Assessing the impacts of uncontrolled artesian flows on the management of groundwater resources in the Jordan Valley

The deep wells drilled along the eastern escarpment of the Jordan Valley penetrate confined aquifers that produce thermal and mineralized artesian water. Uncontrolled flows from poorly constructed and uncapped artesian wells over the last 30 years have caused the deterioration of the quality of shallow groundwater and surface water. They also have been accelerating the discharge of saline water from deep aquifers and have caused the loss of shallow fresh groundwater resources through the downward percolation of fresh water to replace the extracted deep salty groundwater. A lack of adequate controls on the construction and maintenance of artesian wells is leading to widespread water quality problems in the region, which limits the ability of future generations to access high-quality water, a clear breach of the principle of intergenerational equity.     

GIS Spatial-Temporal Modeling of Water Systems in Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Modeling landscape with high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) in a geographic information system can provide essential morphological and structural information for modeling surface processes such as geomorphologic process and water systems. This paper introduces several DEM-based spatial analysis processes applied to characterize spatial distribution and their interactions of ground and surface water systems in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. The stream networks and drainage basin systems were derived from the DEM with 30 m resolution and the regularities of the surface stream and drainage patterns were modeled from a statistical/multifractal point of view. Together with the elevation and slope of topography, other attributes defmed from modeling the stream system, and drainage networks were used to associate geological, hydrological and topographical features to water flow in river systems and the spatial locations of artesian aquifers in the study area. Stream flow data derived from daily flow measurements recorded at river gauging stations for multi-year period were decomposed into “drainage-area dependent“ and “drainage-area independent“ flow components by two-step “frequency“ and “spatial“ analysis processes. The latter component was further demonstrated to relate most likely to the ground water discharge. An independent analysis was conducted to model the distribution of aquifers with information derived from the records of water wells. The focus was given on quantification of the likelihood of ground water discharge to river and ponds through flowing wells, springs and seepages. It has been shown that the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is a unique glacial deposit that serves as a recharge layer and that the aquifers in the ORM underlain by Hilton Tills and later deposits exposed near the steep slope zone of the ridges of ORM provide significant discharge to the surface water systems (river flow and ponds) through flowing wells, springs and seepages. Various statistics (cross- and auto-correlation coefficients, fractal R/S exponent) were used in conjunction with GIS to demonstrate the influence of land types, topography and geometry of drainage basins on short- and long-term persistence of river flows as well as responding time to precipitation events. The current study has provided not only insight in understanding the interaction of water systems in the GTA, but also a base for further establishment of an on-line GIS system for predicting spatial-temporal changes of river flow and groundwater level in the GTA.     

自流井有限差分模拟的校正模型

自流井是井孔-含水层系统的一种典型水文地质现象, 但在地下水资源评价和管理模型中研究较少.目前地下水数值模拟对自流井的3种处理方法均不合理, 也缺乏验证.常规地下水流有限差分法既不能准确地求出抽水井的井中水位, 也不能准确地求出自流井的流量, 必须进行校正.考虑自流井周围的径向流, 通过与井点附近地下水流的解析解相结合, 提出了矩形网格有限差分模拟的自流井校正模型, 其中考虑了自流井周围含水层存贮量的释放.算例表明, 即使用千米级大尺度网格, 本校正模型也能够获得相当精确的自流井流量, 绝大多数情况下相对误差小于5%.      

