Design of Managed Aquifer Recharge for Agricultural and Ecological Water Supply Assessed Through Numerical Modeling

The Walla Walla Basin, in Eastern Oregon and Washington, USA, faces challenges in sustaining an agricultural water supply while maintaining sufficient flow in the Walla Walla River for endangered fish populations. Minimum summer river flow of 0.71 m³/s is required, forcing irrigators to substitute groundwater from a declining aquifer for lost surface water diversion. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was initiated in 2004 attempting to restore groundwater levels and improve agricultural viability. The Integrated Water Flow Model (IWFM) was used to compute surface and shallow groundwater conditions in the basin under water management scenarios with varying water use, MAR, and allowable minimum river flow. A mean increase of 1.5 m of groundwater elevation, or 1.5 % of total aquifer storage, was predicted over the model area when comparing maximum MAR and no MAR scenarios where minimum river flow was increased from current level. When comparing these scenarios a 53 % greater summer flow in springs was predicted with the use of MAR. Results indicate MAR can supplement irrigation supply while stabilizing groundwater levels and increasing summer streamflow. Potential increase in long-term groundwater storage is limited by the high transmissivity of the aquifer material. Increased MAR caused increased groundwater discharge through springs and stream beds, benefiting aquatic habitat rather than building long-term aquifer storage. Judicious siting of recharge basins may be a means of increasing the effectiveness of MAR in the basin.     

A Suitable Tool for Sustainable Groundwater Management

Artificial recharge is used to increase the availability of groundwater storage and reduce saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers, where pumping and droughts have severely impaired groundwater quality. The implementation of optimal recharge methods requires knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena involving water and wastewater filtration in the subsoil, together with engineering aspects related to plant design and maintenance operations. This study uses a novel Decision Support System (DSS), which includes soil aquifer treatment (SAT) evaluation, to design an artificial recharge plant. The DSS helps users make strategic decisions on selecting the most appropriate recharge methods and water treatment technologies at specific sites. This will enable the recovery of safe water using managed aquifer recharge (MAR) practices, and result in reduced recharge costs. The DSS was built using an artificial intelligence technique and knowledge-based technology, related to both quantitative and qualitative aspects of water supply for artificial recharge. The DSS software was implemented using rules based on the cumulative experience of wastewater treatment plant engineers and groundwater modeling. Appropriate model flow simulations were performed in porous and fractured coastal aquifers to evaluate the suitability of this technique for enhancing the integrated water resources management approach. Results obtained from the AQUASTRESS integrated project and DRINKADRIA IPA CBC suggest the most effective strategies for wastewater treatments prior to recharge at specific sites.     

松花江佳木斯市区段江水对地下水补给程度分析

采用MODFLOW软件,在佳木斯市区建立了地下水流模拟模型。在地下水开采井正常运行和全部关闭两种情况下,分别对现状年和设计典型年,运用所建模型求解松花江水对研究区地下水的补给量,分析补给程度,从一个侧面探讨江水污染对地下水水质的影响程度。计算结果表明:从求解的年内总量上,通过关闭开采井的方式能够抑制近1/4的江水侧渗补给;关闭开采井初期并不能迅速降低江水的侧渗补给量。     

An Analytical Solution of Boussinesq Equation to Predict Water Table Fluctuations Due to Time Varying Recharge and Withdrawal from Multiple Basins, Wells and Leakage Sites

Recharging and pumping are the integral part of any scheme of ground water resources development and both processes significantly affect the dynamic behavior of the aquifer system. Leakage from the aquifer’s base, if present, is other process which affects the water table variation. Therefore, an accurate estimation of water table fluctuation induced by recharging, pumping and leakage is pre-requisite to ensure sustainability of groundwater resources. In the present work an analytical solution of a 2-D linearized Boussinesq equation is developed to predict water table fluctuations in the presence of time varying recharge, pumping and leakage from any number of recharge basins, wells and leakage sites of any dimension for any number of recharge and pumping cycles. The rate of time varying recharge (or pumping) is approximated by using a series of linear elements of different lengths and slopes which are dependent on the nature of variation in the recharge (or pumping) rate. Application of the solution in the prediction of water table fluctuation in the presence of time varying recharge, pumping and leakage is demonstrated with the help of a numerical example. These numerical results indicate significant effect of the time varying recharge/pumping rates and leakage on the water table variation. Such information is useful for the proper management of groundwater.     

