailed study utilizing statistical analyses, Piper diagram, Gibbs model diagram, ion ratio methods, and reverse hydrogeochemical simulation was performed on 76 groundwater samples collected in 2021. The findings of this study reveal that the groundwater in the LCP has an average pH value of 7.6, indicating weak alkalinity. The groundwater types are predominantly mixed, followed by Cl–Ca. The NO3− concentration in groundwater is relatively high, with a mean value of 326 mg/L, originating mainly from agricultural production activities. In addition to NO3−, the spatial distribution analysis of the principal chemical constituents in the groundwater demonstrated a subtle north-south gradient. The chemical signatures of groundwater are primarily influenced by the process of rock weathering, resulting from the dissolution of silicates and carbonates minerals as well as gypsum. Indeed, cation exchange represents a pivotal hydrogeochemical reaction within the groundwater system of the region. The intrusion of seawater into groundwater primarily exhibits a mild nature, mostly in the form of mixing intrusion in the initial stage, affecting the western and northern regions of the LCP to a greater extent. The primary source of groundwater recharge is attributed to atmospheric precipitation; however, it is partially affected by evaporation. In addition, LCP groundwater is also being recharged by seawater intrusion, mainly in the western and northern parts of the study area. Overall, the findings of this research hold significant implications for the strategic management of groundwater resources and the implementation of measures to prevent and mitigate seawater intrusion not only in the LCP but also in analogous coastal regions across the globe.

Optimising groundwater recharge to counteract seawater intrusion through an inverse modelling approach and identifying efficient recharge structure locations

In semi-arid coastal urban regions, groundwater faces challenges from seawater intrusion due to reduced recharge and increased extraction. This study employs advanced numerical modeling to comprehensively assess seawater intrusion along the South Chennai coast from 2018 to 2022. The inverse modelling approach utilizes observed data, such as groundwater heads or concentrations, to estimate aquifer properties, like hydraulic conductivity, by minimizing the disparity between model predictions and actual measurements to identify the best-fit parameter values. This inverse method forecasts the necessary recharge rate to address seawater intrusion by increasing groundwater head and decreasing chloride concentrations. The estimation of recharge incorporates variables such as rainfall, soil infiltration capacity, land use, and the vital groundwater draft calculated based on per capita consumption and population. The study uses FEFLOW software to develop a robust conceptual model, simulating groundwater flow and chloride transport. The inverse modeling approach resulted in critical recharge adjustments, enhancing rates by 40%–60% in specific regions. The predictive scenarios, integrating proposed recharge structures, show promising results, notably with a 50% reduction in chloride concentration during the post-monsoon season compared to the pre-monsoon period in wells 8 and 3. A notable decrease in chloride concentration of over 90% was observed during May 2025 in well no: 15 due to its proximity to the Adayar River. These fluctuations are influenced by seasonal variations resulting from climatic changes in South India, with intense rainfall accompanying northeast monsoon winds playing a significant role. Increased recharge rates and strategically placed structures along the Buckingham Canal provide significant relief in the most impacted northern coastal area, acting as effective barriers. These interventions successfully reduce chloride concentration, providing a sustainable and effective solution to mitigate the persistent challenge of seawater intrusion.

Assessment of Flash Flooding Hazard and Groundwater Recharge Potentials Using Remotely Sensed Data of Wadi El-Assiuti Basin, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Assessment of Flash Flooding Hazard and Groundwater Recharge Potentials Using Remotely Sensed Data of Wadi El-Assiuti Basin, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Evolution of the Recharge and Discharge of Groundwater in Plain Area of the Hami Basin from 1959 to 2021

Evolution of the Recharge and Discharge of Groundwater in Plain Area of the Hami Basin from 1959 to 2021

Mapping of Groundwater Recharge Zones in Hard Rock Aquifer through Analytic Hierarchy Process in Geospatial Platform

