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23 pages, 72918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Model for Karst and Pelitic Aquifer Systems from a Semi-Arid Region Under Climate Change Scenarios: A Case Study in the Vieira River Watershed, Brazil

by Apolo Pedrosa Bhering, Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro Antunes, Gustavo Nascimento Catão, Eduardo Antonio Gomes Marques, Rodrigo Sergio de Paula, Isabella Brito Andrade and Giovana Rebelo Diório

Water 2024, 16(21), 3140; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16213140 - 2 Nov 2024

Viewed by 800

Abstract

Water scarcity is a global issue, especially in semi-arid and arid regions where precipitation is irregularly distributed over time and space. Predicting groundwater flow in heterogeneous karst terrains, which are essential water sources, presents a significant challenge. This article integrates geology, hydrology, and [...] Read more.

Water scarcity is a global issue, especially in semi-arid and arid regions where precipitation is irregularly distributed over time and space. Predicting groundwater flow in heterogeneous karst terrains, which are essential water sources, presents a significant challenge. This article integrates geology, hydrology, and water monitoring to develop a pioneering conceptual and numerical model of groundwater flow in the Montes Claros Region (Vieira River Watershed, Brazil). This model was evaluated under various climate change scenarios, considering changes in rainfall, groundwater consumption, and population growth over the current century. The results indicate that a decline in water table levels is inevitable, primarily driven by population growth and high pumping rates rather than rainfall fluctuations. This underscores the urgent need for improved monitoring, model upgrading, and more importantly, targeted water resource management for Montes Claros. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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21 pages, 10576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction and Management of the Groundwater Environmental Pollution Impact in Anning Refinery in Southern China

by Xiaoqi Fang, Shiyao Tang, Zhenru Niu and Juntao Tong

Water 2024, 16(19), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192713 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 694

Abstract

Anning Refinery, a large-scale joint venture in southern China, possesses significant potential in regard to polluting local groundwater environments due to its extensive petroleum raw materials. This study aims to mitigate the substantial risks associated with oil spills and prevent consequential groundwater pollution [...] Read more.

Anning Refinery, a large-scale joint venture in southern China, possesses significant potential in regard to polluting local groundwater environments due to its extensive petroleum raw materials. This study aims to mitigate the substantial risks associated with oil spills and prevent consequential groundwater pollution by developing a robust groundwater flow model using the MODFLOW module in GMS software that aligns closely with natural and pumping test conditions. Furthermore, by integrating the MT3DMS model, a groundwater solute transport model is constructed and calibrated using sodium chloride tracer dispersion data. Notably, the wax hydrocracking unit and aviation coal finished product tank area are identified as key pollution sources warranting attention. By considering local constraints such as karst collapse, ground subsidence, and single-well water output capacity, the study introduces a tailored groundwater pollution management model. The research simulates various scenarios of petroleum pollutant migration in groundwater and proposes multi-objective emergency response optimization plans. In Scenario 1, simulations show that petroleum pollutants migrate within the unconfined aquifer and enter the karst aquifer as low-concentration plumes over an extended period. Detection of these plumes in karst water monitoring wells indicates upstream unconfined aquifer contamination at higher concentrations, necessitating immediate activation of the nearest monitoring or emergency wells in both layers. Conversely, in Scenario 2, pollutants reside briefly in the unconfined aquifer before entering the karst aquifer at relatively higher concentrations. Here, low-efficiency pollutant discharge through unconfined aquifer monitoring wells prompts the activation of nearby karst aquifer monitoring or emergency wells for effective pollution control. This model underscores the necessity for proactive monitoring and validates the efficacy of coupled numerical modeling in understanding pollutant behavior, offering valuable insights into pollution control scenario assessments. In summary, the study emphasizes the importance of targeted monitoring and emergency protocols, demonstrating the benefits of integrated modeling approaches in industrial areas prone to pollution risks, and provides critical theoretical and practical guidance for groundwater protection and pollution management, offering transferable insights for similar industrial settings worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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14 pages, 4146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemical Characterization and Prediction of Water Accumulation in the Goaf under Extra-Thick Fully Mechanized Top-Coal-Caving Mining

by Jianghong Wang, Hongwei Wang, Shaobo Yin, Qingfa Liao, Qiding Ju and Kai Chen

Water 2024, 16(15), 2110; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152110 - 26 Jul 2024

Viewed by 669

Abstract

In multi-seam coal mining, the water accumulation in the goaf of the upper coal seam will seriously threaten the safety of the lower coal-seam recovery. How to accurately determine the water charging source in the goaf and predict the amount of water accumulation [...] Read more.

