Characterizing groundwater recharge using oxygen and hydrogen isotopes: a case study in a temperate forested region,South Korea

In the cool temperate region of South Korea, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes of groundwater, lake water, and precipitation were studied to determine the season of groundwater recharge. All the groundwater samples, irrespective of season, on δ¹⁸O–δ²H scale plotted along the summer precipitation, suggesting summer precipitation largely modulates recharge. The deuterium excess values of groundwater (d-excess) show clear seasonal difference, higher in winter (> 18‰) and lower in summer (< 10‰). And its resemblance to the summer precipitation d-excess value further suggests dominant role of summer precipitation in groundwater recharge. Based on the mass balance equation, with end-member d-excess values of seasonal precipitation and groundwater as input variables, groundwater is composed of 66% summer and 34% winter precipitation. Despite the study area being heavily forested, summer rainfall contribution higher than winter suggests that evapotranspiration effect is minimal in the region; may be due to thin sand–gravel-based porous soil overlying highly weathered granitic rock system.     

Geochemical constraints on seasonal recharge of water and major dissolved solutes in the Huangshui River, China

The Huangshui River,an important tributary in the upper reaches of the Yellow River,has been regarded as a mother river which gestates Qinghai civilization in China.This paper presents the results of hydrogen and oxygen isotopic and water chemical analyses for the summer and winter Huangshui River water to study its seasonal recharge and major dissolved solutes.Characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes suggest that precipitation in the Qilian Mountains is the original recharge of the Huangshui River.However,in winter,the basic flow of the Huangshui River only depends on spring recharge and spring water originates from melt and infiltration of bottom layer glaciers.In summer,besides spring water,much rainfall directly recharges the Huangshui River,thus making its flux increase greatly.Water chemistry shows that the processes affecting dissolved solutes in the Huangshui River are also different between summer and winter.In summer,major ions in the river water are dominantly derived from carbonate and evaporate dissolution and anthropogenic inputs.In winter,carbonate dissolution decreases greatly while anthropogenic inputs play a much more important role for dissolved solutes in the river.Hence,further measures should be taken to lay stress on the winter Huangshui River water in order to protect the environment of the Huangshui River and reduce effects of dissolved solutes on,or prevent their pollution toward the upper Yellow River.Moreover,some measures also need to be introduced to prevent the possibility of water eutrophication caused by agricultural activities or stock raising in summer.     

人工回灌条件下滨海砂质含水层渗透性的时空演变特征

人工回灌补给滨海含水层是海水入侵修复经常采用的工程措施,然而人工回灌条件下滨海砂质含水层经常出现渗透性显著降低的现象,其含水介质渗透性的时空演变规律仍不清楚。本文以青岛市大沽河下游咸水入侵区含水层砂样为研究对象,通过利用不同尺度的室内砂柱淡咸水驱替试验,对定水头和定流速条件下人工回灌咸淡水驱替过程中砂质含水层渗透性的时空演变特征进行了研究。结果表明：当淡水驱替咸水时含水介质的渗透性会发生显著变化,整个砂柱的渗透性先降低后回升,原因是回灌过程中砂柱中的黏土矿物发生释放、迁移、沉积;定水头条件下,在砂柱的前半段存在一个淘空区,渗透系数是初始渗透系数的1.6~2.0倍,砂柱其它部分渗透性是先降低再轻微回弹;定流速条件下,砂柱的渗透系数随时间的变化均呈现先降低后升高趋势,且砂柱各段离入水口的距离越远其渗透系数的值越小;砂柱黏粒含量的变化规律与渗透性的演化特征相吻合。研究成果可为人工回灌治理滨海含水层海水入侵提供一定的科学依据。     

Column test-based features analysis of clogging in artificial recharge of groundwater in Beijing

