River-aquifer Interface Research Articles

River–aquifer interactions enhancing evapotranspiration in a semiarid riparian zone: A modelling study

AbstractThe hydrologic flows across the river–aquifer interface play an important role in groundwater dynamics and biogeochemical reactions within the subsurface; however, little is known about the effects of river–aquifer interactions on land surface processes. In this study, we developed a fully coupled three‐dimensional (3D) land surface and subsurface model at a high resolution (~1 km) that accounts for high‐frequency hydrologic exchange flow conditions to investigate how river–aquifer interactions modulate surface water budgets in the Upper Columbia‐Priest Rapids watershed, a typical semiarid watershed located in the northwestern United States where river stage fluctuates in response to reservoir releases changing. Our results show that the spatiotemporal dynamics of river–aquifer interactions are highly heterogeneous, driven mainly by river‐stage fluctuations. Adding 6.64 × 106 m3 year−1 of water over the watershed from the river to groundwater owing to the lateral flow, river–aquifer interactions led to an increase in soil evaporation and transpiration supplied by higher soil moisture content, particularly in deeper subsurface. In a hypothetic future scenarios where a 5‐m rise in river stage was assumed, the hydrologic flow exchange rates were intensified, resulting in higher surface water over the entire watershed. Overall, lateral flow induced by river–aquifer exchanges leads to an increase in evapotranspiration of ~75% in the historical period and of ~83% in the hypothetical future scenario. Our study demonstrates the potential of coupled model as an effective tool for understanding river–aquifer–land surface interactions, and indicates that river–aquifer interactions fundamentally alter the water balance of the riparian zone for the semiarid watershed and will likely become more frequent and intense in the future under the effects of climate change.

Diverse sedimentary organic matter within the river-aquifer interface drives arsenic mobility along the Meghna River Corridor in Bangladesh

In alluvial aquifers with near-neutral pH and high dissolved arsenic (As) concentrations, the presence and character of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) regulates As mobility by serving as an energetically variable source of electrons for redox reactions or forming As–Fe-OM complexes. Near tidally and seasonally fluctuating rivers, the hyporheic zone (HZ), which embodies the mixing zone between oxic river water and anoxic shallow groundwater, may precipitate (or dissolve) iron (Fe)-oxides which sequester (or mobilize) As. To understand what is driving the mobilization of As within a shallow aquifer and riverbank sands adjacent to the tidally fluctuating Meghna River, we characterized the chemical reactivity of SOM from the sands, and a silt and clay layer, underlying the HZ and aquifer, respectively. Dissolved As (50–500 μg/L) and Fe (1–40 mg/L) concentrations increase with depth within the shallow aquifer. Similar vertical As and Fe concentration gradients were observed within the riverbank sands where concentrations of the products of reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides increase with proximity to the silt layer. Compared to all other sediments, the SOM in the clay aquitard contains older, more recalcitrant, terrestrially-derived material with high proportions of aromatic carboxylate functional groups. The shallow silt layer contains fresher SOM with higher proportions of amides and more labile polysaccharide moieties. The SOM in both the riverbank and aquifer is terrestrially-derived and humic-like. The labile SOM from the silt layer drives the microbially mediated reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe-oxides in the HZ. In contrast, the carboxylate-rich SOM from the clay aquitard maintains dissolved As concentrations at the base of the aquifer by complexing with soluble As and Fe. This highlights that SOM-rich fine (silt or clay) layers in the Bengal basin drive As and Fe mobility, however, the specific processes mobilizing As and Fe depend on the lability of the SOM.

Scale-dependent spatial variabilities of hydrological exchange flows and transit time in a large regulated river

Hydrological exchange flows (HEFs) across the river-aquifer interface and the associated transit time of river water in the aquifer have important implications for contaminant plume migration and biogeochemical processes in the river corridor. HEFs and transit time are influenced by both subsurface physical features and hydrologic forcing related to the transport process, which can exhibit complex spatial and temporal variations. In this study, we used a massively parallel subsurface flow model and a particle-tracking model to study the influences of different control factors on spatial variability of HEFs and transit time distributions in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River in Washington State. 100 million particles were randomly injected in time and space and then tracked in a model domain that covers a 51-km2 area (15.1million model cells). We used hourly river stages and groundwater levels to drive the model to provide dynamic velocity fields for the particle tracking in the two + -year simulation period. The groundwater flow simulation and particle-tracking results provide a comprehensive assessment of the spatial distribution of HEFs and transit time in a large, complex river corridor. Our results show that the aquifer hydrogeological structure has strong correlations with the extent and magnitude of exchange flux. The transit time exhibits complex patterns that are affected by all the river geomorphologic, hydrodynamic, and hydrogeologic factors and are strongly correlated with the downwelling ratio of exchange flux. The new insights gained through this study can be used to support the development of reduced-order models of HEFs and transit time distributions for large complex river systems.