In multi-seam coal mining, the water accumulation in the goaf of the upper coal seam will seriously threaten the safety of the lower coal-seam recovery. How to accurately determine the water charging source in the goaf and predict the amount of water accumulation in the goaf after a certain time interval has become a major challenge that urgently needs to be solved in coal production. In this study, we consider the water-discharging goaf of the Tangjiahui Coal Mine as the object of research to investigate the problem of water accumulation in the goaf during the fully mechanized caving mining of extra-thick seams of top coal. We used geochemical methods, water-accumulation space methods, and large-well methods to analyze the hydraulic connections between goaf water and other aquifers, predict the amount of water accumulation in the goaf, and explore the characteristics of water level changes over time. We then used the results to discuss the relationship between the elevation of the accumulated water and the time taken for it to fill the goaf. The results showed that there is a hydraulic connection between the water in the airspace and the goaf water (GW), roof water (RW), floor water (FW) and Ordovician limestone water (OW); the volume of water in the goaf of the working face after mining was 2,106,838.496 m³. The average rate of water accumulation was 65.407 m³/h, and the goaf was expected to have been filled in 32,211.208 h. The derived relationship between the water level and time was

H_{0} = {- 10}^{- 12} t^{3} + 10^{- 7} t^{2} - 0.0042 t + 814.61 {(R}^{2} = 0.9837)

. This study is of great significance for the sustainable development of the safety evaluation of water blocking coal pillars at the mine boundary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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15 pages, 5192 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Hydrochemical and Formation Mechanism Studies of Groundwater in Quaternary Aquifer in a Northern Plain of China: An Example of Beijing Plain

by Sarah Fatim Camara, Jinjun Zhou and Yongxiang Zhang

Water 2024, 16(14), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142060 - 21 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1007

Abstract

Beijing Plain is a very active part of Beijing city regarding the socio-economic and human activities of the region. Over the past four decades, Beijing’s economic development and the continuous drought for nearly 10 years in the 2000s have negatively impacted the groundwater [...] Read more.

Beijing Plain is a very active part of Beijing city regarding the socio-economic and human activities of the region. Over the past four decades, Beijing’s economic development and the continuous drought for nearly 10 years in the 2000s have negatively impacted the groundwater quantity and quality. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the present situation of groundwater chemistry in this region to develop a comprehensive database and orientation for future research on groundwater quality evaluation. Mathematical statistics, Piper’s trilinear diagram, Gibbs plots, the ion ratio method and PHREEQC software 3.7.3 were used to analyze the groundwater hydrogeochemical characteristics and formation mechanisms of the quaternary aquifers of the Beijing Plain area. Hydrogeochemical results indicated that the groundwater is slightly alkaline, with pH values ranging from 6.76 to 8.65 and an average value of 7.92. The order of major cations in groundwater was Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ with average values of 66.54 mg/L, 50.58 mg/L, 23.78 mg/L, and 1.81 mg/L, respectively, while the order of major anions was HCO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > Cl⁻ with average values of 284.89 mg/L, 52.1 mg/L and 35.5 mg/L, respectively. The groundwater chemical types are Mg-Ca-Cl-HCO₃, Na-Ca-HCO₃, Mg-Ca-HCO₃ and Mg-Na-HCO₃. Research on the main influencing factors and PHREEQC hydrogeochemical inverse simulations results along the four pathways selected confirmed that rock weathering with sulfate, silicate and carbonate rock mineral dissolution and Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion reaction exchange influenced groundwater hydrogeochemical characteristics of the quaternary aquifers of the Beijing Plain area. Understanding the formation mechanisms of hydrogeochemistry in quaternary plains provides guidance for future studies and, through suggestions and case studies, facilitates decision-making by policy-makers on the sustainable management of groundwater resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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22 pages, 42889 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogeochemistry and Water Quality Index for Groundwater Sustainability in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin, Sahel Region

by Abdulrahman Shuaibu, Robert M. Kalin, Vernon Phoenix, Limbikani C. Banda and Ibrahim Mohammed Lawal

Water 2024, 16(4), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16040601 - 18 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

The assessment of hydrochemical characteristics and groundwater quality is crucial for environmental sustainability in developing economies. This study employed hydrogeochemical analysis, geospatial analysis, and groundwater quality index to assess hydrogeochemical processes and quality of groundwater in the Komadugu-Yobe basin. The pH, total dissolved [...] Read more.

The assessment of hydrochemical characteristics and groundwater quality is crucial for environmental sustainability in developing economies. This study employed hydrogeochemical analysis, geospatial analysis, and groundwater quality index to assess hydrogeochemical processes and quality of groundwater in the Komadugu-Yobe basin. The pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) were assessed in situ using a handheld portable electrical conductivity meter. The concentrations of the major cations (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺), were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The major anions (chloride, fluoride, sulfate, and nitrate) were analyzed via ion chromatography (IC). Total alkalinity and bicarbonate were measured in situ using a HACH digital alkalinity kit by the titrimetric method. Hydrochemical results indicate some physicochemical properties of the groundwater samples exceeded the maximum permissible limits as recommended by the World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Gibbs diagrams indicate rock–water interaction/rock weathering processes are the dominant mechanisms influencing the groundwater chemistry. Groundwater is predominantly Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO⁻₃ water type, constituting 59% of the groundwater samples analyzed. The groundwater quality index (GWQI) depicted 63 and 27% of the groundwater samples as excellent and good water types for drinking purposes, respectively. This study further relates the interaction between geology, hydrochemical characteristics, and groundwater quality parameters. The results are essential to inform a sustainable management strategy and protection of groundwater resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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19 pages, 14003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Age and Origin and Its Relation with Anthropogenic and Climatic Factors

by Usman Iqbal, Ghulam Nabi, Mudassar Iqbal, Muhammad Masood, Abu Bakar Arshed, Muhammad Saifullah and Muhammad Shahid

Water 2024, 16(2), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020287 - 15 Jan 2024

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Abstract

Groundwater plays a major role in addressing the worldwide problem of water scarcity and food security. With a growing population and increasing urbanization, there is a rising demand for groundwater to meet agricultural and domestic water needs. A variety of advanced approaches are [...] Read more.

