Sources of water, travel times and protection areas for wells in semi-confined aquifers

This paper presents new findings in interpreting analytical solutions of steady radial flow to a well in a semi-confined aquifer (overlain by a phreatic aquifer and aquitard), and demonstrates that 95% of pumped water is derived from leakage water within a radius of 4 times the leakage factor. The travel times of the leakage water from the radii of influence to the well are usually much longer than those derived from the travel time criteria currently used to delineate the well protection areas. The delineation of well protection zones based on the travel time criteria will not properly protect the source of water to the well. Therefore, the percentage of leakage water to the well is used as a new criterion to define the well protection areas. Within each well protection area, the mean residence time is used as an indicator of the renewable period of the aquifer system. Leakage-rate weighted residence times are used to calculate the mean residence time. For the safety and sustainability of drinking water supplies, groundwater in the phreatic aquifer within the radius of influence should be protected.     

Groundwater flow and capture zone analysis of the Central Passaic River Basin, New Jersey

Delineating capture zones of pumping wells is an important part of safe drinking water and well protection programs. Capture zones or contributing areas of a groundwater extraction well are the parts of the aquifer recharge areas from which the wells draw their water. Their extent and location depend on the hydrogeologic conditions such as groundwater recharge, pumping scenario and the aquifer properties such as hydraulic conductivity, porosity, heterogeneity of the medium and hydraulic gradient. Different methods of delineation can be used depending on the complexity of the hydrogeologic conditions. In this study, a 3-dimensional transient numerical MODFLOW model was developed for the Central Passaic River Basin (CPRB), and used with a MODPATH particle tracking code to determine 3-dimensional transient capture zones. Analytically calculated capture zones from previous studies at the site were compared with the new numerically simulated capture zones. The study results revealed that the analytical solution was more conservative, estimating larger capture zones than the numerical models. Of all the parameters that can impact the size, shape and location of a capture zone, the hydraulic conductivity is one of the most critical. Capture zones tend to be smaller in lower hydraulic conductivity areas.     

基于数值模拟的岩溶地下水源保护区划分技术研究

以山东省邹城市某岩溶水源地为例,研究数值模拟方法在岩溶地下水水源地保护区划分中的应用,以及水文地质参数对于水源地保护区划分结果的影响。基于GMS软件构建了研究区三维非稳定流地下水数值模型,采用质点追踪技术,通过反向追踪示踪粒子在运移100 d、1 000 d以及25 a后的位置及迁移轨迹,对该岩溶水源地进行保护区划分;改变数值模型中的主要水文地质参数,以变化后的保护区面积作为衡量参数敏感度的指标,并计算各参数的敏感度系数,研究水文地质参数对于保护区划分范围的影响。结果表明:当参数改变幅度在20%范围内时,一层垂向渗透系数(VK1)的敏感度系数最大可达到2.63×10-3,二层垂向渗透系数(VK2)的敏感度系数最大可达到3.64×10-3;垂向渗透系数的敏感度明显高于其他参数,说明垂向渗透系数对保护区划分范围的影响最大。因此,在应用数值模拟法对岩溶地下水源地进行保护区划分时,应尤其注意模型中各含水层垂向渗透系数取值的准确性和合理性。      

大清河流域平原区地下水人工补给潜力与补给方式分析

为了有效提升大清河流域平原区地下水水位,亟需在此区域开展地下水人工补给工程,并确定合理的建设位置及有效的补给方式。首先基于研究区可利用补给水源、地下水位、地表高程、地表坡度及与河道距离5个指标的分布特征,构建地下水补给潜力评价体系,采用ArcGIS空间分析功能对研究区进行了地下水人工补给潜力区划;然后在此评价体系基础上,在典型人工补给高潜力区进一步开展系列野外现场试验,探讨适宜可行的地下水人工补给方式。结果表明：研究区西北部及南部河道附近区域开展人工补给工程潜力较高,而中部、北部及西南部远离河道的区域潜力较低。高潜力区——白沟引河地段包气带及含水层渗透性良好,整体渗透系数均在5 m/d左右或更高,适宜地表补给,但河床渗透性较差,渗透系数基本在0.01~0.09 m/d间,若通过河道补给需配合清淤等措施。其中,在上游及中游沿岸适宜将河道水通过生态水渠引至修建的地表入渗池或借助天然渗坑内入渗补给,在中下游沿岸区域适宜将补给水进行严格的水处理后采用井灌方式补给,在白沟引河中下游河道适宜修建拦水坝,利用河道进行入渗补给。     