Extensive use of groundwater is a result of the growing population; in relation to this, studies have focused on groundwater conservation measures. This study identified groundwater artificial recharge zones (GWARZs) in the upper Manimuktha sub-basin through the application of remote sensing and GIS. A spatial analysis using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and weighted overlay analysis (WOA) was employed by integrating several spatial thematic layers such as geology, geomorphology, aquifer thickness, lineament density (LD), drainage density (DD), soil, slope, rainfall, and land use/land cover (LULC) in order to classify the GWARZs. The geomorphology along with lithology, higher aquifer thickness, low lineament densities, higher drainage densities, and gentle slope regions, were identified as suitable areas for artificial recharge zones. The study area was divided up into five classifications based on the integration analysis: excellent (41.1 km2), good (150.6 km2), moderate (123.9 km2), bad (125.5 km2), and very poor (57.7 km2). Excellent and good GWARZs were identified in the eastern and central regions of the study area. The final outcomes of this research were evaluated with seasonal electrical conductivity (EC) variations. The majority of samples with minor seasonal EC variations were observed in the excellent and good GWARZ categories. The results showed that the spatial analysis tool is useful for GWARZ delineation and sustainably managing groundwater resources.

Climate change impact on groundwater resources in sandbar aquifers in southern Baltic coast

Shallow coastal aquifers are vulnerable hydrosystems controlled by many factors, related to climate, seawater-freshwater interactions and human activity. Given on-going climate change, sea level rise and increasing human impact, it is especially true for groundwater resources situated in sandbars. We developed numerical models of unsaturated zone water flow for two sandbars in northern Poland: the Vistula Spit and the Hel Spit using HYDRUS-1D. The simulations were performed for three types of land use: pine forest, grass cover and bare soil, for 2024–2100 based on weather data and sea level rise forecasts for two emissions scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The results present prognosis of groundwater recharge, water table level and water content changeability in near-term (2023–2040), mid-term (2041–2060), and long-term period (2081–2100). Expected sea level rise and decreasing hydraulic gradient of the sandbar aquifers will probably cause in-land movement of the freshwater–saltwater interface, leading to significant decrease or complete salinization of groundwater resources. The study shows that holistic monitoring including groundwater level and salinization, sea level rise, and metheorological data (precipitation amount and variability, temperature) is crucial for sustainable management of vulnerable aquifers located in sandbars.

Areal artificial recharge has changed the interactions between surface water and groundwater

Artificial groundwater recharge is increasingly utilized globally for addressing regional groundwater issues due to its effectiveness and ease of application. However, due to the complexity of the interaction of groundwater systems with the external environment and its inherent latency, governance effects are difficult to quantify and are not fully understood yet. In this study, the efficiency of areal artificial groundwater recharge was determined and the interactions with surface water were analyzed by field surveys, sample analysis, water balance reconstruction, and model simulation. A typical groundwater recharge region in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China, was focused. Additionally, the response of groundwater flow and water quality to areal artificial groundwater recharge was quantified. Results showed that areal artificial groundwater recharge changes the relationship between surface water and groundwater, with an efficiency of 70 % under high recharge and fluctuation, and decreasing to 20–30 % after the groundwater level was stabilized. The impact on the hydrodynamic field were primarily manifested as the formation of water mounds near river channels, which expand laterally up to 9.2 km from the recharging river channel one year after implementation.Then the impact increases to 14.9 km and continues to expend a year after cessation. The areal artificial groundwater recharge has simultaneously improved the water quality by 23 % in monitoring wells within a 10 km distance from the river channel. The results of this study quantify the impacts of area artificial recharge on groundwater and provide references for the improvement of water resources and water environment in those similar regions.

Mechanism controlling groundwater chemistry in the hyper-arid basin with intermittent river flow: insights from long-term observations (2001–2023) in the lower Heihe River, Northwest China