Groundwater flow and chloride transport modeling of the alluvial aquifer of lower Soummam Valley, Béjaia, North-East of Algeria

Resulting from lithological conditions and anthropogenic activities as fertilizers use and wastewater discharge, high concentrations of chloride ions were revealed in both surface water and groundwater in Lower Soummam valley, situated in the North-Eastern of Algeria. Using geological, hydrogeological and geochemical data, a conceptual model was designed in order to improve understanding of chloride mass movements within the aquifer. A groundwater flow using PMWIN, coupled with a solute transport numerical model using MT3D code was run. Following a steady state stress period, four transient stress periods were added in order to simulate groundwater level evolution from 2011 to 2030. Groundwater withdrawals, providing from the National Plan of Water, were increased and vertical recharge rate was progressively reduced. Respecting an optimal management of water resources suitable for arid and semi-arid watersheds, successive tests have been conducted in order to mitigate the influence of high pumping rates and low recharge conditions. Recognized as a major term in water budget, water inflows from lateral boundaries representing 54.4%. At the river–aquifer interface, water was exchanged in both upward and downward representing 18% of the total amount of inflow. In coherence with experimental data, simulations indicate an impact of exchange fluxes across the river-aquifer interface. The Cl model simulations show a substantial decrease of Cl loads. According to good hydraulic properties, 90% of simulated wells show a gradual decline in their calculated concentrations, almost located on El Kseur-Oued Ghir pathway. Simulation results could be integrated in the future water resource management plan of Soummam Valley. Such a predictive model, it will be used to lay down water quality restoration strategy.

Riverbank filtration for the treatment of highly turbid Colombian rivers

Abstract. The poor quality of many Colombian surface waters forces us to seek alternative, sustainable treatment solutions with the ability to manage peak pollution events and to guarantee the uninterrupted provision of safe drinking water to the population. This review assesses the potential of using riverbank filtration (RBF) for the highly turbid and contaminated waters in Colombia, emphasizing water quality improvement and the influence of clogging by suspended solids. The suspended sediments may be favorable for the improvement of the water quality, but they may also reduce the production yield capacity. The cake layer must be balanced by scouring in order for an RBF system to be sustainable. The infiltration rate must remain high enough throughout the river–aquifer interface to provide the water quantity needed, and the residence time of the contaminants must be sufficient to ensure adequate water quality. In general, RBF seems to be a technology appropriate for use in highly turbid and contaminated surface rivers in Colombia, where improvements are expected due to the removal of turbidity, pathogens and to a lesser extent inorganics, organic matter and micro-pollutants. RBF has the potential to mitigate shock loads, thus leading to the prevention of shutdowns of surface water treatment plants. In addition, RBF, as an alternative pretreatment step, may provide an important reduction in chemical consumption, considerably simplifying the operation of the existing treatment processes. However, clogging and self-cleansing issues must be studied deeper in the context of these highly turbid waters to evaluate the potential loss of abstraction capacity yield as well as the development of different redox zones for efficient contaminant removal.

Modelling hyporheic processes for regulated rivers under transient hydrological and hydrogeological conditions