基于水文地质条件分析的岩溶水源地保护区划分

以邢台百泉岩溶水系统为例,分析了邢台百泉岩溶水系统的地下水流场受人类活动影响的演变特征,并采用数值模拟法预测了超采条件下水源地未来十年流场的变化。首次发现了泉域矿山疏排水形成了“沙河人工分水岭”并迅速北移的现象,标志百泉泉域地下水资源恶化严重,提出了在复杂岩溶水文地质条件下,采用以计算流程的方法划分保护区造成保护区浪费和碳酸盐岩裸露补给区没有保护的问题。在兼顾水质保护和水资源量可持续利用的前提下,分析了水源地上覆地层的防护能力和碳酸盐岩裸露补给区矿山疏排水对水源地的影响,将碳酸盐岩裸露补给区划分为二级保护区,突破了传统的“二级保护区包裹一级保护区”的模式,以较小的保护区面积有效地保证水源地的水质安全和可持续利用。      

Review: Recharge rates and chemistry beneath playas of the High Plains aquifer, USA

Playas are ephemeral, closed-basin wetlands that are hypothesized as an important source of recharge to the High Plains aquifer in central USA. The ephemeral nature of playas, low regional recharge rates, and a strong reliance on groundwater from the High Plains aquifer has prompted many questions regarding the contribution and quality of recharge from playas to the High Plains aquifer. As a result, there has been considerable scientific debate about the potential for water to infiltrate the relatively impermeable playa floors, travel through the unsaturated zone sediments that are tens of meters thick, and subsequently recharge the High Plains aquifer. This critical review examines previously published studies on the processes that control recharge rates and chemistry beneath playas. Reported recharge rates beneath playas range from less than 1.0 to more than 500 mm/yr and are generally 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than recharge rates beneath interplaya settings. Most studies support the conceptual model that playas are important zones of recharge to the High Plains aquifer and are not strictly evaporative pans. The major findings of this review provide science-based implications for management of playas and groundwater resources of the High Plains aquifer and directions for future research.     

Seawater intrusion in the Salalah plain aquifer,Oman

Salalah is situated on a fresh water aquifer that is replenished during the annual monsoon season. The aquifer is the only source of water in Salalah city. The rainfall and mist precipitation in the Jabal AlQara recharges the plain with significant renewable fresh groundwater that has allowed agricultural and industrial development to occur. In Salalah city where groundwater has been used extensively since the early 1980s for agricultural, industrial and municipal purposes, the groundwater has been withdrawn from the aquifer more rapidly than it can be replenished by natural recharge. The heavy withdrawal of large quantities of the groundwater from the aquifer has led to the intrusion of seawater. Agricultural activities utilize over 70% of the groundwater. For the study of the saltwater intrusion, the area has been divided into four strips, A, B, C and D, on the basis of land-use in the area. Water samples were collected from 18 water wells. Chemical analysis of major ions and pollution parameters in the groundwater was carried out and compared to the previous observed values. The electrical conductivity and chloride concentrations were highest in the agricultural and residential strips and Garziz grass farm. Before 1992 the aquifer was in a steady state, but presently (2005) the groundwater quality in most of the agricultural and residential strips does not meet drinking water standards. In addition, model simulations were developed with the computer code MODFLOW and MT3DMS for solute transport to determine the movement of the freshwater/saltwater interface. The study proposes the protection of the groundwater in Salalah plain aquifer from further encroachment by artificial recharge with reclaimed water, preferably along the Salalah coastal agricultural strip. This scheme can also be applied to other regions with similar conditions.     

