Characterisation of recharge processes and groundwater flow mechanisms in weathered-fractured granites of Hyderabad (India) using isotopes

In order to address the problem of realistic assessment of groundwater potential and its sustainability, it is vital to study the recharge processes and mechanism of groundwater flow in fractured hard rocks, where inhomogeneties and discontinuities have a dominant role to play. Wide variations in chloride, δ¹⁸O and ¹⁴C concentrations of the studied groundwaters observed in space and time could only reflect the heterogeneous hydrogeological setting in the fractured granites of Hyderabad (India). This paper, based on the observed isotopic and environmental chloride variations of the groundwater system, puts forth two broad types of groundwaters involving various recharge processes and flow mechanisms in the studied granitic hard rock aquifers. Relatively high ¹⁴C ages (1300 to ～6000 yr B.P.), δ¹⁸O content (?3.2 to ?1.5‰) and chloride concentration (<100 mg/l) are the signatures that identified one broad set of groundwaters resulting from recharge through weathered zone and subsequent movement through extensive sheet joints. The second set of groundwaters possessed an age range Modern to ～1000 yr B.P., chloride in the range 100 to ～350 mg/l and δ¹⁸O from ?3.2 to +1.7‰. The δ¹⁸O enrichment and chloride concentration, further helped in the segregation of the second set of groundwaters into three sub-sets characterized by different recharge processes and sources. Based on these processes and mechanisms, a conceptual hydrogeologic model has evolved suggesting that the fracture network is connected either to a distant recharge source or to a surface reservoir (evaporating water bodies) apart from overlying weathered zone, explaining various resultant groundwaters having varying ¹⁴C ages, chloride and δ¹⁸O concentrations. The surface reservoir contribution to groundwater is evaluated to be significant (40 to 70%) in one subset of groundwaters. The conceptual hydrogeologic model, thus evolved, can aid in understanding the mechanism of groundwater flow as well as migration of contaminants to deep groundwater in other fractured granitic areas.     

变降深抽水附近地下水非稳定运动的积分方程解

根据完整井变流量抽水附近地下水运动的解析解,利用积分方程的方法,推导出了水井水位降深以任意一种函数关系随时间变化时含水层中地下水非稳定运动积分方程形式的解,并提出了该积分解相应的近似计算方法.最后通过一个实例验证了该方法的实用性.     

Real-time flood forecasting of the Tiber river in Rome

An adaptive, conceptual model for real-time flood forecasting of the Tiber river in Rome is proposed. This model simulates both rainfall-runoff transformations, to reproduce the contributions of 37 ungauged sub-basins that covered about 30% of the catchment area, and flood routing processes in the hydrographic network. The adaptive component of the model concerns the rainfall-runoff analysis: at any time step the whole set of the model parameters is recalibrated by minimizing the objective function constituted by the sum of the squares of the differences between observed and computed water surface elevations (or discharges). The proposed model was tested through application under real-time forecasting conditions for three historical flood events. To assess the forecasting accuracy, to support the decision maker and to reduce the possibility of false or missed warnings, confidence intervals of the forecasted water surface elevations (or discharges), computed according to a Monte Carlo procedure, are provided. The evaluation of errors in the prediction of peak values, of coefficients of persistence and of the amplitude of confidence intervals of prediction shows the possibility to develop a flood forecast model with a lead time of 12 h, which is useful for civil protection actions.     

煤层气井产出水中氯离子变化规律回归分析模型

基于沁水盆地枣园区块大量煤层气井产出水分析化验数据,通过数学统计方法,研究总结了产出水中氯离子浓度与排采时间的变化规律。指出排采初期氯离子对环境影响最大,远超出国家Ⅱ类饮用水标准;同时利用SPSS软件进行了非线性回归分析,建立了氯离子浓度变化数学模型。通过模型可以合理预测氯离子浓度达到国家标准所需要的时间,为煤层气井产出水水质变化监测及地面水质处理提供了技术支持。     

Predicting groundwater level of wells in the Diyala River Basin in eastern Iraq using artificial neural network