Abstract. Understanding the effects of major hydrogeological controls on hyporheic exchange and bank storage is essential for river water management, groundwater abstraction, restoration and ecosystem sustainability. Analytical models cannot adequately represent complex settings with, for example, transient boundary conditions, varying geometry of surface water–groundwater interface, unsaturated and overland flow, etc. To understand the influence of parameters such as (1) sloping river banks, (2) varying hydraulic conductivity of the riverbed and (3) different river discharge wave scenarios on hyporheic exchange characteristics such as (a) bank storage, (b) return flows and (c) residence time, a 2-D hydrogeological conceptual model and, subsequently, an adequate numerical model were developed. The numerical model was calibrated against observations in the aquifer adjacent to the hydropower-regulated Lule River, northern Sweden, which has predominantly diurnal discharge fluctuations during summer and long-lasting discharge peaks during autumn and winter. Modelling results revealed that bank storage increased with river wave amplitude, wave duration and smaller slope of the river bank, while maximum exchange flux decreased with wave duration. When a homogeneous clogging layer covered the entire river–aquifer interface, hydraulic conductivity positively affected bank storage. The presence of a clogging layer with hydraulic conductivity < 0.001 m d−1 significantly reduced the exchange flows and virtually eliminated bank storage. The bank storage return/fill time ratio was positively related to wave amplitude and the hydraulic conductivity of the interface and negatively to wave duration and bank slope. Discharge oscillations with short duration and small amplitude decreased bank storage and, therefore, the hyporheic exchange, which has implications for solute fluxes, redox conditions and the potential of riverbeds as fish-spawning locations. Based on these results, river regulation strategies can be improved by considering the effect of certain wave event configurations on hyporheic exchange to ensure harmonious hydrogeochemical functioning of the river–aquifer interfaces and related ecosystems.

Physico-Chemical and Oxygen-Hydrogen Isotopic Assessment of Bagmati and Bishnumati Rivers and the Shallow Groundwater along the River Corridors in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The direct dumping of solid wastes into the rivers, discharge of industrial effluents together with direct discharge of domestic sewage have excessively polluted the major rivers Bagmati and Bish-numati. Groundwater along these river corridors is also affected from pollution of these rivers. Two major rivers: Bagmati and Bishnumati and shallow tube wells adjacent to these rivers were monitored for 2 years. Samples were analysed for the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen (δD and δ18O) and selected physico-chemical parameters to investigate the possible interrelationship between river water and shallow groundwater along these river corridors. The physico-chemical values revealed that shallow groundwater and river water along the Bishnumati River corridor were heavily mineralized due to direct discharge of sewage wastes into this river. The isotope compositions of river water and shallow groundwater clustered together revealed possible interrelationship between them. Some of the isotopic compositions of groundwater and river water deviated below the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) indicating that the water has undergone evaporation. The isotopic and chemical results suggested possible interrelationship between river water and groundwater. Fractional contribution of the river water to groundwater was calculated based on isotopic data using mass balance approach. Results showed that shallow groundwater SG1, along the Bagmati River corridor (in September 2013), was composed of approximately 30% - 40% Bagmati River water. Similarly, shallow groundwater SG5 of Bishnumati River corridor (in September 2013), was composed of approximately 45% - 50% river water. This result indicated that high portion of river water mixed-up with adjoining shallow groundwater along the river corridors. Further, the mix-up of the river water with groundwater can be harmful when rivers are polluted. These findings can be useful for a better understanding of hydrogeological processes at the river-aquifer interface and eventually benefit water management of the Kathmandu Valley in future.

Influence of Groundwater Hydraulic Gradient on Bank Storage Metrics.

The hydraulic gradient between aquifers and rivers is one of the most variable properties in a river/aquifer system. Detailed process understanding of bank storage under hydraulic gradients is obtained from a two-dimensional numerical model of a variably saturated aquifer slice perpendicular to a river. Exchange between the river and the aquifer occurs first at the interface with the unsaturated zone. The proportion of total water exchanged through the river bank compared to the river bed is a function of aquifer hydraulic conductivity, partial penetration, and hydraulic gradient. Total exchange may be estimated to within 50% using existing analytical solutions provided that unsaturated zone processes do not strongly influence exchange. Model-calculated bank storage is at a maximum when no hydraulic gradient is present and increases as the hydraulic conductivity increases. However, in the presence of a hydraulic gradient, the largest exchange flux or distance of penetration does not necessarily correspond to the highest hydraulic conductivity, as high hydraulic conductivity increases the components of exchange both into and out of an aquifer. Flood wave characteristics do not influence ambient groundwater discharge, and so in large floods, hydraulic gradients must be high to reduce the volume of bank storage. Practical measurement of bank storage metrics is problematic due to the limitations of available measurement technologies and the nested processes of exchange that occur at the river-aquifer interface. Proxies, such as time series concentration data in rivers and groundwater, require further development to be representative and quantitative.