Strontium isotope quantification of siderite,brine and acid mine drainage contributions to abandoned gas well discharges in the Appalachian Plateau

Unplugged abandoned oil and gas wells in the Appalachian region can serve as conduits for the movement of waters impacted by fossil fuel extraction. Strontium isotope and geochemical analysis indicate that artesian discharges of water with high total dissolved solids (TDS) from a series of gas wells in western Pennsylvania result from the infiltration of acidic, low Fe (Fe < 10 mg/L) coal mine drainage (AMD) into shallow, siderite (iron carbonate)-cemented sandstone aquifers. The acidity from the AMD promotes dissolution of the carbonate, and metal- and sulfate-contaminated waters rise to the surface through compromised abandoned gas well casings. Strontium isotope mixing models suggest that neither upward migration of oil and gas brines from Devonian reservoirs associated with the wells nor dissolution of abundant nodular siderite present in the mine spoil through which recharge water percolates contribute significantly to the artesian gas well discharges. Natural Sr isotope composition can be a sensitive tool in the characterization of complex groundwater interactions and can be used to distinguish between inputs from deep and shallow contamination sources, as well as between groundwater and mineralogically similar but stratigraphically distinct rock units. This is of particular relevance to regions such as the Appalachian Basin, where a legacy of coal, oil and gas exploration is coupled with ongoing and future natural gas drilling into deep reservoirs.     

The role of karst in the genesis of sulfur deposits, Pre-Carpathian region, Ukraine

 Most of exogeneous epigenetic sulfur deposits are clearly associated with intensely karstified carbonate and sulfate rocks. This paper demonstrates, using the Pre-Carpathian region as an example, that karstification is one of the most important processes controlling the formation of sulfur deposits. This is determined by a coincidence of some major prerequisites of these two processes. In the Podol'sky and Bukovinsky regions the Miocene aquifer system is well drained by erosion valleys; the giant network caves known here in gypsum formed under past artesian conditions. In the region of sulfur deposits, associated with the same karstified gypsum strata, true artesian conditions still prevail. Hydrogeologic data show that abundant cavities detected in the vicinity of sulfur deposits can be interpreted as having the same origin as the fossil caves of the Podol'sky and Bukovinsky regions. The current widespread belief that the gypsum/anhydrite stratum in the region is aquifuge separating the Miocene aguifers is inadequate. This belief caused much controversy with regard to the genetic interpretations of sulfur deposits in the region. Caves formed by the upward water flow through the gypsum/anhydrite stratum govern the water exchange between the aquifers within the aquifer system. A new karst model for the formation of sulfur deposits is suggested. It agrees well with the hydrogeological features of the Miocene sequence and with biogeochemical mechanisms of sulfur origin in low-temperature diagenetic environments. Received: 16 February 1995 · Accepted: 4 June 1996     

The role of soil surface water regimes and raindrop impact on hillslope soil erosion and nutrient losses

Few investigations have addressed the interaction between soil surface water regimes and raindrop impact on nutrient losses, especially under artesian seepage condition. A simulation study was conducted to examine the effects on nitrogen and phosphorus losses. Four soil surface water regimes were designed: free drainage, saturation with rainfall, artesian seepage without rainfall, and artesian seepage with rainfall. These water regimes were subjected to two surface treatments: with and without raindrop impact through placing nylon net over soil pan. The results showed saturation and seepage with rainfall conditions induced greater soil loss and nutrient losses than free drainage condition. Nutrient concentrations in runoff from artesian seepage without rainfall condition were 7.3–228.7 times those from free drainage condition. Nutrient losses by runoff from saturation and seepage with rainfall conditions increased by factors of 1.30–9.38 and 2.81–40.11 times, and the corresponding losses with eroded sediment by 1.37–7.67 and 1.75–9.0 times, respectively, relative to those from free drainage condition. Regardless of different soil surface water regimes, raindrop impact increased 20.90–94.0 % nutrient losses with eroded sediment by promoting soil loss, but it only significantly enhanced nutrient transport to runoff under free drainage condition.     