The geochemical processes of groundwater in arid regions are generally influenced by both natural hydrological processes and human activities. However, impacts of water-rock interactions on groundwater recharge via hydrological processes, controlled by both intermittent river water flow and groundwater withdrawals, is still poorly understood. In this study, 327 groundwater chemistry datasets collected from the upper, middle (including Gobi and riparian zones), and lower regions of the Ejina Delta in Northwest China from 2001 to 2023 were analyzed. Our results revealed that the total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of groundwater in Ejina Delta ranged from approximately 881.5 ± 331.6 mg/L in the upper regions to 1,953.6 ± 1,208.5 mg/L in the lower regions, with an increasing trend observed. Ecological water conveyance (EWC), recharging aquifer through intermittent river water flow, resulted in a decrease in TDS concentrations from 2001 to 2023 mainly in the upper region. While irrigation notably affected groundwater chemistry in the lower region, resulting in a substantial increase in groundwater salinity. Groundwater chemistry in the Middle Gobi region remained relatively stable over the study period. Generally, the hydrochemical composition shifted from the Na-Mg-SO4-HCO3 and Na-Mg-Ca-SO4-HCO3 types in the upper region to Na-Mg-SO4-HCO3 and Na-Mg-SO4-Cl types in the lower region, with Na-SO4-Cl predominant in the Middle Gobi. These shifts were likely be attributed to the interplay of water-rock interactions, coupled with evaporation-crystallization processes. Inverse modeling using PHREEQC revealed that in the upper-middle region, primary water-rock interactions involved calcite dissolution and the precipitation of dolomite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite salts, as well as cation exchange reactions (2NaX+Ca2+→CaX2+2Na+). In contrast, the hydrogeological system in the middle-lower region exhibited an opposite pattern of water-rock interactions. Overall, ecological water conveyance partially facilitated water-rock interactions during lateral groundwater flow, while irrigation disrupted the natural hydrogeochemical equilibrium, involving halite dissolution and opposite cation exchange reactions compared to other regions.

Discharge variations of qanat near an ephemeral stream

Ephemeral streams are the most important sources of groundwater recharge in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. To extract this replenishable water, most of the time, qanats are constructed parallel to the ephemeral streams. Analytical modeling of a stream-qanat system can provide an effective tool for managing such a system in a timely fashion and, thus, is commonly applied in the hydrological communities. However, the available analytical solutions of discharge variation of qanat only consider the distributed recharge from rainfall and cannot be used to investigate the effects of geometric parameters of stream and hydraulic parameters of aquifer on the discharge of qanat near an ephemeral stream. Thus, the goal of this work is to obtain a semi-analytical solution of qanat discharge due to recharge from an ephemeral stream of an arbitrary shape in a three-dimensional anisotropic homogeneous unconfined aquifer. The solution is obtained via Laplace and Fourier transformations along with the principle of superposition. The results of this study are presented in the form of qanat discharge-time curves. The influences of the qanat length, shape, and recharge distribution along the ephemeral stream are explored in great detail. The effects of the hydraulic parameters of the aquifer on the discharge of qanat are also investigated. The results of this study can be used to predict the discharge of qanat due to recharge from an ephemeral stream, to calculate the optimum length of a qanat for maximum extraction of the replenished water, to estimate the adequate recharge from the ephemeral stream and the hydraulic parameters of aquifer using the discharge data of qanat, among other applications.

Towards understanding the influence of seasons on low-groundwater periods based on explainable machine learning

Abstract. Seasons are known to have a major influence on groundwater recharge and therefore groundwater levels; however, underlying relationships are complex and partly unknown. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of the seasons on groundwater levels (GWLs), especially during low-water periods. For this purpose, we train artificial neural networks on data from 24 locations spread throughout Germany. We exclusively focus on precipitation and temperature as input data and apply layer-wise relevance propagation to understand the relationships learned by the models to simulate GWLs. We find that the learned relationships are plausible and thus consistent with our understanding of the major physical processes. Our results show that for the investigated locations, the models learn that summer is the key season for periods of low GWLs in fall, with a connection to the preceding winter usually only being subordinate. Specifically, dry summers exhibit a strong influence on low-water periods and generate a water deficit that (preceding) wet winters cannot compensate for. Temperature is thus an important proxy for evapotranspiration in summer and is generally identified as more important than precipitation, albeit only on average. Single precipitation events show by far the largest influences on GWLs, and summer precipitation seems to mainly control the severeness of low-GWL periods in fall, while higher summer temperatures do not systematically cause more severe low-water periods.