Effect of management strategies on reducing negative impacts of climate change on water resources of the Isfahan–Borkhar aquifer using MODFLOW

Recently, many studies have investigated the effect of climate change on groundwater resources in semiarid and arid areas and have shown adverse effects on groundwater recharge and water level. However, only a few studies have shown suitable strategies for reducing these adverse effects. In this study, climate conditions were predicted for the future period of 2020–2044, under the emission scenarios of RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5, for Isfahan–Borkhar aquifer, Isfahan, Iran, using MODFLOW‐2000 (MODFLOW is United States Geological Survey product). Results showed that the average groundwater level of the aquifer would decrease to 13, 15, and 16 m in 2012 to 2044 approximately under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. Then, three groundwater sustainability management scenarios were defined that included 10%, 30%, and 50% reduction in groundwater extraction. These strategies simulated the reduced negative effects of climate change on the aquifer. The results showed that decreases in water withdrawal rates of 10%, 30%, and 50% under RCP8.5 scenario (critical scenario) could decrease the mean groundwater level by 14, 11, and 7 m, respectively. The main result of the study showed that 50% reduction in groundwater withdrawal may increase the groundwater levels significantly in order to restore the aquifer sustainability in the study area. In this study, with assuming that the current harvest of wells in the future period is constant, so the results of studies showed that for the aquifer's sustainability management, the water abstraction from the aquifer should reduce up to 50% of the existing wells. Changing the irrigation method from surface to subdroplet irrigation plays an important role in reducing the withdrawal from the aquifer. The results of a study in Iran have shown that the change in the irrigation method from surface to subdroplet irrigation causes a 40% reduction in water use for agriculture.     

Impact of Urbanization on the Hydrology of Ganga Basin (India)

Large scale emigrations from rural areas to urban areas and population growth have been uninterrupted and accelerating phenomena in parts of Ganga basin, where urbanization is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Urban agglomeration is causing radical changes in groundwater recharge and modifying the existing mechanisms. Majority of the cities are sited on unconfined or semi confined aquifers depend upon river water and groundwater for most of their water supply and disposal of most of their liquid effluents and solid residues to the rivers and ground. There has also been an inevitable rise in waste production. Drainage of surface water has been disrupted as the small natural channels and low lying areas have been in filled, often with municipal waste. Total water potential of the Ganga basin including surface water potential and ground water potential is around 525.02 km³ and 170.00 km³ respectively. Basin supports approximately 42% of the total population in India. Water tables are declining at approximately an average of 0.20 m per year in many parts of the basin and there is a trend of deteriorating groundwater quality. The demand of water has been increased many folds and most of the areas are highly reliant upon the groundwater to meet this increasing demand for water, but unfortunately degradation of groundwater both in terms of quantity and quality has deteriorated the situation. Studies shows that change in climate may increase temperature by 2 to 6°C and can reduce precipitation up to 16%, which could reduce the groundwater recharge by 50%. In densely populated Ganga basin urban drainage consumes a high proportion of the investments into urban infrastructure and needs integrated approach for the sustainable development of water management, water education regarding conservation and pollution caused by urbanization.     

Groundwater overdraft reduction through agricultural energy policy: insights from India and Mexico

Rapid expansion of groundwater irrigation has transformed the rural economy in regions around the world, leading to significant increases in agricultural productivity and rising incomes. Farmer investment in wells and pumps has driven this expansion on the demand side; however, the supply of cheap agricultural energy—usually electrical power—is a critical though often overlooked driver of the groundwater boom. One serious outcome in numerous regions around the world has been groundwater overdraft; where pumping exceeds aquifer recharge, water tables have declined and water quality has deteriorated. India and Mexico are two of the largest users of groundwater in the world and both face critical overdraft challenges. The two countries are compared, given that electrical energy supply and pricing are primary driving forces behind groundwater pumping for irrigation in India and Mexico alike. Both countries have attempted regulatory measures to reduce groundwater overdraft. However, with low energy costs and readily available connections, there are few financial disincentives for farmers to limit pumping. The linkages between energy and irrigation are reviewed, comparing and contrasting India and Mexico. Examples of legal, regulatory and participatory approaches to groundwater management are assessed. Finally, the implications of linking electrical power pricing and supply with ongoing groundwater regulation efforts in both countries are explored.     