Subaqueous artesian springs and associated spring pits in a Himalayan pond

Subaqueous, bowl-shaped depressions found in a Himalayan pond formed in an abandoned river channel in the Lingti Valley (Spiti, NW India) are spring pits (Quirke 1930 ). The occurrence of the spring pits is restricted to the western end of the pond, where coarse-grained, highly permeable alluvial fan material continues below lacustrine mud deposits. The spring pits formed by active vertical discharge of ground water from an underlying artesian alluvial fan aquifer, confined by the overlying fine-grained lacustrine sediments. The aquifer is continuously recharged by down-slope ground-water flow in the alluvial fan. These small artesian springs are comparable with much larger artesian springs described in the literature and a similar mechanism of formation is proposed. Some similarities in their shapes and mechanisms of formation may indicate that spring pits represent small, nearshore examples of pockmarks. The differences of these features, formed by persistent fluidization from short-lived seismic liquefaction processes, are discussed and the utility of the structures for palaeo-environmental and palaeo-ground-water interpretation is evaluated.     

A cost-effective device and methodology to compute aquifer transmissivity and piezometry from free-flowing artesian wells

Artesian aquifers offer interesting opportunities for water supply by providing a low-vulnerability groundwater resource that is easily abstracted without any installation of pumps or power supply costs. However, hydraulic tests are challenging to perform, notably where the piezometric head is above ground level with free-flowing wells not equipped with valves and open for years. This paper describes a low-cost, easy to reproduce and adaptable device, the free-flowing artesian well device (FFAWD), which is mainly designed with a set of PVC tubes equipped with a pressure probe and a valve. This device is used to perform hydraulic tests on free-flowing artesian wells, to measure the piezometric head of the aquifer and to compute its transmissivity. The practical use of the FFAWD is described and a method is proposed to compute the piezometric head and the transmissivity of the aquifer from this data set (free-flowing well discharge and pressure increase measurements) with any adapted analytical solution, using the Houpeurt-Pouchan method. Artefacts such as post-production effects, surge effects, and the impact of a leaky well are identified to avoid any misinterpretation. The FFAWD was applied to the volcano-sedimentary artesian plain of Pasuruan (Indonesia). The advantages and limitations of using the device, along with the interpretation methodology, are also discussed.

     

Groundwater development,Kharga Oases,Western Desert of Egypt: A long-term environmental concern

The groundwater reserves in Kharga Oases have been studied for the long-term socioeconomic development in the area. The Nubian Sandstone, which consists of a thick sequence of coarse clastic sediments of sandstone, sandy clay interbedded with shale, and clay beds, forms a complex aquifer system. The Nubian Aquifer has been providing water to artesian wells and springs in the Kharga Oases for several thousand years. Groundwater in the Kharga Oases is withdrawn from springs and shallow and deep artesian wells Nearly all the wells originally flowed, but with the exploitation of ground-water from deep wells for irrigation beginning about 1959. the natural flows declined as more and more closely spaced deep wells were drilled By 1975 many deep wells had ceased to flow The water demand in the area has been met by pumping both shallow and deep wells The total annual extraction from deep wells has fluctuated over the year, however, the annual withdrawal from deep wells has exceeded extraction from shallow wells About 17 billion m³ of water was withdrawn from the combination of shallow and deep wells during the period 1960–1980 The Nubian complex aquifer in the Kharga Oases has a very large groundwater potential that could be exploited and beneficially used for a long-term agricultural development in the area, provided proper well spacing and management are implemented Other major environmental considerations for which precise hydrogeologic data are needed include

1. Determination of the long-term yield available from properly constructed and producing artesian wells that will support a planned migration of population from the overcrowded Nile delta and flood plain areas
2. Development of an effective management program and adequate staff to maintain groundwater production over an extended period of years
3. The impact on climate caused by extensive irrigation in the oases of the Western Desert of Egypt
4. Protection against water logging of soils from irrigation practices
5. Protection against salinization of soils from irrigation practices
6. Development of effective surface and subsurface drainage practices
7. The impact of farming and pest control practices on the shallow groundwater of the oases
8. Determination of the long-term development of the artesian water on the quality of the water from the aquiter systems in the Western Desert

This paper addresses items 1, 2 and 8.     