With the completion of South-North Water Transfer Project in China, plenty of high quality water will be transported to Beijing. To restore the groundwater level in Beijing, part of transferred water is planned to be used for artificial recharge. Clogging is an unavoidable challenge in the artificial recharge process. Therefore, a test is designed to analyse clogging duration and scope of influence and to test the reinjection properties of different recharge media. The test employs the self-designed sand column system with variable spacing and section monitoring, composed of four parts: Sand column, water-supply system, pressure-test system and flow-test system, to simulate the clogging of artificial recharge of sand and gravel pits. The hydraulic conductivity levels of all sand column sections are obtained to analyse the clogging of the injection of different concentrations in media of different particle sizes. In this experiment, two kinds of media are used–round gravel from sand and gravel pit in Xihuang village and the sand from sand and gravel pit by the Yongding River. The concentrations of recharge fluid are respectively 0.5 g/L and 1 g/L. The results show that clogging usually lasts for 20 hrs., and the hydraulic conductivity drops to the original 10%. Clogging usually occurs at 0–12 cm section of the sand column. The scope of influence is 0–60 cm. In column 3 and 4, whose average particle sizes are larger, section 20–50 cm also suffers from clogging, apart from section 0–12 cm. The effective recharge times are respectively 33 hrs. in column 1, 14 hrs. in column 2, 12 hrs. in column 3 and 12 hrs. in column 4. The larger the average particle size is, the quicker the clogging occurs. In media of larger particles, the change in suspension concentration does not have significant influence on the development of clogging. In conclusion, it is suggested that during artificial recharge, the conditions of reinjection medium should be fully considered and effective method of recharge be employed in order to improve effective recharge time.     

试论深层地下水人工补给--SPD人工补给系统

本文提出了一种新的深层地下水回灌方式——SPD人工补给系统，并通过室内沙槽浑水模拟试验，对该系统和常规的直接井回灌法作了比较。研究结果表明，利用该系统补给深层地下水，具有回灌水质要求低、补给速度快、补给量多、不易淤堵等特点，是深层地下水人工补给的一条有效的新途径。     

Mapping mean annual groundwater recharge in the Nebraska Sand Hills, USA

Mean annual recharge in the Sand Hills of Nebraska (USA) over the 2000?C2009 period was estimated at a 1-km spatial resolution as the difference of mean annual precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration (ET). Monthly P values came from the PRISM dataset, while monthly ET values were derived from linear transformations of the MODIS daytime land-surface temperature values into pixel ET rates with the help of ancillary atmospheric data (air temperature, humidity, and global radiation). The study area receives about 73?mm of recharge (with an error bound of ±73?mm) annually, which is about 14?±?14% of the regional mean annual P value of 533?mm. The largest recharge rates (about 200?±?85?mm or 30?±?12% of P) occur in the south-eastern part of the Sand Hills due to smoother terrain and more abundant precipitation (around 700?mm), while recharge is the smallest (about 40?±?59?mm or 10?±?14% of P) in the western part, where annual precipitation is only about 420?mm. Typically, lakes, wetlands, wet inter-dunal valleys, rivers, irrigated crops (except in the south-eastern region) and certain parts of afforested areas in the south-central portion of the study area act as discharge areas for groundwater.     

Optimization of calcium-based bioclogging and biocementation of sand

Bioclogging and biocementation can be used to improve the geotechnical properties of sand. These processes can be performed by adsorption of urease-producing bacterial cells on the sand grain surfaces, which is followed by crystallization of calcite produced from the calcium salt and urea solution due to bacterial hydrolysis of urea. In this paper, the effect of intact cell suspension of Bacillus sp. strain VS1, suspension of the washed bacterial cells, and culture liquid without bacterial cells on microbially induced calcite precipitation in sand was studied. The test results showed that adsorption/retention of urease activity on sand treated with washed cells of Bacillus sp. strain VS1 was 5–8 times higher than that treated with culture liquid. The unconfined compressive strength of sand treated with the suspension of washed cells was 1.7 times higher than that treated with culture liquid. This difference could be due to fast inactivation of urease by protease which was present in the culture liquid. The adsorption of bacterial cells on sand pretreated with calcium, aluminum, or ferric salts was 29–37 % higher as compared with that without pretreatment. The permeability of sand varied with the content of precipitated calcium. For bioclogging of sand, the content of precipitated calcium had to be 1.3 % (w/w) or higher. The shear strength of biotreated sand was also dependent on the content of precipitated calcium. To achieve an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 MPa or higher, the content of precipitated calcium in the treated sand had to be 4.2 % (w/w) or higher. These data can be used as the reference values for geotechnical applications such as bioclogging for reducing the permeability of sand and biocementation for increasing the shear strength of soil.     

Assessing the impact of future climate change on groundwater recharge in Galicia-Costa, Spain

Climate change can impact the hydrological processes of a watershed and may result in problems with future water supply for large sections of the population. Results from the FP5 PRUDENCE project suggest significant changes in temperature and precipitation over Europe. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge in the hydrological district of Galicia-Costa, Spain. Climate projections from two general circulation models and eight different regional climate models were used for the assessment and two climate-change scenarios were evaluated. Calibration and validation of the model were performed using a daily time-step in four representative catchments in the district. The effects on modeled mean annual groundwater recharge are small, partly due to the greater stomatal efficiency of plants in response to increased CO₂ concentration. However, climate change strongly influences the temporal variability of modeled groundwater recharge. Recharge may concentrate in the winter season and dramatically decrease in the summer–autumn season. As a result, the dry-season duration may be increased on average by almost 30 % for the A2 emission scenario, exacerbating the current problems in water supply.     