Distributed Simulation‐optimization Model for Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water Under Environmental and Sustainability Restrictions

Evolving optimal management strategies are essential for the sustainable development of water resources. A coupled simulation-optimization model that links the simulation and optimization models internally through a response matrix approach is developed for the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water in meeting irrigation water demand and municipal water supply, while ensuring groundwater sustainability and maintaining environmental flow in river. It incorporates the stream-aquifer interactions, and the aquifer response matrix is generated from a numerical groundwater model. The optimization model is solved by using MATLAB. The developed model has been applied to the Hormat-Golina valley alluvial stream-aquifer system, Ethiopia, and the optimal pumping schedules were obtained for the existing 43 wells under two different scenarios representing with and without restrictions on stream flow depletion, and satisfying the physical, operational and managerial constraints arising due to hydrological configuration, sustainability and ecological services. The study reveals that the total annual optimal pumping is reduced by 19.75?% due to restrictions on stream flow depletion. It is observed that the groundwater pumping from the aquifer has a significant effect on the stream flow depletion and the optimal conjunctive water use plays a great role in preventing groundwater depletion caused by the extensive pumping for various purposes. The groundwater contribution in optimal conjunctive water use is very high having a value of 92?% because of limited capacity of canal. The findings would be useful to the planners and decision makers for ensuring long-term water sustainability.

     

Recharge Wells Site Selection for Artificial Groundwater Recharge in an Urban Area Using Fuzzy Logic Technique

In arid and semi-arid area, groundwater is the most important water resources. Surface runoff harvesting is the most important process in the artificial recharge of groundwater that should increase groundwater quality and quantity. Urban impervious area provides an appropriate surface to produce adequate amounts of runoff. Groundwater recharge via recharge wells is one of the successful direct sub-surface methods. As many cities around the world face issues of water scarcity due to a fast and unsustainable urbanization, identify the best locations of groundwater recharge wells is an interesting relevant topic, especially in the arid and semi-arid area. Selection of a suitable area for groundwater recharge could increase efficiency of the recharge wells. In this study, the best location of recharge wells was investigated in Urmia city located in the North-west of Iran using fuzzy logic technique. In this study, locations of the drainage channel junctions with adequate potential of surface runoff were determined using SWMM. Appropriate locations for recharge wells were determined based on different layers including distance to runoff harvesting points, distance to the production water wells and depth of groundwater table. Hydraulic condition (hydraulic conductivity and specific recharge) was also used separately. The input layers were prepared using geostatistical interpolation techniques in ArcGIS 9.3 software. Mamdani fuzzy inference system was applied to incorporate the fuzzified input layers. Finally, in each area, pixels with the highest value were proposed as suitable locations for recharge wells. Based on the results, the number of pixels with “High” priorities increased when the hydraulic conductivity was used to site selection. Comparing hydraulic conductivity layer and selected location of the recharge wells shows that the area with low hydraulic conductivity and the area closed to the production water wells has not suitable priority for recharge wells.     

滹沱河大型入渗试验地下水补给量计算

通过采用水均衡法计算了滹沱河入渗试验期间的河道入渗补给量,并求取了滹沱河水源地一带获得的河道入渗补给量。研究表明:试验期间河道入渗水量为1 482.75万m3,河道入渗补给地下水量为1 382.89万m3,河道渗漏补给系数为93%;滹沱河水源地接受的补给量为742.53万m3,水源地范围内的观测井最大水位上升幅度6.823m,地下水补给效果明显。     

宿州市城西水源地地下水限采及其效果分析

针对宿州市城西水源地由于长期开采地下水、井位布局不合理,且地下水补给有限,已严重超采,形成了若干个地下水水位降落漏斗,直接威胁城区供水安全的现实,通过数值模拟法计算宿州市城西水源地的地下水可开采量,采用开采系数法对水源地进行地下水超采评价,并制定相应的限采方案,预测限采后地下水水位的变化,分析限采效果。结果表明,现状年2010年城西水源地地下水开采系数为1.30,属于严重超采;实施限采方案后,规划年2015年、2020年,地下水开采系数分别为1.21、0.97,限采效果较明显。     

Optimal Operation of Artificial Groundwater Recharge Systems Considering Water Quality Transformations

In water limited areas as water demand increases alternative sustainable water sources must be identified. One supply augmentation practice, that is already being applied in the arid southwest U.S., is artificial groundwater recharge usingwastewater effluent. The objective of a recharge facility is to supplement the available groundwater resources by storing water for the future. The resulting reclaimed water is used primarily for non-potable purposes but under increasing stressesshifting to potable use is likely to happen. Water quality thenbecomes a more pressing concern. Water quality improvements during infiltration and groundwater transport are significant and are collectively described as soil-aquifer treatment (SAT). To meet user needs, the recharge operation must be efficiently managed considering monetary, water quality and environmental concerns. In this paper, a SAT management model is developed that considers all of these concerns. Within the SAT management model, the shuffled complex evolution algorithm (SCE) is used as the optimization tool. SCEis a relatively new meta-heuristic search technique for continuousproblems that has been used extensively for hydrologic model calibration. In this application, SCE is integrated with the simulation models (MODFLOW, MT3D, and MODPATH) to represent movement and quality transformations. Two steady state case studies on a general hypothetical aquifer (modeled after a field site) were examined using the management model.     