长江漫滩抽水试验与水文地质参数计算

长江漫滩地区第四系是一个巨厚的复杂含水体,地下水丰富,对深大基坑施工影响极大。南京梅子洲过江通道连接线及青奥轴线地下交通系统工程位于长江下游漫滩,基坑最大开挖深度为27.5 m。为满足基坑降水设计及施工要求,勘察时选择有代表性的地段布置了3组抽水试验井,对潜水含水层及承压水含水层进行抽水试验,根据试验井类型和边界条件,选用潜水完整井稳定流、承压水完整井稳定流及非稳定流、承压水非完整井稳定流及非稳定流等多种地下水计算模型进行参数计算并综合分析,为设计提供水文地质参数,并实地验证了参数的合理性。     

横河煤矿底含放水孔与井田内供水井连通试验研究

在邹城市宏河矿业集团横河煤矿井田范围内,有多眼供水井.由于这些供水井大部分穿透了第四系松散层,致使上部含水层和底部含水层串通,造成对矿井水的补给.但较长时期以来,由于缺乏直接的证据,对供水井与煤矿底含涌水之间的关系看法不一,从而造成对矿井水防治决策的困扰.通过化学示踪法跟踪地下水的流向,证实是供水井自身结构串通了第四系含水层上、中、下组,从而造成上组含水层对底部含水层的补给.     

Hydrogeological conditions and quality of ground waters in northern Banat,Pannonian basin

Geological relationships, hydrogeology and chemical composition of ground water in northern Banat were studied through the period 2000–2004 using the available background data from published and unpublished sources. Northern Banat is the extreme northeastern part of the Republic of Serbia and a geotectonic part of the vast Pannonian depression. The source of domestic and industrial water supply is only groundwater from artesian and subartesian aquifers of Lower Pleistocene (Q₁¹) and Upper Pleistocene (Pl₃²) sand deposits. The ground water, “peculiar” in chemical composition, is the only source of drinking water in the arid area. A notable variation in the chemical composition of artesian waters within the same geotectonic unit (Pannonian basin), abstracted for municipal water supplies of Kikinda, Novi Knezevac and Djala, has attracted attention of these authors. Our paper attempts to interpret the variation in the chemical composition of ground water and the cause of the variation by the interaction of ground water and rocks forming the aquifers on the case example of the water supply sources for the three mentioned towns. With respect to the depth and lithology of the aquifers, we interpret the varied chemical compositions of waters in the mentioned sources as a consequence of natural factors (geological environment), geological relationships and hydrogeological conditions.     

Dewatering induced subsidence during excavation in a Shanghai soft deposit

Foundation dewatering has become a major cause of land subsidence in Shanghai. The burial depth of foundations in relation to geotechnical construction works is less than 75 m, and the corresponding groundwater includes phreatic, low-pressure artesian, and the first confined aquifers. Based on the geological and hydrogeological conditions beneath Shanghai, methods of dewatering may be divided into three modes and further five patterns according to the insertion depth of the dewatering-retaining system. The most common dewatering mode aims to reduce the water pressure in the confined aquifer by setting the dewatering wells inside the pit, whilst the retaining walls are buried in the confined aquifer and partially cut off the confined aquifer layer. To predict the settlement due to foundation dewatering, numerical models are generally adopted, which are similar to those used to predict land subsidence induced by regional groundwater withdrawal; however, since foundation dewatering is conducted along with the setting of retaining walls and foundation pit excavation, which differs from regional groundwater withdrawal, interactions between the retaining wall-dewatering well, the dewatering-excavation, and dewatering-recharge are important factors affecting the analytical model. Since the grading of the shallow soil layers is different, stratified settlement characteristics of the shallow soil strata and seepage erosion, which results in additional deformation, need to be given particular consideration.     

