Groundwater as a sustainable source of income and wealth creation

Asia, and in particular the Mekong Delta region, is under increasing water use pressure. Food production and quality is one element of these growing pressures, as is water management. The authors have first-hand knowledge and experience in groundwater use and management in rural Thailand. Through the adoption of a micro-management, demand-driven approach, with its ultimate objective of sustainability and the betterment of the quality of human life, the Mekong delta and other similar rural areas in Asia offer considerable opportunity for more optimal sustainable exploitation of groundwater. This water source should be prioritized for village usage, which if properly allocated and managed, will lift a significant human population from poverty, into a more sustainable existence. This readily available, reliable groundwater resource exists and has both the capacity for abundant storage as well as the potential for commercial and household supply. The focus has been on understanding the distribution of the delta’s relatively shallow, well sustained, and consistently recharged groundwater resource, and its potential symbiotic linkage to low-volume household demand. Water has been employed in a variety of ways from improving quality of life and sanitation to generating income through the cultivation of cash crops and other similar productive uses. The fundamental aims of the initial model and subsequent trials have been to harness this robust water source and deliver otherwise unattainable income to households. As the following, more detailed study of rural Thailand demonstrates, the benefits of such an approach deliver sustainable enhancements to the quality of constituents’ lives, are environmentally sensitive and sustainable, and harmonize with governmental efforts to alleviate poverty through the enablement of income generation from groundwater utilization.     

Assessing the impacts of climate change on sustainable management of coastal aquifers

Water is a vital resource for the survival of not only human population, but also almost all ecosystems. Constituting 30 % of all freshwater, groundwater is the main source of available freshwater. Coastal aquifers, which serve as the major freshwater source for densely populated zones, are of vital importance and quite vulnerable to climate change. This paper examines the significant consequences of climate change, decreasing recharge rates, sea-level rise and increasing freshwater demand on the sustainable management of coastal aquifers, via a hypothetical case study. A 3-D numerical model is developed using SEAWAT, to simulate a circular island aquifer in the form of a freshwater lens surrounded by saltwater. Issues such as sloping land surface resulting in landward migration of the coastal boundary and transient response of the system due to pumping are considered through a set of predictive simulations. To assess the sensitivity of the model results to important parameters, a sensitivity analysis is performed. Results of this research, revealing the effects of mentioned pressures on the long-term sustainability of the freshwater resource, are evaluated on the basis of groundwater reserves and intrusion of the freshwater–saltwater interface in lateral and vertical directions. These outcomes are further used to determine the sustainable pumping rate of the system, considering both quantity and quality of the groundwater resources.     

山东鲁北平原地下水资源与可持续利用

鲁北平原目前区内供水水源以黄河客水和地下水为主。最新均衡计算结果为:浅层地下水开采资源量37 03×108m3 a,深层地下水开采资源量2 62×108m3 a。据山东省水资源可持续利用总体规划报告,现状年需水量约74×108m3 a,2010年需水量为93×108m3 a,2030年需水量为109×108m3 a,现状年供需基本平衡,远景供水不足。浅层地下水易采易补,更新能力强,应以合理调控水位为中心,优先开采浅层地下水,充分发挥浅层地下水资源的供水功能,尤其是东阿—齐河—商河—利津沿黄地区更应加强开发浅层水的力度。浅层水为可持续利用的地下水资源量。深层地下水更新能力弱,应严格限制其开发利用。在德州、滨州漏斗中心区,建议实施部分封井,调减开采量。实行地表水与地下水联合调度,优化水资源开发结构,适当增加地表水引用量,实施含水层的恢复工程,遏制地面沉降等环境问题的继续发展,走全面、协调、可持续发展的路子。     

Characterization of an island aquifer from tidal response

Growing demand for potable water for various needs has lead to indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater resources, particularly, in the terrain where surface water resources are negligible. One such area is an island where groundwater is the only source of fresh water. Groundwater is the prime source of fresh water on most of the atolls in the world. Groundwater on these islands is in the form of thin fragile floating lens and is often vulnerable to overexploitation, draught, tidal waves, tsunami and cyclone resulting in seawater ingress. Sustainable development of this meager source of fresh groundwater for a longer time becomes a more difficult task on small atolls with a large population depending on this vital resource. To develop a sustainable management scheme and identify the vulnerable part of aquifer, characterization of the aquifer system on islands is imperative. Groundwater on an atoll is extremely vulnerable to seawater mixing through natural as well as human activities. One such natural process is the tides of the ocean. The response of sea tide to the water table on the island offers valuable data as well as cost-effective means to characterize an aquifer system. Such characterization is vital for the management of groundwater resources on an atoll. The obtained results have compared well with the parameters obtained through a conventional pumping test. Therefore, the use of tidal response to the water table, which can easily be recorded, provides a rapid and cost-effective means to characterization of the aquifer system on the island.     