Al-Mansourieh zone is a part of Al-Khalis City within the province of Diyala and located in the Diyala River Basin in eastern Iraq with a total area about 830 km2.Groundwater is the main water source for agriculture in this zone.Random well drilling without geological and hydraulic information has led the most of these wells to dry up quickly.Therefore,it is necessary to estimate the levels of groundwater in wells through observed data.In this study,Alyuda NeroIntelligance 2.1 software was applied to predict the groundwater levels in 244 wells using sets of measured data.These data included the coordinates of wells(x,y),elevations,well depth,discharge and groundwater levels.Three ANN structures(5-3-3-1,5-10-10-1 and 5-11-11-1)were used to predict the groundwater levels and to acquire the best matching between the measured and ANN predicted values.The coefficient of correlation,coefficient determination(R2)and sum-square error(SSE)were used to evaluate the performance of the ANN models.According to the ANN results,the model with the three structures has a good predictability and proves more effective for determining groundwater level in wells.The best predictor was achieved in the structure 5-3-3-1,with R2 about 0.92,0.89,0.84 and 0.91 in training,validation,testing and all processes respectively.The minimum average error in the best predictor is achieved in validation and testing processes at about 0.130 and 0.171 respectively.On the other hand,the results indicated that the model has the potential to determine the appropriate places for drilling the wells to obtain the highest level of groundwater.     

Evaluation of the streambed leakage concept in analytical models using data from three pumping tests

Two-dimensional analytical models of pumping induced drawdown and stream depletion account for the streambed properties and stream geometry. Using data from three pumping tests performed under various hydrologic conditions, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) a partially penetrating stream at a certain distance from the pumping well can be represented by the streambed leakage term in the analytical models; (2) in the streambed leakage term, the streambed conductance coefficient λ=(WK′)/m′ accounts for the average stream width W, the streambed thickness m′, and hydraulic conductivity K′. The first hypothesis was tested by comparing results from tests under flow and no-flow stream conditions. The second hypothesis was tested by comparing results from two tests under low and high streamflow conditions. Similar estimates of the hydraulic conductivity and storativity for all tests indicate the validity of the streambed leakage term. The drawdown data of the test under low- and high-flow conditions (varying W) do not follow the predictions of the analytical models, which results in inconsistent λ estimates. Thus, for different hydrologic conditions, λ cannot be scaled solely by the stream width W. One possible explanation for this result is streambed dynamics caused by the changes in the stream stage.

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Résumé Les rabattements dans les nappes et cours d’eau générés par des modèles analytiques de pompages en deux dimensions dépendent des propriétés du lit du cours d’eau considéré et de sa géométrie. En utilisant les données de trois essais de pompages effectués en conditions hydrologiques contrastées, les hypothèses suivantes ont été testées: (1) un ruisseau à pénétration partielle situé à une certaine distance du puits de pompage peut être exprimé par le terme de drainance dans les modèles analytiques; (2) dans le terme de drainance du lit du cours d’eau, le coefficient de conductivité du lit λ=(WK′)/m′ représente la largeur moyenne du cours d’eau W, l’épaisseur du lit m′, et la perméabilité K′. La première hypothèse a été testée en comparant les résultats des tests en conditions d’assèchement et d’écoulement. Pour éprouver la seconde hypothèse, les résultats de deux tests en conditions d’étiage et de hautes eaux ont été comparés. Sur l’ensemble des tests, la concordance entre les perméabilités calculées a permis de valider le terme de drainance du cours d’eau. Les rabattements observés en conditions d’étiage et de hautes eaux (W variable) ne suivent pas les prédictions des modèles analytiques, fournissant au final des estimations discordantes de λ. Aussi, dans le cas de conditions hydrologiques différentes, la seule largeur du cours d’eau ne suffit pas à estimer λ. Une explication possible de ce résultat réside dans la dynamique du lit causée par les variations de niveau du cours d’eau.