Karst groundwater management by defining protection zones based on regional geological structures and groundwater flow fields

In a semiarid region, the karst aquifer generally forms a large groundwater reservoir that can play an important role in regional water supply. But because of the specific physical properties of karst aquifers, they are vulnerable to pollution and anthropogenic impacts. Karst groundwater management strategies are vital. As representative of karst springs in a semiarid area, Niangziguan Springs is located in the east of Shanxi Province, China with an annual average rate of discharge of 10.34 m³/s (1956–2003) (Y. Liang, unpublished data). The Niangziguan Spring Basin covers an area of 7,394 km² with an annual average precipitation of 535 mm (1958–2003) (Hao et al. in Carsologica Sinica 23(1):43–47, 2004). Over the past three decades, accelerated groundwater exploitation has caused water-table decline in the aquifer, reduction of the spring discharge, and deterioration of water quality. In this study, three protection zones were defined to ensure the quality and capacity of this resource. The confluence of the 11 spring systems and the discharge areas were defined as I protection zone, the recharge basin was II protection zone, and the slack water area where there is little surface recharge was the III protection zone. Management strategies for each zone were suggested and evaluated to provide a scientific foundation for sustainable utilization.     

Recharge and discharge controls on groundwater travel times and flow paths to production wells for the Ammer catchment in southwestern Germany

Travel times and flow paths of groundwater from its recharge area to drinking-water production wells will govern how the quality of pumped groundwater responds to contaminations. Here, we studied the 180 km² Ammer catchment in southwestern Germany, which is extensively used for groundwater production from a carbonate aquifer. Using a 3-D steady-state groundwater model, four alternative representations of discharge and recharge were systematically explored to understand their impact on groundwater travel times and flow paths. More specifically, two recharge maps obtained from different German hydrologic atlases and two plausible alternative discharge scenarios were tested: (1) groundwater flow across the entire streambed of the Ammer River and its main tributaries and (2) groundwater discharge via a few major springs feeding the Ammer River. For each of these scenarios, the groundwater model was first calibrated against water levels, and subsequently travel times and flow paths were calculated for production wells using particle tracking methods. These computed travel times and flow paths were indirectly evaluated using additional data from the wells including measured concentrations of major ions and environmental tracers indicating groundwater age. Different recharge scenarios resulted in a comparable fit to observed water levels, and similar estimates of hydraulic conductivities, flow paths and travel times of groundwater to production wells. Travel times calculated for all scenarios had a plausible order of magnitude which were comparable to apparent groundwater ages modelled using environmental tracers. Scenario with groundwater discharge across the entire streambed of the Ammer River and its tributaries resulted in a better fit to water levels than scenario with discharge at a few springs only. In spite of the poorer fit to water levels, flow paths of groundwater from the latter scenario were more plausible, and these were supported by the observed major ion chemistry at the production wells. We concluded that data commonly used in groundwater modelling such as water levels and apparent groundwater ages may be insufficient to reliably delineate capture zones of wells. Hydrogeochemical information relating only indirectly to groundwater flow such as the major ion chemistry of water sampled at the wells can substantially improve our understanding of the source areas of recharge for production wells.     

Delineation of groundwater recharge zones and identification of artificial recharge sites in West Medinipur district,West Bengal,using RS,GIS and MCDM techniques

Artificial recharge plays a pivotal role in the sustainable management of groundwater resources. This study proposes a methodology to delineate artificial recharge zones as well as to identify favorable artificial recharge sites using integrated remote sensing (RS), geographical information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques for augmenting groundwater resources in the West Medinipur district of West Bengal, India, which has been facing water shortage problems for the past few years. The thematic layers considered in this study are: geomorphology, geology, drainage density, slope and aquifer transmissivity, which were prepared using IRS-1D imagery and conventional data. Different themes and their corresponding features were assigned proper weights based on their relative contribution to groundwater recharge in the area, and normalized weights were computed using the Saaty’s analytic hierarchy process (AHP). These thematic layers were then integrated in the GIS environment to delineate artificial recharge zones in the study area. The artificial recharge map thus obtained divided the study area into three zones, viz., ‘suitable,’ ‘moderately suitable’ and ‘unsuitable’ according to their suitability for artificial groundwater recharge. It was found that about 46% of the study area falls under ‘suitable’ zone, whereas 43% falls under the ‘moderately suitable’ zone. The western portion of the study area was found to be unsuitable for artificial recharge. The artificial recharge zone map of the study area was found to be in agreement with the map of mean groundwater depths over the area. Furthermore, forty possible sites for artificial recharge were also identified using RS and GIS techniques. Based on the available field information, check dams are suggested as promising artificial recharge structures. The results of this study could be used to formulate an efficient groundwater management plan for the study area so as to ensure sustainable utilization of scarce groundwater resources.     