Study on the influence of groundwater recharge on pile foundation of high-speed railway bridge

Study on the influence of groundwater recharge on pile foundation of high-speed railway bridge

Stable and Radio-Isotopic tools to understand the groundwater recharge and dynamics of CHASHMA-Mianwali area, Pakistan

The study conducted on “Chashma-Mianwali” area to investigate the impact of canals, lake and rivers flowing through the area on groundwater recharge and dynamics of the area. Isotopic and noble gases data suggested localize impacts of canals, lake and river on groundwater recharge. Groundwater residence time using Tracer Lump Parameter Model (LPM), and Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) data suggest a very young water in the range of 14–59 years. The real and filtration velocities of groundwater were found to be 22.2 cm/day and 10.94 cm/day, respectively, in south-west direction and in-situ effective porosity of the aquifer was 49.3 %. The hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer was estimated with average value of 143 m/day with Transmissivity (T) of 43,127 m2/day.

Geophysical characterization of Saraswati River palaeochannel in parts of Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana, India.

Palaeochannels are remnants of rivers or stream channels filled with younger sediments over the period of time. In ancient times, these rivers/channels were thriving in phenomenal conditions, but due to frequent tectonic activities, they lost the direction of their original path and were gradually either lost or buried under thick beds of younger alluvium. Palaeochannels act as reservoirs for fresh groundwater since they are made up of coarser sediments and were formerly flowing rivers. Depending on the groundwater regime and local topography, these could either be saturated or dry. The palaeochannels have high groundwater potential if saturated. These are ideal sites for artificial groundwater recharge, if dry. The identification of palaeochannels becomes quite challenging if they are buried under thick deposits of finer younger sediments. In the present study, an attempt has been made to characterize the Saraswati River Palaeochannel in parts of Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana by using surface and subsurface geophysical methods. Till date, the palaeochannels in this area were mainly discerned on the basis of remote sensing only; therefore, geophysical characterization of these palaeochannels has been attempted in this study. In surface geophysical methods, electrical resistivity surveys, especially gradient resistivity profiling (GRP) and vertical electrical sounding (VES), were conducted in the study area, while electrical and natural gamma logging was used as subsurface geophysical approaches to identify the coarser sands of buried palaeochannels. The main objective of the study was to characterize the Saraswati River palaeochannel and analyze the quality of the groundwater stored in the palaeochannel in the study area. The findings were compared with the well-log data and were found in good agreement.

Long-term drought effects on landscape water storage and recovery under contrasting landuses

Recent extreme droughts in Europe have highlighted the urgent need to quantify their effects on ecohydrological fluxes (evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge) and water storage (mainly soil moisture) in the landscape. In response, we combined process-based (EcH2O-iso) and machine learning (NARX) models to estimate the enduring effects of long-term drought on water fluxes and storage and to project future short-term groundwater levels and recovery potential under various precipitation scenarios. The work was undertaken at the Demnitz Mill Creek (DMC), a 70 km2 mixed land use (arable crops and forestry) catchment in northern Germany. Our simulations indicated that the extreme drought years of 2018 and 2022 had the most marked impacts, leading to substantial declines in groundwater recharge (>40 %), evapotranspiration (up to 16 %) and soil moisture (up to 6 %). Simulations indicated that groundwater levels may not recover in the next 15 years if recent precipitation anomalies persist. These findings underscore the urgent requirement for enhancing resilience and promoting integrated strategies in managing land and water resources to optimise water retention in landscapes and to better respond to drought.

Assessing salinity hazards in coastal aquifers: implications of temperature boundary conditions on aquifer–ocean interaction

Investigating the repercussions of climate change and irrigation timing on groundwater contamination necessitates thorough examination of the fluctuations in seawater and groundwater recharge temperature. This study introduces an innovative numerical approach to analyze groundwater salinity and temperature dynamics across three distinct scenarios using the SEAWAT code based on Henry's problem. The first scenario delves into the impact of seawater temperature, the second focuses on the consequences of aquifer freshwater recharge temperature, and the third amalgamates the effects of both scenarios. Remarkably, the study reveals that saltwater intrusion (SWI) experiences a decline attributable to the aquifer's heightened seawater temperature and the diminished inland freshwater temperature. Furthermore, combining these two scenarios has a more pronounced effect on aquifer pollution; the temperature-induced changes in SWI for this third scanrio reach + 8.10%, + 12.70%, + 16.20%, + 24.90%, + 28.30%, and + 31.80% compared to the case without considering the temperature effect. Notably, our results propose a potential strategy to mitigate SWI by introducing cold freshwater recharge into aquifers, such as irrigation at night time when water temperature is low. This innovative approach underscores the interconnectedness of various environmental factors. It provides a practical avenue for proactive intervention in safeguarding groundwater quality against the adverse impacts of climate change and irrigation practices.