岩溶塌陷易发区地下水安全开采控制——以珠三角广花盆地城市应急水源地为例

以珠三角广花盆地城市应急水源地为例,通过野外现场抽水和室内临界水力梯度试验对比,分析了地下水安全开采的控制条件。结果显示:广花盆地的岩溶塌陷是可通过控制水位降深等方法进行防控的,当地下水开采水位降深控制在9 m以内时,可大幅度降低岩溶塌陷概率。该结果可直接作为企业进行地下水安全开采的控制性指标和政府管理部门安全管控的决策性指标。由于地质条件的差异性,在实际开采地下水过程中,不能机械地依赖单一的地下水水位降深控制指标,应根据抽水影响半径以及各地不同的临界水力坡度分地段控制地下水位降深,或者改变开采方式,以达到充分利用地下水资源的目的。建议在实际抽水期间制订突发灾害预案,加强地下水监测工作,实时掌握地下水和其他影响因素变化动态。      

邢台百泉水源地地下水回补可行性分析

地下水资源是水资源的重要组成部分,随着经济社会的发展,很多地区地下水超采严重,利用地表水回补地下水成为保护地下水资源的重要手段。通过对朱庄水库水源条件以及下游河道的地质构造、水文地质条件和百泉泉域水资源的供需现状与发展趋势等进行分析后,认为利用朱庄水库放水回补百泉泉域地下水从条件上及经济上是可行的。     

华北平原水资源紧缺情势与因源

基于水资源可持续利用理念,从水资源承载能力演化周期性、经济社会需用水规模难变性和未来水资源供需关系入手,介绍近60年以来华北平原水资源情势,特别是该平原水资源量、实际用水量和地下水开采量变化特征,并结合未来10到30年区域经济社会发展需用水量趋势,识别和诊断华北平原水资源紧缺因源。结果表明：由于降水量减少导致华北平原缺水（自然资源性缺水）占该平原总缺水量的15.1%~16.4%;因管理缺陷导致水资源浪费的缺水（管理性缺水）占22.1%~24.2%;人口数量和经济社会发展规模过大导致用水量超过区域水资源承载力的缺水（政策性缺水）占59.3%~62.5%。自然资源性、管理性以及政策性缺水的解决对策不同：自然资源性缺水是不依人的意志为转移的,惟有从外域适量调水才能解决;管理性缺水可通过社会文明进步和科技进步不断修正;政策性缺水宜因势利导进行经济社会布局和产业结构调整,特别是限制高耗低效用水产业。即使南水北调工程70.3×108m3/a水进入华北平原,该平原地下水超采情势也难以得到根本性扭转。有新增水源调入或华北平原严控生活和工业用水量,同时大幅压减农业用水量,因势利导优化和逐步调整经济社会布局和产业结构,特别是灌溉农业进行规模化减蒸、降耗、节水的改造,将是缓解华北平原地下水超采和水资源紧缺的根本所在。     

Groundwater resources management under environmental constraints in Shiroishi of Saga plain, Japan

A sinking of the land surface due to the pumping of groundwater has long been recognized as an environmental issue in the Shiroishi plain of Saga, Japan. Land subsidence can have several negative economic and social implications such as changes in groundwater and surface water flow patterns, restrictions on pumping in land subsidence prone areas, localized flooding, failure of well casings as well as shearing of structures. To minimize such an environmental effect, groundwater management should be considered in this area. In this study, a new integrated numerical model that integrates a three-dimensional numerical groundwater flow model coupled with a one-dimensional soil consolidation model and a groundwater optimization model was developed to simulate groundwater movement, to predict ground settlement and to search for optimal safe yield of groundwater without violating physical, environmental and socio-economic constraints. It is found that groundwater levels in the aquifers greatly vary from season to season in response to the varying climatic and pumping conditions. Consequently, land subsidence has occurred rapidly throughout the area with the Shiroishi plain being the most prone. The predicted optimal safe yield of the pumping amount is about 5 million m³. The study also suggests that pumping with this optimal amount will minimize the rate of land subsidence over the entire area. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Groundwater status and associated issues in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin: International collaborations to achieve sustainable groundwater resources