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Resumen Modelos analíticos en dos dimensiones de descenso inducido por bombeo y de agotamiento de la corriente del río representan las propiedades del lecho del río y la geometría del mismo. Usando datos de tres ensayos de bombeo llevados a cabo bajo condiciones hidrológicas variadas, se probaron las siguientes hipótesis: (1) puede representarse un río parcialmente penetrante a una cierta distancia del pozo de bombeo por el término de goteo a través del lecho del río en los modelos analíticos; (2) en el término de goteo a través del lecho del río, el coeficiente de conductancia del lecho del río λ=(WK′)/m′ representa el ancho promedio del río W, la potencia del lecho del río m′, y la conductividad hidráulica K′. La primera hipótesis fue comprobada comparando los resultados de pruebas bajo condiciones de flujo y no flujo de corriente. La segunda hipótesis fue probada comparando los resultados de dos pruebas bajo condiciones de corriente altas y bajas. Estimaciones similares de la conductividad hidráulica y el almacenamiento para todas las pruebas apuntan hacia la validez del término de goteo a través del lecho del río. Los datos de descensos de la prueba bajo condiciones de flujo altos y bajos (variando W) no siguen las predicciones de los modelos analíticos, lo que resulta en estimaciones inconsistentes de λ. Así, para condiciones hidrológicas diferentes, λ no puede ser escalada solamente con el ancho de la corriente W. Una posible explicación para este resultado es la dinámica del lecho del río causada por los cambios en el nivel del río.

     

Engineering-geological model of the Segura River flood plain (SE Spain): a case study for engineering planning

This article presents a sedimentological and geotechnical study of the surficial sediments in the Segura River valley (SE Spain). We formulate an engineering-geological model consisting of four zones, each characterized by its geotechnical properties and by various geotechnical problems (namely low bearing capacity, significant ground settlement and liquefaction of sandy sediments). The model quantifies the geotechnical properties and potential problems in each zone. It serves as a useful tool for preliminary geotechnical investigations. The model also enables a better design of field surveys as well as optimal selection of geotechnical investigation techniques for future civil engineering works.     

Conceptual model of a coastal aquifer system in northern Greece and assessment of saline vulnerability due to seawater intrusion conditions

This paper refers to the development of a conceptual model for the management of a coastal aquifer in northern Greece. The research presents the interpretation and analysis of the quantitative (groundwater level recordings and design of piezometric maps) regime and the formation of the upcone within the area of investigation. Additionally it provides the elaboration of the results of chemical analyses of groundwater samples (physicochemical parameters, major chemical constituents and heavy metals and trace elements) of the area which were taken in three successive irrigation periods (July–August 2003, July–August 2004 and July 2005), in order to identify areas of aquifer vulnerability. The study identifies the areas where ion exchange phenomena occur, as well as the parts of the aquifer where the qualitative degradation of the aquifer system is enhanced. The paper, finally, assesses the lack of any scientific groundwater resources management of the area by the local water authorities, as well as the current practices of the existing pumping conditions scheme as applied by groundwater users.An erratum to this article can be found at     

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     

Isotope hydrogeochemical models for assessing the hydrological processes in a part of the largest continental flood basalts province of India

Continental Flood Basalts (CFB) occupy one fourth of the world’s land area. Hence, it is important to discern the hydrological processes in this complex hydrogeological setup for the sustainable water resources development. A model assisted isotope, geochemical, geospatial and geophysical study was conducted to understand the monsoonal characteristics, recharge processes, renewability and geochemical evolution in one of the largest continental flood basalt provinces of India. HYSPLIT modelling and stable isotopes were used to assess the monsoonal characteristics. Rayleigh distillation model were used to understand the climatic conditions at the time of groundwater recharge. Lumped parameter models (LPM) were employed to quantify the mean transit time (MTT) of groundwater. Statistical and geochemical models were adopted to understand the geochemical evolution along the groundwater flow path. A geophysical model was used to understand the geometry of the aquifer. The back trajectory analysis confirms the isotopic finding that precipitation in this region is caused by orographic uplifting of air masses originating from the Arabian Sea. Stable isotopic data of groundwater showed its meteoric origin and two recharge processes were discerned; (i) quick and direct recharge by precipitation through fractured and weathered basalt, (ii) low infiltration through the clayey black cotton soil and subjected to evaporation prior to the recharge. Tritium data showed that the groundwater is a renewable source and have shorter transit times (from present day to <30 years). The hydrogeochemical study indicated multiple sources/processes such as: the minerals dissolution, silicate weathering, ion exchange, anthropogenic influences etc. control the chemistry of the groundwater. Based on the geo-electrical resistivity survey, the potential zones (weathered and fractured) were delineated for the groundwater development. Thus, the study highlights the usefulness of model assisted isotopic hydrogeochemical techniques for understanding the recharge and geochemical processes in a basaltic aquifer system.     