Determination of the sources and circulation paths of thermal fluids: the Abano region,northern Italy

Water samples from natural springs and artesian wells in the Abano region of northern Italy are characterized by anomalous temperatures and compositions. Concentrations of major components and oxygen isotopes in samples of these fluids have been interpreted in the context of the regional geologic environment, circulation of groundwaters, and reactions between rocks and circulating groundwaters. These considerations define sourceregions and pathlines of the groundwaters.Circulation of fluids in the Abano region is interpreted to be the result of meteoric water infiltration into outcrops of Permian and Mesozoic aquifers in the pre-Alps, which lie north of the Abano region. These aquifers have southerly dips and, therefore, extend under the Abano region at depths between 0.5 and 2.5 km. This aquifer geometry is conducive to forced convection both of aqueous ions derived from the evaporate, limestone and dolomite bearing formations, and of thermal energy along flow paths which extend from the outcrops in the sourceregions to depths of 2 km below the Abano region and upward along high angle faults to thermal springs. Local variation in compositions of water samples is consistent with the mixing of local meteoric waters and formation fluids that were ultimately derived from Alpine sources.     

三江平原地下水资源潜力评价

三江平原地区第四系松散堆积物厚度一般为100～200m,最厚达：300m,为结构单一、大厚度的砂、砂砾石含水层,储存运移着巨量的孔隙水(部分为微承压水)。含水层疏导功能与富水性强,单井涌水量多在1000m^3／d,且水质为矿化度小于lg／L的淡水。依据含水层的地质时代和贮水介质类型,将三江平原地下水系统划分成第四系孔隙含水层亚系统、第三系孔隙裂隙含水层亚系统、基岩裂隙含水层亚系统。其中第四系孔隙含水层亚系统进一步分成更新统含水层次级亚系统和全新统含水层次级亚系统;第四系更新统含水层次级亚系统又细分为下、中、上更新统含水层。根据盆地浅部区域地下水分布的主要控制因素(流域水系、地质构造、地貌条件、含水层结构及地下水补、径、排条件),对三江盆地地下水系统进行了系统的描述;各地下水动力亚系统受外部动力条件(降水、蒸发、地表水、地下水)的制约,同时受内动力条件(含水介质循环条件)的控制,形成了独特的地下水动力场;论述了含水层系统的特征、边界条件、输入特征、输出特征、内部功能特征等。最后对三江平原的地下水资源潜力进行了计算与评价：依据水均衡原理,充分地考虑了计算区及计算单元在开采状态下多年补、排均衡的基础上,利用长系列的气象、水文资料,应用三维模型模拟计算了丰、平、枯水年各计算单元的地下水补给量和可开采量,进而求得了多年均衡条件下全区地下水可开采资源量。     

Dissolved trace metals in the shallow aquifers of the Jia Bharali River Basin, North Brahmaputra Plain

The lower Jia Bharali catchment and adjoining areas in central part of North Brahmaputra Plain (NBP) is characterized by more than 800m thick Older and Younger Alluvium deposited by the west flowing Brahmaputra river and the south flowing trans Himalayan rivers. Unconfined, shallow alluvial aquifers of the area with a general southward flow are largely tapped for domestic use through numerous dug well attached with almost every household. Monitoring of 180 dug wells for two hydrological years show strong seasonal fluctuation of the groundwater table linked to the summer monsoon that brings more than 1500mm precipitation in the area between June-September. This study has presents the first ever systematic database on toxic trace elements viz., As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn from the shallow aquifers in north Brahmaputra plain based on water samples from 50 monitoring wells collected in both dry and wet seasons. The data was analysed with respect to WHO standards for drinking water and significantly, 2 % of the measurements show As in excess of the WHO limit while 60% of the samples in the wet season and as much as 90 % of the same in dry season have Cr content more than the WHO permissible limit. Pb concentration is above permissible limit of 0.05 mg/L in most of the dry season samples although 88 % of the rainy season samples show Pb concentration exceeding this limit. 34 % of the samples in the wet seasons and 86 % of the samples in the dry seasons have Mn above the permissible limit of 0.1 mg/L while in case of Ni, 56 % of the aquifers in the wet season and 72 % of the aquifers in the dry season show Ni content above the permissible limit of 0.02 mg/L. Zn contents of the aquifers are however very low throughout the year.     