流水壕泉域修建地下水库可行性分析

在分析流水壕泉域水文地质条件的基础上,提出设立地下截渗墙修建地下水库的办法,以拦蓄地下水资源。经过可行性分析,在流水壕泉域内修建人工地下水库是可行的,在古洼槽分布区补设开采井群抽取地下水,实现地下水库集中供水,并可获得开采量5400 m3/d。修建后可以解决由于附近煤矿不合理开采导致的缺水问题。     

地下水资源战略储备评价与应急利用——以武汉市为例

当城市遭受突发事件或极端气候时,单一的地表水资源存在明显的供水安全隐患,严重影响城市正常运行。在地下水资源相对丰富的地方,可建立地下水战略储备应对突发事件出现的水资源短缺问题,但目前缺乏地下水资源战略储备选址的评价依据。为此,从地下水储备区供水能力、应急利用影响、社会经济发展、环境灾害影响等方面,采用层次分析法建立了地下水资源战略储备选址适宜性评价指标体系。同时,以长江流域中下游典型城市——武汉市为例,考虑供水规模和含水层富水性,对圈定的5个靶区开展了地下水资源战略储备区选址评价,其结果均为适宜性较强。在此基础上,采用Feflow从开采井布置方案和应急时间等角度,对地下水资源战略储备区应急利用方案进行评价,结果表明:应急时间较短时,抽水井布井方案对地下水动态影响较小;随应急时间增加,抽水方案对地下水动态影响越显著,但影响程度随抽水井间距增加而减小。研究成果可为长江流域中下游地下水战略储备布局及应急利用提供参考。     

Estimating Pumping Rates and Identifying Potential Recharge Zones for Groundwater Management in Multi-Aquifers System

Agricultural, aquaculture, industrial and domestic activities have placed enormous demands for water, which sometimes results in the over-pumping and associated continually declining groundwater levels. This in turn has led to land subsidence and soil salination. Therefore, it’s important to understand the local pumping activities or the pumping rates in order to implement appropriate water management. The distribution of pumping rates varies spatially and temporally due to the availability of surface water and seasonality. In addition, to have correct estimate of the pumping rates, both the hydrology and geology should be consider. SWAT and MODFLOW are employed and run separately to acquire certain hydrologic components such as the recharge, boundary flow and change of aquifer storage in multi-aquifers. The water balance method (WBM) is then adopted to estimate pumping rates with these components. To validate the proposed model the results of WBM and the official records are compared. Besides, in view of the serious land subsidence occurred, artificial recharge is regarded as an effective tool to alleviate and mitigate the subsidence. Nevertheless, the location of conducting artificial recharge needs to be identified first. The potential recharge zones are assessed based on the simulated recharge rates from SWAT and the spatial distribution of hydrological characteristics of the unconfined aquifer. Ultimately, an optimal recharge zone will be suggested. The proposed methodology is proved capable of estimating the pumping rates and locating the potential recharge zone.     

马鞍山市地下水水源地应急供水水流模拟研究

为评估马鞍山市应急水源地的供水能力,结合现场水文地质勘察成果,概化了区域水文地质模型,采用GMS软件进行应急开采条件下的地下水渗流场模拟预测。计划布置抽水井75口,模型预测了总开采量15万m^3/d时区域地下水流场的时空分布特征。计算结果表明各水源地应急开采过程中,水源地周围降落漏斗中心降深逐渐增大,胡庄和秦河村水源地由于含水层相对较薄,远离区域主要的补给水源(长江),供水能力较差,降落漏斗中心埋深最大;新锦村靠近长江,抽水井数量相对较少,降落漏斗中心埋深最小。经过365 d抽水,区域降落漏斗最大降深达4.61 m,降落漏斗最大半径达3 000 m。马鞍市拟选应急水源地的供水能力可以达到15万m^3/d,但是水源地应布置在含水层厚度大,补给可靠的区域。     