Groundwater recharge estimation in Mediterranean mountain environments by isotope profiles – Partitioning of macropore and matrix flow

Developing and continuously improving effective and feasible methods to estimate groundwater recharge is essential to ensure sustainable resource assessment. Mountain environments represent key areas for the regional water balance. In this study, the isotope profile method was used to investigate water fluxes through the vadose zone and subsequent groundwater recharge in a Mediterranean mountain environment. Six high-resolution soil water isotope profiles were taken at two different locations in the Troodos Massif (Cyprus) in the eastern Mediterranean, focusing on estimating recharge in the soil of hillslopes. Analysis of the isotope profiles yielded recharge rates ranging from 30–70 mm/year, leading to a re-evaluation of previous studies on groundwater recharge. The comparison of results obtained by the peak-shift method and mathematical modeling was used to partition matrix and macropore flow, reaching up to 39 %. Potential methodological limits of the environmental isotope profile method in skeleton-rich soils were found.

Groundwater composition and stable isotopes as proxies to investigate paleoclimate change in permafrost thawing regions

The paleoclimate since the late Pleistocene has gained substantial attention due to its profound effects on hydrology, ecosystems, and landforms, particularly in regions experiencing permafrost thawing. Northeast China is acknowledged for exhibiting distinctive yet contentious paleoclimate, which has been elucidated through various proxies. In this case, we emphasize the significance of stable isotopes within the northern Songnen Plain as complementary proxies for paleoclimate interpretation, bolstered by radiocarbon dating. The Cretaceous sandstone confined aquifer (CSA) is designated as the reference aquifer, based on the hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics. The 14C results indicate that the CSA preserves groundwater from the late Pleistocene to the modern. These findings, in conjunction with isotope variations, delineate specific climate events, which are aligning with results derived from conventional proxies. The late Pleistocene-early Holocene showed a climate shift from cold to warm. The middle Holocene was warm and humid. Then the late Holocene entered the Neoglacial, which characterized by a cold climate environment. Our analysis also reveals fluctuations in the age and TDS concentration along the groundwater runoff. The paleo groundwater exhibits simultaneous lower TDS concentration, maximum δ18O depletion and minimum recharge temperature. Neither latitude nor altitude effects could account for the sufficient isotopic depletion, instead, we found that the humid climate and permafrost meltwater also contributed to the isotope depletion. Simultaneously, the paleoclimatic environment such as freeze-thaw cycles of permafrost exerts a significant influence on the groundwater. The formation of permafrost hinders groundwater recharge, while its thawing dilutes the solute content of groundwater. Additionally, the recharge gaps also potentially result from arid climate, inadequate samples, and the effects of mixing water. The study substantiates the reliability of confined aquifers in permafrost thawing regions as robust paleoclimatic archives and emphasizes the utility of stable isotopes in combination with radiocarbon dating as ideal climate proxies.

Groundwater recharge estimation using WetSpass-M and MTBS leveraging from HydroOffice and WHAT tools for baseflow in Weyib watershed, Ethiopia.

WetSpass-M model and multi-technique baseflow separation (MTBS) were applied to estimate spatio-temporal groundwater recharge (GWR) to be used to comprehend and enhance sustainable water resource development in the data-scarce region. Identification of unit Hydrographs And Component flows from Rainfall, Evaporation, and Streamflow (IHACRES) techniques outperform the existing 13 MTBS techniques to separate baseflow depending on the correlation matrix; mean baseflow was 5.128 m3/s. The WetSpass-M model performance evaluated by Nash-Sutcliff Efficiency (NSE) was 0.95 and 0.89; R2 was 0.90 and 0.85 in comparison to observed and simulated mean monthly baseflow and runoff (m3/s), respectively. The estimated mean annual water balance was 608.2 mm for actual evapotranspiration, 221.42 mm for the surface runoff, 87.42 mm for interception rate, and 177.66 mm for GWR, with an error of - 3.29 mm/year. The highest annual actual evapotranspiration was depicted in areas covered by vegetation, whereas lower in the settlement. The peak annual interception rates have been noticed in areas covered with forests and shrublands, whereas the lowest in settlement and bare land. The maximum annual runoff was depicted in settlement and bare land, while the lowest was in forest-covered areas. The annual recharge rates were low in bare land due to high runoff and maximum in forest-covered areas due to low surface runoff. The watershed's downstream areas receive scanty annual rainfall, which causes low recharge and drought. The findings point the way ahead in terms of selecting the best approach across multi-technique baseflow separations.