Flow regulation effects on the hydrogeochemistry of the hyporheic zone in boreal rivers

River–aquifer interfaces are essential for ecosystem functioning in terms of nutrient exchange and biological habitat, but are greatly threatened world-wide. This study examined geochemical aspects of river–aquifer interaction in one regulated and one unregulated boreal river in Northern Sweden to determine whether the geochemical functioning of the hyporheic zone is affected by hydrological alterations, e.g. regulated river discharge and river–aquifer connectivity. In the unregulated Kalix River, the hyporheic pore water was well-oxygenated with orthogonal fluxes (≈0.6–0.7md−1) and acted as a sink for Fe, Mn, Al, NH4, and Ca, with fractional losses of 95%, 92%, 45%, 31%, and 15%, respectively. A corresponding elevation in the concentrations of these elements in the hyporheic sediment was observed, with higher saturation indices of Fe-, Mn-, and Al-bearing secondary minerals in hyporheic waters. In the regulated Lule River, hydraulic connectivity at the river–aquifer interface was altered by the presence of a clogging layer (0.04md−1). In addition, the river discharge oscillated daily, severely reducing exchange flows across the riverbed (<0.01md−1). As a result, the hyporheic pore water was suboxic, with elevated concentrations of filtered Fe and Mn (fractional increases of ≈3700% and ≈2500%, respectively) and other solutes (NH4, Si, S, Ca). A conceptual model revealed functional differences between geochemical features of the hyporheic zone of regulated and unregulated rivers. Overall, the results showed that hyporheic processes are altered along regulated rivers, with resulting impacts on the geochemistry of riverine, riparian and related marine ecosystems.

River-aquifer exchange fluxes under monsoonal climate conditions

An important prerequisite to better understand the transport of nutrients and contaminants across the river-aquifer interface and possible implications for biogeochemical transformations is to accurately characterize and asses the exchange fluxes. In this study we investigate how monsoonal precipitation events and the resulting variability in river discharge affect the dynamics of river-aquifer exchange and the corresponding flux rates. We evaluate potential impacts of the investigated exchange fluxes on local water quality. Hydraulic gradients along a piezometer transect were monitored at a river reach in a small catchment in South Korea, where the hydrologic dynamics are driven by the East-Asian Monsoon. We used heat as a tracer to constrain river-aquifer exchange fluxes in a two-dimensional flow and heat transport model implemented in the numerical code HydroGeoSphere, which was calibrated to the measured temperature and total head data. To elucidate potential effects of river-aquifer exchange dynamics on biogeochemical transformations at the river-aquifer interface, river water and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrate (NO3) and dissolved oxygen saturation (DOsat). Our results illustrate highly variable hydrologic conditions during the monsoon season characterized by temporal and spatial variability in river-aquifer exchange fluxes with frequent flow reversals (changes between gaining and losing conditions). Intense monsoonal precipitation events and the associated rapid changes in river stage are the dominant driver for the observed riverbed flow reversals. The chemical data suggest that the flow reversals, when river water high in DOC is pushed into the nitrate-rich groundwater below the stream and subsequently returns to the stream may facilitate and enhance the natural attenuation of nitrate in the shallow groundwater.

Hyporheic water exchange in a large hydropower-regulated boreal river – directions and rates

Widespread river regulation is known to modify river-aquifer interactions, influencing entire watersheds, but knowledge of the hyporheic flowpath along regulated rivers is limited. This study measured the hydraulic conductivity of the river bed and the aquifer, water levels and seepage fluxes in the heavily regulated Lule River in Northern Sweden, with the aim of characterising water exchange across the river-aquifer interface. While pristine rivers in the area are gaining, the Lule River was recharging the aquifer during 10% of the time. Daily river level fluctuations (typically ±0.25 m) directed ~3% of the total orthogonal flux across the river bed towards the aquifer, while during ~2% of the time the orthogonal fluxes were negligible (≤10–4 m d–1). A clogging layer on the river bed, most likely formed due to the modified river discharge, restricted river-aquifer exchange. The hyporheic zone had higher electrical conductivity than the river and the aquifer and electrical conductivity occasionally decreased following rising river water levels, with 3–5 hours' delay. Overall, hydropower regulation has severely altered the hydrological regime of the hyporheic zone in the Lule River.