美国Sand Hills地区地下水数值模拟及水量平衡分析

利用地下水数值模型MODFLOW和非饱和带水平衡模型对处于半干旱半湿润沙丘地区(Sand Hills)地下水位进行了模拟,并分析了含水层补排水量,河流与地下水补排关系,以及区域水平衡过程。揭示了独特沙丘地形和土壤特性对地下水补排量的影响。模拟结果表明,入渗率大、非饱和带厚的沙丘有利于降水入渗补给,减少了地下水蒸散发损失。加上下覆含水层具有良好的地下水储水空间,是该地区储存丰富的地下水量,以维持河流稳定流量,供给众多湖泊和湿地的原因。该研究对我国地下水资源评价和生态环境脆弱地区水资源保护具有指导意义。     

Relative importance and chemical effects of diffuse and focused recharge in an eogenetic karst aquifer: an example from the unconfined upper Floridan aquifer, USA

Karst aquifer studies often focus on allogenic water inputs and large conduit flow. However, diffuse recharge can be significant, particularly in unconfined eogenetic karst aquifers that retain high matrix permeability. This study examines an unconfined region of the upper Floridan aquifer (USA) that hosts a sinking stream, its resurgence, and a large conduit system. Daily diffuse recharge was approximated using a water-budget method and ranged from 17% of precipitation during a low precipitation year to >53% during the highest precipitation year, illustrating the highly variable nature of diffuse recharge in this region. The total allogenic input via the sinking stream over the 5 years of the study was significantly larger than the volume of diffuse recharge. However, only about 2% of the allogenic recharge flows from the conduit into the surrounding aquifer. That flow is restricted to storm events when hydraulic heads in the conduits exceed those in the surrounding aquifer. The estimated volume of dissolution is similar for allogenic recharge and diffuse recharge to the unconfined region surrounding the conduits, but dissolution from the diffuse recharge is distributed over a larger area than dissolution from allogenic recharge. These results exemplify how recharge type impacts flow and water–rock interactions in eogenetic karst aquifers.     

华北型煤田煤层开采对含水层的破坏模式研究

华北地区岩溶水系统分布广泛、水质好、水量丰富,是城镇工矿企业的重要水源,也是维护生态稳定的重要因素。华北型煤田大部分位于岩溶水系统之中,煤炭开采时水患与缺水并存,煤水矛盾突出。在总结了华北型煤田中煤炭基地的煤层及含水层发育情况的基础上,根据岩溶水系统的补径排条件、煤层分布区与岩溶水补给区的位置关系、地形地貌等因素,将采煤对岩溶含水层破坏类型分为三种类型:直接破坏、间接破坏型和无影响型;按地下水类型划分;将煤层开采对含水层的破坏模式划分为破坏顶板孔隙水、破坏底板岩溶水及破坏岩溶水、裂隙水、孔隙水3类,近而根据含水层性质及埋藏条件,含水层与煤层的位置关系,对煤矿开采对区域含水层破坏的模式划分了亚类。在进行含水层破坏类型和破坏模式划分的同时,也对各类型的特征进行较为详细的说明,为该区的煤炭开采和水资源的保护指明了方向。     

水源热泵井施工中水文地质参数确定的探讨——以东煤沈阳钻探机械研制中心厂房水源热泵井施工为例

以单井抽水试验资料为基础,计算出该区的新近系砂砾岩含水层的出水量为40m^3/h。为解决水源热泵系统的热源及同层回灌问题,进行了较长时间的带有观测孔的抽水试验及回灌试验。试验表明：该区的渗透系数为32.16m/d,影响半径为166m,回灌渗透系数为14.38m/d,回灌影响半径为61m。据此计算干扰井单井抽水量为38.51m^3/h,干扰井单井回水量为11.14m^3/h,同时确定该区的抽灌井比例为1∶4。根据用水需求,该区设计抽水两口,回灌井8口,备用一口回灌井,形成该区的水源热泵系统。系统运行近两年来,单井出水量、回灌量及水位降深均符合设计要求,达到了预期效果。     