Groundwater is an important and readily available source of fresh water in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin. With a rapid population growth and increasing human activities, an increasing number of countries in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin are experiencing depleted and degraded groundwater supplies. In transboundary river basins, such as the Mekong-Lancang River, prioritizing the use of the shared aquifer by one riparian government may affect the opportunities of other riparian governments and lead to potential water conflicts between neighboring countries. To promote the sharing of strategies and information for the sustainable and equitable use of water resources of the shared basin, international collaborative workshops on groundwater resources have been organized for all Mekong-Lancang River countries. These workshops provide an opportunity to communicate and discuss nationally sensitive issues on groundwater by the associated countries, with topics covering multiple aspects of groundwater, such as the groundwater status in the basin, quality issues, water use conflicts, hydrological information gaps, management policies and capacity building for successful water resource management. Consensus has been reached by all countries on the importance of catchment-based groundwater management and the need for close communication among the countries. Strategies for managing transboundary aquifer issues must foster international collaboration based on the regional network, influence national networks and enhance the capacity to building maps and monitoring systems based on associated databases. The sustainability of water resources cannot be achieved without the integrated involvement and contributions by multiple countries and various stakeholders. Therefore, collaborative workshops provide a great opportunity to further our understanding of the hydrologic processes of the Mekong River Basin, share the benefits of the aquifer and provide a strategy and vision for sustainable water resource management in the Mekong-Lancang River countries.     

北京西山岩溶水应急水源地水文地质特征及开采潜力分析

应急水源地位于北京西山四季青地区,取水层位为奥陶系含水层,属覆盖型水源地。奥陶系岩溶地下水水量大、水质优良,是保障北京供水安全的后备水源。本文在综合分析奥陶系岩溶地下水水文地质特征基础上,以群孔抽水试验为基础,采用相关分析法预测水位,从岩溶地下水的富水性、地下水流场、地下水资源方面分析岩溶水的开采潜力,确保在出现水源危机时,岩溶地下水能够作为后备水源地为城市供水。结果表明,岩溶地下水应急水源地岩溶裂隙发育,补给条件好,地下水径流强度大,水质优良,具有6万m3/d的开采潜力,即当水源地增加每日6万m3应急开采时,水位埋深预测值为52.94m,能够满足现有取水设备条件,且不会影响其它水源井的运行。      

东北地区地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题和对策浅析

在概述东北地区自然地理和水文地质条件的基础上，从地下水供需矛盾、地下水超采及其环境效应、地下水污染等方面阐述了影响地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题，并从社会发展、科学技术、开采历史、水资源管理、立法与执法等5个层面进行了分析。针对东北地区国民经济发展对水资源的需求、目前存在的影响地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题，提出了不同地区的地下水资源勘查开发、节约用水、地下水理论研究等地下水资源的可持续利用对策，对区域宏观水资源管理具有参考价值。     

大连周水子海水入侵区地下水多目标优化管理模型

将改进后的遗传算法GA（添加了小生境、Pareto解集过滤器等模块）与变密度地下水流及溶质运移模拟程序SEAWAT-2000相耦合,新开发了变密度地下水多目标模拟优化程序MOSWTGA。将MOSWTGA应用于求解大连周水子地区以控制抽水井所在含水层不发生海水入侵为约束的地下水开采多目标优化管理模型,得到地下水最大开采量与海水入侵面积之间一系列Pareto近似最优解。研究成果不仅为实行合理的地下水资源配置提供了科学的实用模型,同时也为解决多个优化目标下的变密度地下水优化管理问题提供高效可靠的模拟优化工具,具有重要的潜在环境经济效益。     

大庆西部地下水位降落漏斗区水资源人工调蓄方案

对地下水资源的长期大量集中开采形成了区域性地下水位降落漏斗,地下水的超采引发了一系列环境地质问题。利用降落漏斗区腾空的地下储水空间进行水资源的人工调蓄可使地下水位得到恢复。以地下水为主要供水水源的大庆市目前已形成了东西两个大的区域性地下水位降落漏斗,必须进行地下水人工调蓄。设计并模拟了现状开采、逐年压缩分别在现采和压采基础之上进行人工回灌等4种人工调蓄方案,对大庆西部地下水位降落漏斗区进行水资源人工调蓄。结果表明,压缩开采和人工回灌均可加速降落漏斗区地下水位的恢复,在逐年压缩地下水开采量5%的情况下实施人工回灌（0.45×10⁸m³/a）,地下水位恢复效果最明显,到2010年末,漏斗中心地下水位可回升7.7~10.3 m。     

优化技术在娘子关泉域岩溶地下水开采资源量评价与管理中的应用

我国北方岩溶地下水，多数是以泉域水资源系统为单元进行循环的，各岩溶地下水系统以规模大、系统结构复杂为典型特征。在岩溶地下水开发利用过程中，如何兼顾各开采水源地的开采量、井采与泉水流量问等关系，以避免出现水文地质环境问题，是多年来水文地质界一直关注的问题。本文将水资源系统与供水系统相结合，采用优化技术建立了娘子关泉域岩溶地下水评价管理模型，以此为基础提出了多种开发方案，为类似地区的地下水评价与开发管理提供范例。     