Characterizing interactions between surface water and groundwater in the Jialu River basin using major ion chemistry and stable isotopes

Abstract. The Jialu River, a secondary tributary of the Huaihe River, has been severely contaminated from major contaminant sources, such as a number of untreated or lightly treated sewage waste in some cities. Groundwater along the river is not an isolated component of the hydrologic system, but is instead connected with the surface water. This study aims to investigate temporal and spatial variations in water chemistry affected by humans and to characterize the relationships between surface water (e.g. reservoirs, lakes and rivers) and groundwater near the river in the shallow Quaternary aquifer. Concentration of Cl− in north Zhengzhou City increased prominently due to the discharge of a large amount of domestic water. Nitrate and potassium show maximum concentrations in groundwater in Fugou County. These high levels can be attributed to the use of a large quantity of fertilizer over this region. Most surface water appeared to be continuously recharged from the surrounding groundwater (regional wells) based on comparison surface water with groundwater levels, stable-isotopes and major ion signatures. However, the groundwater of a transitional well (location SY3) seemed to be recharged by river water via bank infiltration in September 2010. Fractional contributions of river water to the groundwater were calculated based on isotopic and chemical data using a mass-balance approach. Results show that the groundwater was approximately composed of 60–70% river water. These findings should be useful for a better understanding of hydrogeological processes at the river-aquifer interface and ultimately benefit water management in the future.

Three-dimensional flow patterns at the river–aquifer interface — a case study at the Danube

The three-dimensional groundwater flow patterns in a gravel bar at the Danube east of Vienna were investigated and are discussed in this paper. The observed groundwater level gradients are highly dynamic and respond very quickly to changes in the river water levels. A variably saturated groundwater model was calibrated to the data to describe the complex dynamics of flow in the gravel bar. The model results suggest that short-term (6–48 h) fluctuations of river water levels cause variations in the exchange flow rates from − 35 l/s to 82 l/s. The highest rates occur during brief infiltration after rapidly rising river water levels. Simulations of different scenarios indicate that riverbank clogging will decrease the exchange fluxes by up to 80%, while clogging of both riverbank and riverbed essentially stops the flow exchange. The groundwater model is also used to simulate the transport of a conservative tracer. The variation of river water levels over time is shown to increase the extent of the active river–aquifer mixing zone in the gravel bar. These dynamic factors significantly enhance the dilution of conservative tracer concentrations in this zone.

Investigating groundwater–river interactions using environmental tracers

Groundwater and surface water are hydraulically connected in many landscapes, and a better understanding of their connectivity is critical for effective management of water resources. Environmental tracers are a useful preliminary tool to study the interaction between groundwater and surface water and provide independent means for corroborating or refuting information based on more traditional investigations. This paper discusses the results of using major ions, stable isotopes (deuterium and oxygen-18) and a radioactive isotope (radon-222) as environmental tracers to better understand groundwater–surface water interactions in the Border Rivers catchment, Australia. In the upstream reaches of the catchment, shallow groundwater close to the river has a similar major-ion and stable-isotope chemistry to that of the river water, and is different to the groundwater distant from the river. The near-stream groundwater has an enriched isotopic signature (less negative) whereas groundwater far from the river has a depleted isotopic signature. Overall, the comparison of chloride concentrations with deuterium suggests that three types of groundwater occur in the Border Rivers catchment: (i) the near-stream groundwaters influenced by direct recharge from the river; (ii) the groundwaters marginal to the river that are more influenced by diffuse rainfall recharge; and (iii) saline groundwaters in the downstream part of the catchment which never (or rarely) receive recharge from surface water. River water samples obtained during the high-flow season show a very low variation in radon concentrations (0.11–0.39 Bq/L). The longitudinal transect of radon concentration measurements in river water during the high-flow season indicates that there is no groundwater contribution to stream flow. Radon concentrations are lower in groundwater close to the rivers and increase with distance from the river, in general coincidence with the salinity and chloride concentration. This indicates river water infiltration into nearby alluvial aquifers, rather than groundwater discharge to the river. The results of hydrochemical and environmental isotope sampling indicate that in the upper catchment area (upstream of Keetah) the river is connected to and actively recharges the near-stream shallow alluvial aquifer. Using the environmental isotope data, we have also demonstrated that recharge of the alluvial aquifers by surface water occurs by bank infiltration, with diffuse recharge during high-rainfall events more dominant further away from the river. This information would be useful for a better understanding of the nature and extent of hydrogeological processes at the river–aquifer interface and their links with biogeochemical processes and ultimately water allocation policies.