Aquifer vulnerability and groundwater quality in mega cities: case of the Mexico Basin

The aquifer system in the Metropolitan Zone of the Mexican Basin is comprised by a higher, middle, and a lower aquifer, separated by less permeable elements. This study integrated a geographical database from which aquifer vulnerability values were obtained using the SINTACS method. The results show the lowest vulnerability values in the lacustrine zone of the basin, where most of the urban area is settled. The medium vulnerability indices are at the edges of the basin and are associated with tuffs, pyroclasts and alluvial deposits. The highest vulnerability values are in the ranges bordering the basin. High water quality values are toward the limits of the basin and in the recharge zones while lower quality water is in the Tlahuac and Iztapalapa zones. The results of this study enable a cause–effect relationship to be established between potential sources of contamination and groundwater quality indices only for Tlahuac and Iztapalapa, a notable finding since most of the urban area is settled over low and very low vulnerability zones.     

济南市玉符河多水源回灌岩溶水水质风险评价

济南以泉城而闻名,保泉和供水安全问题是其面临的巨大挑战,利用多水源进行岩溶水回灌是解决问题的有效措施之一,但是补给水源水质相对岩溶水而言较差,回灌到地下可能存在一定健康和环境风险,需要对回灌系统的水质进行风险评价。本文对比地下水质量标准和地下水水质背景值,重点选择地表源水超标和劣于背景值的风险源监测指标,借鉴澳大利亚含水层补给管理指南,对玉符河多水源回灌岩溶含水层工程运行期的水质风险进行评价。2015年对黄河水、卧虎山水库两种水源多次回灌期间的源水、孔隙水和岩溶水的22项指标进行水质监测和指标分析,风险残余评价结果表明黄河水回灌补源期间,平均浊度的标准指数源水是1.4,孔隙水1.7,岩溶水0.93,硫酸盐平均含量的标准指数源水是0.93,孔隙水0.9,岩溶水0.73,氯离子虽没有超过地下水III类标准,但是在源水中含量是地下水含量的2倍多;卧虎山水库水回灌补源期间,平均浊度的标准指数源水是2.4,孔隙水1.1,岩溶水0.43,硫酸盐平均含量的标准指数在源水0.75,孔隙水0.84,岩溶水0.66,氨氮的平均含量的标准指数源水1.14,孔隙水1.47,岩溶水1.35。因此,浊度、硫酸盐和溶质在裂隙岩溶含水层迁移较快为两种水源玉符河回灌补源工程的共同高风险项和关键控制点。此外,黄河水补源还需注意盐度,卧虎山水库水补源还需控制营养物的污染风险。基于以上评价,还提出了限制回灌量占区域岩溶水资源量比例等建议。      

再生水地表回灌补给地下水的水质安全保障体系

把城市污水净化处理为符合回灌标准的再生水并安全回灌补给地下水, 对于实现污水资源化、含水层恢复、缓解我国水资源供需矛盾和环境污染态势具有重要意义.针对再生水回灌地下水存在的水质安全问题, 通过理论分析、系列实验和技术集成形成了再生水地表回灌补给地下水的水质安全保障体系及关键技术.该安全保障体系包括场地选择与勘查、高效低成本的再生水处理技术、土壤—含水层系统数学模型和回灌方案设计技术、水质监控系统、安全评价技术以及回灌管理法规等.这些要素相互依赖、相互作用, 构成一个完整的体系.郑州郊区示范工程证实了该水质安全保障体系的可行性.2年示范工程表明, 处理的再生水水质达到《城市污水再生利用地下水回灌水质》(GB/T 19772-2005)标准, 优于场地背景地下水水质, 补给含水层后的地下水基本达到《地下水质量标准》(GB/T 14818-1993)Ⅲ类水标准.建议有关政府部门把再生水利用及回灌补给地下水, 纳入水资源开发利用及环境保护规划的整体框架中, 尽快制定或完善再生水回灌补给地下水的相关法律、法规和标准体系, 建立再生水回灌许可证制度, 有序推进再生水回灌工程.      