Quantification of groundwater recharge in the city of Nottingham, UK

 Groundwater is an important and valuable resource for water supply to cities. In order to make full and wise use of the asset value, a clear understanding of the quantities and sources of urban groundwater recharge is needed. The water supply and disposal network is often an important source of recharge to urban groundwater through leakage from water mains and sewers. An approach to establishing the spatial and temporal amounts of the three urban recharge sources (precipitation, mains and sewers) is developed and illustrated using the Nottingham (UK) urban aquifer. A calibrated groundwater flow model is supplemented by calibrated solute balances for three conservative species (Cl, SO₄ and total N), thus providing four lines of evidence to use in the recharge estimation. Nottingham is located on a Triassic sandstone aquifer with average precipitation of 700 mm/year. Using the models, current urban recharge is estimated to be 211 mm/year, of which 138 mm/year (±40%) is from mains leakage and 10 mm/year (±100%) is from sewer leakage. The wide confidence intervals result from the scarcity of historical field data and the long turnover time in this high volume aquifer, and should be significantly lower for many other aquifer systems. Received: 1 December 1997 · Accepted: 14 September 1998     

Relationship between the effective diffusion coefficient of soil radon and groundwater recharge in semi-arid areas

Herein, the relationship between soil radon behavior and groundwater recharge in the town of Hosha, a semi-arid area of Jordan is explored. The annual rainfall average in this area is between 60–100 mm year⁻¹. Soil radon concentration levels, using CR-39 detectors, have been measured at several depths. Nine sampling sites on a hill slope, in the summer and winter 2006 were chosen. Other soil parameters such as moisture, soil type and porosity were also measured. Correlation between the latter and the calculated effective diffusion coefficients, based on a linear approximation, was done in order to explore water movement. A weak correlation between the soil radon concentration and water recharge in this particular semi-arid area is observed. The results show that water recharge takes place vertically, i.e., water moves downward and in one of the nine sampling sites this movement seems to be more rapid compared to the other sites.     

The use of infiltration field tests for groundwater artificial recharge

 When using surface infiltration as a method of recharge, infiltration testing is considered an important additional data input along with other hydrogeologic data into the recharge decision. As part of an investigation into the potential for groundwater recharge, two desert basins in Jordan (Wadi Madoneh and Wadi Butum) were investigated to determine the possibility of recharge using floodwater retention structures. For each area, short-duration (up to 7-h) infiltration tests were conducted to estimate surface infiltration capacity of the upper soil layers in order to present to the authorities preliminary information which could be used along with other factors to aid in the selection of the best site for a pilot recharge project. Given the highly fractured rock formations that constitute the underlying aquifers in the two areas, it was assumed that the upper alluvium layers are the limiting factors in transmitting water to target aquifers. The infiltration tests conducted to estimate the recharge characteristics of the recharge sites yielded test results that indicated a representative infiltration rate of 0.44 m/day for the Wadi Madoneh site and 0.197 m/day for the Wadi Butum site. The data input was used subsequently with other decision factors to select the most promising site for the pilot project. Received: 9 January 1998 · Accepted: 27 April 1998     

Stable isotopic and geochemical data for inferring sources of recharge and groundwater flow on the volcanic island of Rishiri,Japan

An isotopic and chemical study was conducted on precipitation, spring water, streams, groundwater wells and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to constrain the recharge areas and flow paths of SGD. The isotopic values of precipitation were used to determine the local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) of Rishiri Island. The d-excess values of precipitation showed seasonal variation, with lows of 2.5‰ in the summer and highs of 24.2‰ in the winter. The d-excess values of spring water, streams, groundwater wells and SGD ranged from 12.5‰ to 23.0‰, indicating that the resulting waters were a mix of two seasons of precipitation. The isotopic composition of the groundwater wells sampled along the coast and SGD showed more negative values than that of the spring water sampled along the coast. This indicated that SGD recharged at high altitudes and flowed into the sea. The isotopic and chemical composition of SGD indicated unidirectional flow from land to sea.     