Model for Sr accumulation in the Carboniferous deposits of the Moscow artesian basin

Statistical and thermodynamic analysis of hydrogeochemical information on Sr accumulation in the waters of Carboniferous deposits in the Moscow artesian basin indicates that Sr concentration increases mostly with increasing salinity of the aqueous solution and its Mg and sulfate contents. The highest Sr concentrations are 8–10 mg/l, and Sr accumulation in groundwaters is constrained by the precipitation of strontiantie in the system aqueous solution + dolomite + calcite + strontianite. An increase in Sr concentrations in the Carboniferous waters is symbate with the accumulation of F, and the accumulation of Sr (as well as F) is largely controlled by two factors: a change in the hydrogeochemical type of the groundwaters toward its transition and an overprinted process of the slowing of water filtration from the recharge area of the aquifers (where the Carboniferous deposits are exposed at the surface) down the dips of the water-hosting strata.     

落底式止水帷幕条件下基坑涌水量计算研究

涌漏点的存在使得落底式止水帷幕条件下基坑涌水量的计算成为一个有待解决的技术难题。在承压含水层中开挖落底式深基坑时,针对落底式止水帷幕渗漏的不确定性,建立承压含水层中落底式基坑非完整井降水水文地质模型。基于Theis非完整井非稳定流理论,结合映射原理,推导等效渗透系数计算公式,并提出涌漏系数法用以评价落底式止水帷幕隔渗效果以及计算基坑涌水量。以武汉某深基坑降水工程为例,采用该方法评价止水帷幕的隔渗效果以及对其基坑涌水量进行计算,并与实测结果和传统方法计算结果分别进行对比验证。结果显示涌漏系数法计算误差较小,且计算过程简便,兼具安全性和经济性。研究结果可应用于指导工程设计,具有一定实际应用价值。     

鄂尔多斯盆地北部深埋煤层工作面涌水量预测方法

鄂尔多斯盆地北部侏罗纪深埋区中生代地层以河流相沉积为主,呈分阶段的多旋回演化特点,导致煤层顶板含隔水层交替分布;由于地表大部分为毛乌素沙漠,降水入渗补给系数大,第四系松散层储水能力强,充足的补给水源造成煤层顶板直接充水含水层富水性较强,其中最主要的充水含水层为七里镇砂岩,以七里镇砂岩为关键层,将煤层至七里镇砂岩概化为一个直接充水含水层。承压水井大降深抽水时,当井中水位低于含水层顶板,井附近的含水层会出现无压水流区,形成承压–无压水井,采用分段法计算流向井的流量,包括无压水区和承压水区。实际工作面回采过程中,井中水位已降低至煤层底板;传统的承压–无压水井公式假设条件为井径较小(≤m级),而实际工作面回采过程中,随着覆岩导水裂隙带对七里镇砂岩关键充水含水层的破坏,导致整个煤层顶板形成巨大的采空区疏水井(102~103 m级),且该采空区疏水井半径逐渐增大,传统公式适用性不高。基于《地下水动力学》中的承压–无压水井公式,结合鄂尔多斯盆地北部深埋煤炭开采过程中采空区疏水井演化过程,建立适合于深埋区开采扰动下的采空区疏水井承压–无压水公式;以葫芦素煤矿首采工作面为研究对象,利用地质勘探和井下揭露获得的相关水文地质参数,计算葫芦素煤矿首采工作面回采过程中涌水量。结果表明:工作面回采初期,由于导水裂隙带未充分发育,尚未沟通七里镇砂岩,此阶段实际涌水量偏小;中后期导水裂隙带发育至七里镇砂岩,涌水量计算值与实际值较为接近,证明深埋煤层工作面涌水量计算公式可较准确地预测研究区工作面回采过程中的涌水量。本次建立的深埋工作面涌水量计算公式,广泛适用于我国西部侏罗纪煤田区,可为深埋煤田区煤炭资源安全开采提供科学的水害防治依据。