The geochemistry and mixing of leakage in a semi-confined aquifer at a municipal well field,Memphis, Tennessee,USA

The Memphis aquifer in southwestern Tennessee is confined to a semi-confined unconsolidated sand aquifer and is the primary municipal water source in the Memphis metropolitan area. Past studies have identified regions in the metropolitan area in which the overlying upper Claiborne confining unit lacks significant clay and provides a hydraulic connection between the shallow aquifer and the Memphis aquifer. In this study, major solute chemistry, ³H, and ³H/³He groundwater dating are used to investigate the extent and chemical effects of leakage through the confining unit to the Memphis aquifer in the vicinity of a municipal well field. The ³H/³He dates and geochemical modeling of the chemical data are used to constrain mixing fractions and the timing of modern recharge. Tritium activities of as much as 2.8 TU are observed in shallow production wells, but deeper production wells have ³H activities that approach the detection limit. Trends in water chemistry indicate vertical mixing in the aquifer of shallow Na–SO₄–Cl-rich water and deeper Ca–Mg–HCO₃-rich water. Water chemistry does not vary consistently with seasonal pumping, but ³H activity generally decreases during low use periods. Stable O and H isotopes show little variation and are not useful groundwater tracers for this study. The ³H-bearing, Na–SO₄–Cl-rich water is interpreted to reflect recharge of modern water through the upper Claiborne confining unit. The ³H/³He dates from 5 production wells indicate modern recharge, that infiltrated 15–20 a ago, is present in the shallow production wells. Geologic data and hydrologic boundary conditions suggest that the most likely source for continued leakage is a nearby stream, Nonconnah Creek. Geochemical reaction modeling using the NETPATH computer code suggests that proportions of shallow aquifer water leaking into the Memphis aquifer range from 6 to 32%. The ³H/³He dating and NETPATH modeling results correlate well, suggesting that these complementary analytical tools provide an effective means to evaluate proportions of modern water leaking into semi-confined aquifers. These results also indicate a need to carefully consider connections between surface water and semi-confined groundwater resources in wellhead protection programs.     

Improved groundwater vulnerability mapping for the karstic chalk aquifer of south east England

The Cretaceous age Chalk of south east England forms an important aquifer. Within chalk the storage and transmission of groundwater is enhanced by subsurface karstic weathering. The case study presented in this paper demonstrates that current approaches to assessing groundwater vulnerability to pollution and delineating source protection zones are flawed, as they do not take proper account of the karstic nature of chalk.Improved techniques, based on understanding the geological and geomorphological controls of karst development in chalk, are proposed to overcome the shortcomings of published groundwater vulnerability maps. The results also demonstrate the inadequacies of current groundwater modelling approaches for defining source protection zones. The techniques follow European Commission research recommendations by taking account of recharge, presence of overlying cover deposits, the nature of chalk karst and the way in which it influences the flow of groundwater. The approach described allows for better informed decisions to be made about chalk aquifer management to ensure adequate protection and conservation of groundwater. For example, the published groundwater vulnerability map shows Lambeth Group deposits classified as being a minor aquifer of low groundwater vulnerability in the chosen study area. However, by applying the new techniques, they are classified as having an Aquifer Vulnerability Rating of moderate to very high, when taking the karstic development of the underlying chalk into account.     

Delineation of capture zones for municipal wells in fractured dolomite, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, USA

A wellhead protection study for the city of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, USA, demonstrates the necessity of combining detailed hydrostratigraphic analysis with groundwater modeling to delineate zones of contribution for municipal wells in a fractured dolomite aquifer. A numerical model (MODFLOW) was combined with a particle tracking code (MODPATH) to simulate the regional groundwater system and to delineate capture zones for municipal wells. The hydrostratigraphic model included vertical and horizontal fractures and high-permeability zones. Correlating stratigraphic interpretations with field data such as geophysical logs, packer tests, and fracture mapping resulted in the construction of a numerical model with five high-permeability zones related to bedding planes or facies changes. These zones serve as major conduits for horizontal groundwater flow. Dipping fracture zones were simulated as thin high-permeability layers. The locations of exposed bedrock and surficial karst features were used to identify areas of enhanced recharge. Model results show the vulnerability of the municipal wells to pollution. Capture zones for the wells extend several kilometers north and south from the city. Travel times from recharge areas to all wells were generally less than one year. The high seasonal variability of recharge in the study area made the use of a transient model necessary. Electronic Publication