Heavy metal pollution in freshly deposited sediments of the Yamuna River (the Ganges River tributary): a case study from Delhi and Agra urban centres, India

 The Yamuna River sediments, collected from Delhi and Agra urban centres, were analysed for concentration and distribution of nine heavy metals by means of atomic adsorption spectrometry. Total metal contents varied in the following ranges (in mg/kg): Cr (157–817), Mn (515–1015), Fe (28,700–45,300), Co(11.7–28.4), Ni (40–538), Cu (40–1204), Zn (107–1974), Pb (22–856) and Cd (0.50–114.8). The degree of metal enrichment was compared with the average shale concentration and shows exceptionally high values for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in both urban centres. In the total heavy metal concentration, anthropogenic input contains 70% Cr, 74% Cu, 59% Zn, 46% Pb, 90% Cd in Delhi and 61% Cr, 23% Ni, 71% Cu, 72% Zn, 63% Pb, 94% Cd in Agra. A significant correlation was observed between increasing Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu concentrations with increasing total sediment carbon and total sediment sulfur content. Based on the Müller's geoaccumulation index, the quality of the river sediments can be regarded as being moderately polluted to very highly polluted with Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the Delhi and Agra urban centres. The present sediment analysis, therefore, plays an important role in environmental measures for the Yamuna River and the planning of these city centres. Received: 21 June 1999 · Accepted: 1 October 1999     

Assessment of groundwater quality in the flood plains of upper Palar River, India

Groundwater is generally presumed to be good for human consumption and is used as a main source of drinking water. Although there are numerous reasons for groundwater pollution, anthropogenic sources are consid-ered as the prime ones. In this study, twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from the flood plains of upper Palar River during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons to assess the extent of pollution and effects on human health. Physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater were analyzed and compared with those of drinking water standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Piper’s tri-linear diagram shows the nature of alkali earth with the high contents of alkalies and prevailing sulphate in the pre-sent samples. The univariate statistics and correlation analysis were performed to find out the relationships between the variables. The tannery effluents, solid wastes and sewage were suspected to be the predominant sources of pollu-tion in the area.     

Hydrogeochemical controls and usability of groundwater in the semi-arid Mayo Tsanaga River Basin: far north province,Cameroon

Deuterium, δ ¹⁸O, major ions and dissolved silica in groundwater from semi-arid Mayo-Tsanaga river basin in the Far North Province, Cameroon were used to trace hydrogeochemical processes that control their concentrations and to explore for usability of the water. Electrical conductivity ranges from 57–2,581 μs/cm with alternating low and high values along the hydraulic gradient. Waters from piedmont alluvium show low concentrations in major cations, which peak in Mg within basalt, Na within plain alluvium, and Ca within basalt and the sandy Limani-Yagoua ridge. The initial dominant groundwater composition is CaHCO₃, which did not evolve within the basalt and piedmont alluvium, but evolved to NaHCO₃ in the granite and plain alluvium. The main processes controlling the major ions composition include the following: (1) dissolution of silicates and fluorite; (2) precipitation of fluorite and carbonate; (3) cation exchange of Ca in water for Na in clay; (4) and anthropogenic activities. The δD and δ ¹⁸O ratios vary from −35 to 0.7 and −5.3 to 1.1‰, respectively. The lowest and highest isotope ratios are observed in groundwater within the downstream sandy Limani-Yagoua ridge and the upstream graintes respectively. Variation in isotope ratios depends on altitude effect of −0.48‰ per 100 m between 600 and 850 m asl, and on evaporation, which had insignificant effect on the water salinity. Seventy percent of the groundwater shows poor drinking quality and 90% is suitable for irrigation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Groundwater quality in the Niva River basin, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India

 This study was made to assess the groundwater quality in relation to agricultural and domestic uses in a part of the Peninsular Archean granite and gneissic complex of India. Water samples were collected from the existing wells in the Niva River basin, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India and analysed for major ions. The analytical data, processed and interpreted acoording to the WHO standards, reveal that, in general, the groundwater is suitable for both agricultural and domestic uses, exept in a few locations. High concentration of nitrates were observed in some of the wells (both agricultural and domestic) that are affected by the impact of industrial effluents. Multiple regression analysis was performed and used as a positive predictive tool in understanding the chemistry of the groundwater. Received: 2 May 1996 / Accepted: 14 October 1996     