UAV and Deep Learning: Detection of selected riparian species along the Ganga River

Abstract. Environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management are being recognised worldwide as essential goals to safe guard human health and well-being. Riparian zones, that face the highest decline in freshwater biodiversity, are of prime conservation priority because they are essential for regulating climate, preserving aquatic-terrestrial biodiversity, maintaining ground water recharge and restoring rivers. In today's fast-paced data-driven environment, artificial intelligence (AI) is the precise answer to a wide range of problems including biodiversity conservation and wildlife management. Leveraging advancements like Uncrewed/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and AI has resulted innovative strides in wildlife conservation. This study utilised UAV imagery to record high-resolution data of aquatic habitat and species along the Ganga River and employed deep learning algorithms to analyse the data. Through extensive field surveys in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, 7,025 photos representing a variety of environments, including 20,000 annotated samples of aquatic animals such as turtles and gharials were generated. Vision based computing capabilities such as pattern recognition model were developed to identify these species. To enrich and enhance the dataset and model, we used different image pre-processing techniques. Slight rotation (±5 degrees), minor cropping (up to 10%), and adjustments in brightness, saturation, and shear (±15%) were applied. Controlled blur (up to 0.5%) and exposure modifications (±5%) were also implemented on the image dataset to improve accuracy. Three Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures, single-stage detectors named YOLO v7, YOLO v8, and Roboflow 3.0, were used for detecting the select species. Results show YOLO v8 excels, achieving mean average precision (mAP) of 98.8% for gharial and 92.2% for turtle detection, with a rapid average detection time of 0.308 seconds per frame at 3200 × 3200 resolution. Additionally, our model demonstrates real-time species detection capability through innovative frame sampling techniques with UAVs. This methodology provides promising technique to collect scientific data on IUCN red listed turtles and critically endangered gharials, allowing detection, monitoring, and real time counting with minimal intrusion. In conclusion, the fusion of UAVs and deep learning promises to revolutionize habitat monitoring, aiding conservation decision-making.

The Effects of Wetland Degradation on Ecological Species

Wetlands are vital ecosystems that provide numerous ecological services, including flood control, water filtration, carbon sequestration, and habitat for diverse flora and fauna. However, human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure development have led to widespread wetland degradation worldwide. Wetland ecosystems diminished by 21-35% between 1700 and 2020 as a result of human interference, with at least 1.3 million square miles of wetlands lost globally—an area about the size of Alaska, Texas, California, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona combined. This research used a documented methodology for extracting information from different books, conversations, conferences, and international organizations to understand the effects of wetland degradation on the decline of species and strategies for wetland conservation and restoration. This paper aims to elucidate the multifaceted effects of wetland degradation on ecological species. The results indicate that wetland degradation declines water quality, leading to alterations in water flow patterns, decreased groundwater recharge, and increased flooding downstream. This can result in the loss of biodiversity, as many species depend on specific water levels and habitats within wetlands. Moreover, the loss of wetlands diminishes their volume to store carbon, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating climate change. Furthermore, wetland degradation compromises water quality by reducing the natural filtration and purification functions of wetlands. Contaminants from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban pollution accumulate in degraded wetlands, posing risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the loss of wetlands exacerbates erosion and sedimentation, leading to habitat destruction and loss of coastal resilience against storms and sealevel rise. Addressing wetland degradation requires a multifaceted approach, including policy interventions, restoration efforts, and public awareness campaigns. Effective wetland conservation strategies involve the preservation of existing wetlands, restoration of degraded ones, and sustainable management practices to mitigate further degradation. Collaborative efforts between governments, NGOs, local communities, and stakeholders are essential to safeguarding these critical ecosystems and the invaluable services they provide to the environment and society.