An Integrating Approach for Conjunctive-Use Planning of Surface and Subsurface Water System

This study proposes an integrated approach to assess the performance of a conjunctive-use surface and subsurface water system. System dynamics serves as the main framework of the proposed conjunctive-use model, simulating the interaction between surface and subsurface water and the impact of various conjunctive-use alternatives on the system as a whole. This study assumes natural groundwater recharge as a water source to the system, and estimates its volume using geographic information system (GIS) tools, a groundwater simulation model (MODFLOW), and a parameter identification model (UCODE). This study assesses various conjunctive-use alternatives and analyzes the frequency of water shortage to illustrate how the recharge rate affects water supply reliability under the conjunctive-use framework. Simulation results indicate that conjunctive-use with artificial recharge indeed reduces the frequency of extreme water shortages. Results also reveal that artificial recharge is necessary to maintain groundwater conservation without overusing river flow. Although this study focuses on southern Taiwan, the proposed concepts and procedure are applicable to other areas with a similar conjunctive-use framework.     

Alternatives to Reduce Pumping Effects in Glacial Stratified Drift Aquifers During Periods of Low Stream Flow

Low stream flows in the Fenton River, part of a hydrogeological setting characterized by glacial stratified drift, forces the University of Connecticut to frequently reduce groundwater withdrawals during the months of June–October. The objective of this study was to investigate stream/aquifer interactions in such a hydrogeologic system in order to increase water withdrawals while minimizing adverse impacts to in-stream flow. A groundwater flow model was developed using MODFLOW to investigate the influence of well location and pumping timing on in-stream flow in the vicinity of the water supply wells. The numerical model comprised detailed geophysical data and decadal hydrologic data (2000–2009) to assess well placement, rest periods and cyclical pumping. The relocation of a water supply well up to 228 m from the river had a positive but minimal improvement to stream flows (<2.83 L/s). When the well field was shut off for more than 45 days, stream flows returned to the no pumping condition with only slight impact at 30 days, whereas a 30 day rest period gave 4 weeks of dampened pumping influence on stream flows. A management scenario of 1 week cyclical pumping between two water supply wells following a 45 day rest period can allow for current restriction thresholds to be reduced by 28.3 L/s with minimal impact to stream flows (7.36 L/s) and would allow additional water to be pumped for all years in which there was a demand for water.     

Sustainable Management for Minimizing Land Subsidence of an Over-Pumped Volcanic Aquifer System: Tools for Policy Design

Groundwater management scenarios for the Toluca Valley, Mexico, are examined with a three dimensional groundwater flow model coupled to a one dimensional compaction module. The objective of this study is to establish a management policy for the sustainable development and management of the Toluca aquifer system for minimizing land subsidence. Several scenarios are tested by varying 4 main parameters: recharge, exports to other basins, local consumption, and relocating pumping centers. It is apparent that continuing at current rates of water consumption will lead to subsidence of more than 1.6 m over a 40 year period (2010–2050). Completely stopping exports to Mexico City is not the most important factor in controlling subsidence because the pumping system is mostly located in regions with low clay content, where subsidence is lower. However, decreasing exports by half and relocating the pumping centres to low-clay-content areas does have a positive effect on the overall water budget and subsidence. Based on simulation results, it appears that much of the land subsidence could have been avoided had water policies been applied to restrict pumping in regions with compressible materials. The approach taken in this study could be applied to other locations with similar problems in order to determine the most viable option for water supply.     

水源热泵影响下地下水温度主控因素关联度分析

为研究地下水源热泵长期影响下,地下水温度主控因素的变化特征,选择安阳市第五人民医院为研究区,将地下水温度作为典型的灰色系统进行研究,采用灰色关联度的计算方法进行地下水温度、地下水位埋深、气温、降水量以及回水井水温之间的关联度分析,获取地下水温变化的主控因素。研究结果表明:在不受水源热泵影响时,地下水位埋深是地下水温度的主控因素。在水源热泵影响下,地下水温受气温、降水量、地下水位埋深和回水井水温的共同影响:在垂向上,回水井水温对监测井水温的影响程度随着深度的增大而逐渐降低,地下水温度的主控因素由回水井水温转变为地下水位埋深,在水平方向上,回水井水温对监测井水温的影响程度随着距离的增大而逐渐减小,地下水温度的主控因素由回水井水温转变为气温和地下水位埋深。