Numerical simulation of groundwater and early warnings from the simulated dynamic evolution trend in the plain area of Shenyang,Liaoning Province (P.R. China)

Groundwater level is the most direct factor reflecting whether groundwater is in a virtuous cycle. It is the most important benchmark for deciding whether a balance can be struck between groundwater discharge and recharge and whether groundwater exploitation will trigger problems pertinent to environment, ecology and environmental geology. According to the borehole and long-term monitoring wells data in the plain area of Shenyang, a numerical groundwater model is established and used to identify and verify the hydrogeological parameters and balanced items of groundwater. Then the concept of red line levels, the control levels of groundwater is proposed, the dynamic evolution trend of groundwater under different scenarios is analyzed and predicted and groundwater alerts are given when groundwater tables are not between the lower limit and the upper limit. Results indicated: (1) The results of identification and verification period fitted well, and the calculation accuracy of balanced items was high; (2) with the implementation of shutting wells, groundwater levels in urban areas of Shenyang would exceed the upper limit water level after 2020 and incur some secondary disasters; (3) under the recommended scenario of water resources allocation, early-warnings for groundwater tables outside the range would occur in the year of 2020, 2023, 2025 respectively for successive wet, normal and dry years. It was imperative to reopen some groundwater sources and enhance real-time supervision and early-warning to prevent the occurrence of potential problems.     

黄河下游地上悬河段开采条件下侧渗量变化研究

本文主要通过模型的方法定量研究黄河下游悬河段地下水与黄河关系.在黄河影响带水文地质条件分析的基础上,将黄河作为地下水系统的混合边界条件处理,运用地下水模型软件FEFLOW建立研究区地下水流模拟模型.以模型为工具,重点评价了原阳水源地规划开采规模为40×104m3/d情况下,地下水流场和动态的变化趋势,计算了黄河侧渗量的变化情况.结果表明,地下水流场在开采10年后趋于稳定,地下水最大水位降深为20m,激发黄河水对地下水为补给量为1.02×103m3/a,占水源地开采量的69.7%.本研究还计算了8个规划新建和扩建傍河水源地条件下地下水变化趋势和黄河侧渗量的增加量.研究表明,黄河对于研究区地下水可再生能力的提高具有重要意义,规划新建和扩建傍河水源地新增地下水开采量4.86×108m3/a是有保证的.     

Spatial characteristics of water quality,stable isotopes and tritium associated with groundwater flow in the Hutuo River alluvial fan plain of the North China Plain

The groundwater flow system and the flow velocity in the alluvial fan plain of the Hutuo River, China, have been studied, with an emphasis on relating geochemical characteristics and isotopes factors. Seven stretches of one river, six springs and 31 wells, with depths ranging from 0 m (river waters) to 150 m, were surveyed. The groundwater has a vertical two-layer structure with a boundary at about 80–100 m depth, yielding an upper and a lower groundwater layer. The δ¹⁸O and δD values range from ?10.56 to ?7.05‰ and ?81.83 to ?59‰, respectively. The groundwater has been recharged by precipitation, and has not been subjected to significant evaporation during infiltration into the aquifer in the upper layer. Using a tritium model, the groundwater flow in the alluvial fan plain showed horizontal flow velocity to be greater than vertical velocity. Groundwater in the upper layer is characterized by Ca–HCO₃ type. From the spatial distribution characteristics of the stable isotope and chemical composition of the groundwater, agricultural irrigation was considered to have an influence on the aquifer by causing excessive groundwater abstraction and irrigation return.     

Assessment of groundwater residence times in the pore aquifers of the River Elbe Basin

An area covering assessment of the groundwater residence times for the upper pore aquifers in the River Elbe Basin was performed. Residence times were determined by combining groundwater velocities and flow distances along each flow-path to the surface waters using a two-dimensional model approach. Groundwater velocity was calculated as a function of hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic gradient and effective yield of pore space. Flow paths were obtained by an analysis of the morphology of the groundwater table. The mean groundwater residence time in the pore aquifers of the River Elbe Basin was quantified to about 25 years. A strong temporal blurring in the different regions between less than one year and more than 250 years was obtained. For the regional groundwater management in the Elbe Basin the groundwater residence times are an important parameter, which helps to take into account the temporal dimension in the assessment of the impact of political measures aiming at the improvement of groundwater quality with regard to diffuse pollutants (e.g. nitrate).