Impact of climate change on groundwater recharge in a small catchment in the Black Forest, Germany

Temporal and spatial changes of the hydrological cycle are the consequences of climate variations. In addition to changes in surface runoff with possible floods and droughts, climate variations may affect groundwater through alteration of groundwater recharge with consequences for future water management. This study investigates the impact of climate change, according to the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) A1B, A2 and B1, on groundwater recharge in the catchment area of a fissured aquifer in the Black Forest, Germany, which has sparse groundwater data. The study uses a water-balance model considering a conceptual approach for groundwater-surface water exchange. River discharge data are used for model calibration and validation. The results show temporal and spatial changes in groundwater recharge. Groundwater recharge is progressively reduced for summer during the twenty-first century. The annual sum of groundwater recharge is affected negatively for scenarios A1B and A2. On average, groundwater recharge during the twenty-first century is reduced mainly for the lower parts of the valley and increased for the upper parts of the valley and the crests. The reduced storage of water as snow during winter due to projected higher air temperatures causes an important relative increase in rainfall and, therefore, higher groundwater recharge and river discharge.     

Assessment of bacterial biomass in the highly contaminated urban Nanming River,Guiyang, SW China

High anthropogenic N loads and abundant bacteria are characteristic of highly contaminated urban rivers. To better understand the dispersal and accumulation of bacteria, we determined contents and isotopic compositions of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) and bacteria in a highly contaminated urban river (the Nanming) and effluents in winter and summer of 2013. Relative to SPOM, bacterial biomass in the river was depleted in ¹³C and ¹⁵N and its C/N ratio was lower (δ¹³C: ? 33.2‰ ± 3.1‰; δ¹⁵N: ? 1.5‰ ± 1.2‰; C/N: 4.8 ± 0.6), while effluents showed higher ¹³C and ¹⁵N contents and C/N ratios (δ¹³C: ? 25‰ ± 2.1‰; δ¹⁵N: + 8.5‰ ± 1.1‰; C/N: 8.1 ± 1.2). Source recognition of SPOM was based on carbon isotopes because they are conservative and distinct between end-members (effluent detritus and bacterial biomass). Using a mixing model, bacterial biomass in the river was calculated to account for < 20% and < 56% of bulk suspended particulate organic nitrogen in winter and summer, respectively. An N budget showed that bacterial N was a small proportion of total nitrogen (< 7.4%) in the riverwater.     

应用农田水量平衡模型估算土壤水渗漏量

建立了一个农田水量平衡模型。并据于模型假设的条件,模拟计算了在冬小麦-夏玉米及冬小麦-裸地条件下历年1m土层土壤水渗漏量。结果表明,土壤水渗漏量与季节内降水量呈正相关,但在不同作物种植制度下有不同的相关关系式。不同水文频率年型下的渗漏量具有明显的差异,湿润年型下比干旱年型下的渗漏量多70～140mm,冬小麦-裸地比冬小麦～夏玉米种植条件下的渗漏量多30～50mm。     

An assessment of the potential and impacts of winter water banking in the Sokh aquifer, Central Asia

The dynamics of artificial recharge of winter surface flows coupled with increased summer groundwater use for irrigation in the Sokh aquifer (Central Asia) have been investigated. Water release patterns from the giant Toktogul reservoir have changed, as priority is now given to hydropower generation in winter in Kyrgyzstan. Winter flows have increased and summer releases have declined, but the Syr Darya River cannot pass these larger winter flows and the excess is diverted to a natural depression, creating a 40?×?10⁹m³ lake. A water balance study of all 18 aquifers feeding the Fergana Valley indicated the feasibility of winter groundwater recharge in storage created by summer abstraction. This modeling study examines the dynamics of the process in one aquifer over a 5-year period, with four scenarios: the current situation; increased groundwater abstraction of around 625 million (M) m³/year; groundwater abstraction with an artificial recharge of 144 Mm³/year, equivalent to the volume available in low flow years in the Sokh River; and with a larger artificial recharge of 268 Mm³/year, corresponding to high flow availability. Summer surface irrigation diversions can be reduced by up to 350 Mm³ and water table levels can be lowered.     