REMAX在吉林省西部地下水资源管理中的应用

吉林省西部位于半干旱半湿润生态脆弱带 ,地下水是主要的供水水源。近年来 ,农业迅速发展 ,对地下水的需求量日益增加。加上开采布局不合理 ,导致区域地下水位持续下降、局部地区形成季节性漏斗和次生盐碱化加重等一系列问题 ,严重制约着农业发展和生态环境建设。针对上述问题 ,建立地下水优化管理模型 ,运用REMAX模型软件求解 ,确定地下水资源最优开采方案     

Groundwater optimization model for sustainable management of the Valley of Puebla aquifer, Mexico

The Valley of Puebla aquifer (VPA), at the central region of Mexico, is subject to intensive exploitation to satisfy the urban and industrial demand in the region. As a result of this increased exploitation, a number of state and federal agencies in charge of water management are concerned about the problems associated with the aquifer (decline of groundwater table, deterioration in water quality, poor well productivity and increased pumping and water treatment costs). This study presents a groundwater management model that combines “MODFLOW” simulation with optimization tools “MODRSP”. This simulation–optimization model for groundwater evaluates a complex range of management options to identify the strategies that best fit the objectives for allocating resources in the VPA. Four hypothetical scenarios were defined to analyze the response of the hydrogeological system for future pumping schemes. Based on the simulation of flow with the MODFLOW program, promising results for the implementation of the optimization of water quantity were found in scenarios 3 and 4. However, upon comparison and analysis of the feasibility of recovery of the piezometric level (considering the policy of gradual reductions of pumping), scenario 4 was selected for optimization purposes. The response functions of scenario 4 were then obtained and optimized, establishing an extraction rate of 204.92 millions of m³/year (Mm³/year). The reduction in groundwater extraction will be possible by substituting the volume removed by 35 wells (that should be discontinued) by the same volume of water from another source.     

Sustainability of groundwater in Mali,West Africa

The following paper describes the goals and some preliminary work in the Bani sustainability study, an ongoing project in Mali, West Africa. Rural communities in Mali are increasingly relying on hand-pumps, which tap groundwater resources, as a means of obtaining potable water. The long-term sustainable yield of groundwater resources is not known but can be evaluated in sustainability study. In 2005, a groundwater sustainability study was established along the Bani River of Mali. The Bani study collected groundwater levels that were used in a conceptual groundwater flow model—the Bani model—to develop an understanding of current aquifer conditions and to make limited predictions of sustainability under various future scenarios. The Bani model showed the climatic parameters of recharge (derived from precipitation) and evapotranspiration to influence simulated groundwater levels and groundwater volume available, while increased pumping rates, due to population growth, showed little effect. When considered in the context of the actual Bani sustainability study area, the change in groundwater levels resulting from climatic parameters may have negative implications, especially during several consecutive years of decreased precipitation, such as drought, or if downward trends anticipated for precipitation continue.     

沧州市地下水资源合理开发可持续发展战略探讨

水是人类生命不可缺少和不可替代的特殊资源。本文通过沧州地下水水文地质条件、资源量、开采现状的阐述,提出了科学的、合理的开发措施。农业直适合开采浅层地下水,少量开采深层地下水;工业及城乡居民饮用宜开采深层地下水,而且深层地下水做为饮用水及工业用水是有保障的,无论对水资源的保护还是对整个社会经济的可持续发展,都将有深远意义和社会效益。     

Observing changes in groundwater resource using hydro-chemical and isotopic parameters: a case study from Bist Doab,Punjab

The continuous and large-scale abstraction of groundwater has created a groundwater depletion problem in several parts of the Punjab state including Bist Doab, the interfluve region of Beas and Satluj rivers. In the present study, a few important parameters, viz. water level, stable isotope, EC, temperature, groundwater age, that can be used to fingerprint the over-exploitation of groundwater have been examined. It has been observed that with the increase in over-exploitation, the yield of shallow aquifer is progressively getting reduced and as a result forcing the farmers to sink their wells to deeper depths. With abstraction of deeper aquifer, the storage of old groundwater at the deeper aquifer is declining and getting replaced by induced accelerated inflow of young water from the recharge zone and the overlying shallow aquifer. The signatures of the modern water have been observed in the data analyzed for isotopic, hydro-chemical facies, electrical conductivity and temperature of water from deeper aquifer. The study has identified the usefulness of these parameters for identifying groundwater over-exploitation in the region. Depleting water resource may stagnate the economic progress of the region. The paper provides suitable water resource management strategies to be adopted to improve the sustainability of water resources and economic growth in the region.     

准格尔矿区环境水文地质问题及对策

准格尔矿区地下水开采资源量为16760t/d,而开采量为74973t/d,长期开采将引起一系列环境水文地质问题,如泥沙充填带运移和水质恶化,所以应合理开采地下水资源;开拓新的供水水源;建立新的供水水源地;减少集中开采;建立地面污水处理系统,避免污水排入地下