Groundwater plays a major role in addressing the worldwide problem of water scarcity and food security. With a growing population and increasing urbanization, there is a rising demand for groundwater to meet agricultural and domestic water needs. A variety of advanced approaches are necessary to sustain groundwater management. This study investigated the age and origin of groundwater, as well as its relationship with anthropogenic and climatic factors. Stable isotopes were used, namely oxygen-18 (¹⁸O) and deuterium (²H) for the estimation of groundwater origin and radioactive isotopes of Tritium (³H) for the estimation of its age. The investigation of stable isotopes revealed that the aquifer is predominantly influenced by river water, with a minor contribution from rainwater. Furthermore, the analysis of radioactive isotopes revealed that the groundwater age ranges from 5 to 50 years old in most areas. Older groundwater is predominantly found in urban areas, while younger groundwater is present in agricultural and woodland regions. However, the presence of “old” water in the upper groundwater layers in urban areas is attributed to over-abstraction and limited natural recharge. The primary climatic factor that governs the age and origin of groundwater is rainfall upstream of the study area, which directly contributes to the river flows. The rainfall is high in the east but, due to urbanization, recharge is decreased. Consequently, old and river recharge groundwater is found in this area. These observations underscore the unsustainable and alarming use of groundwater in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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20 pages, 5823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan

by Abdul Raheem, Ijaz Ahmad, Arfan Arshad, Jinping Liu, Zia Ur Rehman, Muhammad Shafeeque, Md Masudur Rahman, Muhammad Saifullah and Umar Iqbal

Water 2024, 16(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010034 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2085

Abstract

Focusing on the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) command area, characterized by its heavy reliance on agriculture, this study addresses the critical issue of groundwater table fluctuations in response to diverse pumping scenarios. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the dynamic interplay between crop water [...] Read more.

Focusing on the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) command area, characterized by its heavy reliance on agriculture, this study addresses the critical issue of groundwater table fluctuations in response to diverse pumping scenarios. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the dynamic interplay between crop water requirements and groundwater pumping within the expansive canvas of the LBDC, which is facing water shortages. Using the Penman–Monteith equation, we calculated annual average evapotranspiration for major crops—wheat, maize, cotton, rice, and sugarcane. Three-dimensional MODFLOW-based numerical modeling was used to analyze the dynamics of groundwater regimes. MODFLOW was calibrated from 2010 to 2020. Thereafter, we simulated water table changes under a 20% increase and decrease in groundwater extraction up to 2040s. Results revealed significant variations in water demands among these crops, with sugarcane requiring the highest average annual evapotranspiration at 1281 mm. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed substantial declines in the water table in the tail-end command areas, particularly Sahiwal and Khanewal where the decline was 0.55 m/year between 2010 and 2020. The upper reaches, such as Balloki and Okara, experienced milder declines. In considering management scenarios, a 20% increase in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 was projected to raise pumping to 4650 MCM/year. and decrease the net water balance to −235 MCM/year. Alternatively, a 20% decrease in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 could reduce pumping to 4125 MCM/year and increase the net water balance to 291 MCM/year. This study sheds light on major crop water requirements, spatiotemporal groundwater dynamics, and the implications of groundwater extraction in the LBDC command area. Scenarios presented here, encompassing increased and decreased groundwater extraction, offer invaluable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders seeking a balance between agricultural productivity and long-term groundwater sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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12 pages, 2586 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

by Jarrid M. P. Tschaikowski, Doni P. E. Putra, Atas Pracoyo and Nils Moosdorf

Water 2024, 16(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020237 - 10 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1486

Abstract

Tourism on Gili Air, a small coral island in Indonesia, has increased significantly. Groundwater is the primary water source on the island. This study aims to estimate the sustainability of groundwater use on this small coral island. It conducts an initial assessment of [...] Read more.

Tourism on Gili Air, a small coral island in Indonesia, has increased significantly. Groundwater is the primary water source on the island. This study aims to estimate the sustainability of groundwater use on this small coral island. It conducts an initial assessment of the freshwater lens system using cost-effective methods to evaluate the available freshwater volume and sustainability of water withdrawals related to tourism. The results and methods can be transferred to other low-lying islands. The results show that Gili Air has a well-developed freshwater lens, estimated to contain 2 million cubic meters of water, with an annual recharge rate four times higher than the water demand of the island’s inhabitants. However, our findings suggest that the rapid increase in tourism resulted in unsustainable water withdrawals between 2016 and 2019. Without proper groundwater monitoring and management, this could lead to seawater intrusion into the aquifer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Resources)

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