地下水人工回灌气相堵塞特征的试验研究

地下水人工回灌可以高效地利用雨季丰沛的水量来缓解地下水过量开采造成的海水入侵、泉水断流等环境水文地质问题,但回灌堵塞一直是制约人工回灌效率的关键问题。针对雨洪水回灌携带的大量气泡问题,设计室内砂柱试验模拟装置,利用曝气水进行人工回灌,定时记录试验过程中测压管读数及出流流量,利用达西定律计算各层渗透系数,研究气相堵塞的发展过程和规律。结果表明:回灌过程中由于气相堵塞导致含水层渗透系数随时间呈指数衰减,气相堵塞主要发生在介质浅表层（0~30 cm）,且随时间有向下发展的趋势,堵塞速率随深度的增加逐渐减小,在回灌过程中适时停灌进行排气有利于减小气相堵塞对回灌效率的影响。     

矿区流域不同水体同位素时空特征及水循环指示意义

为了探究平朔矿区所在流域不同水体同位素的时空变化规律, 揭示采煤活动下区域水循环规律, 于2020年8月和12月对流域内地表水、地下水和矿井水进行采样, 测试样品的D和18O同位素组成, 并利用贝叶斯混合模型MixSIAR计算了矿井水不同来源的贡献率。结果表明: ①地表水和矿井水δD和δ18O夏季较冬季高; 地下水δD和δ18O季节差异不明显。地表水氢氧同位素值沿程呈增加趋势, 但局部受到矿井水的补给, 出现贫化; 地下水氢氧同位素值沿径流方向呈逐渐增加趋势。②采煤区氢氧同位素值较非采煤区明显增加。受季节效应影响, 在空间分布上8月浅层地下水氢氧同位素高值区域较12月明显增多。③ δ18O与δD关系图表明, 地表水在接受大气降水的补给之后受到了蒸发分馏作用的影响; 浅层地下水的补给源较复杂, 深层地下水由于采煤形成的导水裂隙带受到了浅层地下水和地表水的补给; 矿井水受地表水、浅层地下水和深层地下水的补给。④ MixSIAR模型揭示出深层地下水是矿井水的主要补给来源, 占61.60%~67.20%, 且补给比例冬季大于夏季; 浅层地下水对矿井水的补给存在明显季节差异。     

Influences of microbial communities on groundwater component concentrations during managed artificial recharge

Managed aquifer recharge is one of the most popular methods for dealing with local water shortage issues, and the bacterial community could be a vital factor influencing groundwater quality during this process. In this study, analysis of variations in groundwater components during artificial recharge revealed three stages at a text site in China. During stage I, total iron and dissolved organic carbon levels are stable basically, dissolved oxygen and SO₄ ^2? levels have rising trends, NO₃ ^? curve varied not obviously. Variation curves show increases in dissolved oxygen, NO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2? and stabilization in dissolved organic carbon and total iron at stage II. During stage III, dissolved oxygen and NO₃ ^? have rising trends, dissolved organic carbon, total iron, and SO₄ ^2? keep stable. At 25 and 70 days the Simpson and Shannon–Wiener indices show that microbial community richness and population diversity underwent a gradual dynamic change after recharge water arrived. Correlation analysis shows that the Simpson index was mainly affected by dissolved oxygen and NO₃ ^?. PCR-DGGE confirmed these findings. Overall, the results revealed that the main bacterial communities reduce total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and chemical oxygen demand, which corresponded to the calculated correlation index.     

The effects of a dry sand layer on groundwater recharge in extremely arid areas: field study in the western Hexi Corridor of northwestern China

Evaporation capacity is an important factor that cannot be ignored when judging whether extreme precipitation events will produce groundwater recharge. The evaporation layer’s role in groundwater recharge was evaluated using a lysimeter simulation experiment in the desert area of Dunhuang, in the western part of the Hexi Corridor in northwestern China’s Gansu Province. The annual precipitation in the study area is extremely low, averaging 38.87 mm during the 60-year study period, and daily pan evaporation amounts to 2,486 mm. Three simulated precipitation regimes (normal, 10 mm; ordinary annual maximum, 21 mm; and extreme, 31 mm) were used in the lysimeter simulation to allow monitoring of water movement and weighing to detect evaporative losses. The differences in soil-water content to a depth of 50 cm in the soil profile significantly affected rainfall infiltration during the initial stages of rainfall events. It was found that the presence of a dry 50-cm-deep sand layer was the key factor for “potential recharge” after the three rainfall events. Daily precipitation events less than 20 mm did not produce groundwater recharge because of the barrier effect created by the dry sand. Infiltration totaled 0.68 mm and penetrated to a depth below 50 cm with 31 mm of rainfall, representing potential recharge equivalent to 1.7 % of the rainfall. This suggests that only extreme precipitation events offer the possibility of recharge of groundwater in this extremely arid area.