Groundwater flow system under a rapidly urbanizing coastal city as determined by hydrogeochemistry

In the Jakarta area (Indonesia), excessive groundwater pumping due to the rapidly increasing population has caused groundwater-related problems such as brackish water contamination in coastal areas and land subsidence. In this study, we adopted multiple hydrogeochemical techniques to demonstrate the groundwater flow system in the Jakarta area. Although almost all groundwater existing in the Jakarta basin is recharged at similar elevations, the water quality and residence time demonstrates a clear difference between the shallow and deep aquifers. Due to the rapid decrease in the groundwater potential in urban areas, we found that the seawater intrusion and the shallow and deep groundwaters are mixing, a conclusion confirmed by major ions, Br^?:Cl^? ratios, and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 analysis. Spring water and groundwater samples collected from the southern mountainside area show younger age characteristics with high concentrations of ¹⁴C and Ca–HCO₃ type water chemistry. We estimated the residence times of these groundwaters within 45 years under piston flow conditions by tritium analysis. Also, these groundwater ages can be limited to 20–30 years with piston flow evaluated by CFCs. Moreover, due to the magnitude of the CFC-12 concentration, we can use a pseudo age indicator in this field study, because we found a positive correlation between the major type of water chemistry and the CFC-12 concentration.     

Vertical movement of water in a High Plains Aquifer induced by a pumping well

Field observation and numerical simulations were carried out to evaluate the hydraulic relationship between the shallow and deep aquifer of a High Plains Aquifer system, in which shallow and deep aquifers are separated by an aquitard. Pumping from the lower aquifer resulted in a small drawdown in the upper aquifer and a larger drawdown in the aquitard; pumping from the shallow aquifer caused a small drawdown in the aquitard and the deep aquifer. Analysis of pumping test data gives the values of the hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard and the deep aquifer. Long-term observation of groundwater levels in the shallow and deep aquifers showed that a strong downward hydraulic gradient was maintained during an irrigation season. Numerical simulations were used to calculate the induced leakage of water from the shallow to the deep aquifer. Water budget analyses suggested that after pumping continues for a couple of days, the leakage from the overlying layers begins to supply the majority of the withdrawal from the deep aquifer. However, the induced leakage from the upper shallow aquifer can travel only a few meters into the aquitard, and it can not reach the lower aquifer during a 90 day pumping period. The major portion of the induced leakage occurred during the pumping period, but a small leakage can continue as a residual effect after the pumping period. The vertical hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard plays a major role in partitioning the ratio of the induced leakage for the pumping and after-pumping periods.     

Geochemical processes controlling the elevated fluoride concentrations in groundwaters of the Taiyuan Basin,Northern China

High fluoride groundwater with F⁻ concentration up to 6.20 mg/L occurs in Taiyuan basin, northern China. The high fluoride groundwater zones are mainly located in the discharge areas, especially in places where shallow groundwater occurs (the groundwater depth is less than 4 m). Regional hydrogeochemical investigation indicates that processes including hydrolysis of silicate minerals, cation exchange, and evaporation should be responsible for the increase in average contents of major ions in groundwater from the recharge areas to the discharge areas. The concentration of F⁻ in groundwater is positively correlated with that of HCO₃⁻ and Na⁺, indicating that groundwater with high HCO₃⁻ and Na⁺ contents help dissolve some fluoride-rich minerals. The water samples with high F⁻ concentration generally have relatively higher pH value, implying that alkaline environment favors the replacement of exchangeable F⁻ in fluoride-rich minerals by OH⁻ in groundwater. In addition, the mixing of karst water along the western mountain front and the evaporation may also be important factors for the occurrence of high fluoride groundwater. The inverse geochemical modeling using PHREEQC supports the results of hydrogeochemical analyses. The modeling results show that in the recharge and flow-through area of the northern Taiyuan basin, interactions between groundwater and fluoride-rich minerals are the major factor for the increase of F⁻ concentration, whereas in the discharge area of the northern basin, the evaporation as well as the mixing of karst water has greater contribution to the fluoride enrichment in groundwater.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater and pore-water and the paleoenvironmental evolution in the past 3.10 Ma in the Xiong’an New Area,North China

The groundwater level has been continuously decreasing due to climate change and long-time overexploitation in the Xiong’an New Area, North China, which caused the enhanced mixing of groundwater in different aquifers and significant changes in regional groundwater chemistry characteristics. In this study, groundwater and sediment pore-water in drilling cores obtained from a 600 m borehole were investigated to evaluate hydrogeochemical processes in shallow and deep aquifers and paleo-environmental evolution in the past ca. 3.10 Ma. Results showed that there was no obvious change overall in chemical composition along the direction of groundwater runoff, but different hydrochemical processes occurred in shallow and deep groundwater in the vertical direction. Shallow groundwater (< 150 m) in the Xiong’an New Area was characterized by high salinity (TDS > 1000 mg/L) and high concentrations of Mn and Fe, while deep groundwater had better water quality with lower salinity. The high TDS values mostly occurred in aquifers with depth < 70 m and >500 m below land surface. Water isotopes showed that aquifer pore-water mostly originated from meteoric water under the influence of evaporation, and aquitard pore-water belonged to Paleo meteoric water. In addition, the evolution of the paleoclimate since 3.10 Ma BP was reconstructed, and four climate periods were determined by the δ¹⁸O profiles of pore-water and sporopollen records from sediments at different depths. It can be inferred that the Quaternary Pleistocene (0.78–2.58 Ma BP) was dominated by the cold and dry climate of the glacial period, with three interglacial intervals of warm and humid climate. What’s more, this study demonstrates the possibilities of the applications of pore-water on the hydrogeochemical study and further supports the finding that pore-water could retain the feature of paleo-sedimentary water.© 2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

The transboundary non-renewable Nubian Aquifer System of Chad,Egypt, Libya and Sudan: classical groundwater questions and parsimonious hydrogeologic analysis and modeling

Parsimonious groundwater modeling provides insight into hydrogeologic functioning of the Nubian Aquifer System (NAS), the world’s largest non-renewable groundwater system (belonging to Chad, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan). Classical groundwater-resource issues exist (magnitude and lateral extent of drawdown near pumping centers) with joint international management questions regarding transboundary drawdown. Much of NAS is thick, containing a large volume of high-quality groundwater, but receives insignificant recharge, so water-resource availability is time-limited. Informative aquifer data are lacking regarding large-scale response, providing only local-scale information near pumps. Proxy data provide primary underpinning for understanding regional response: Holocene water-table decline from the previous pluvial period, after thousands of years, results in current oasis/sabkha locations where the water table still intersects the ground. Depletion is found to be controlled by two regional parameters, hydraulic diffusivity and vertical anisotropy of permeability. Secondary data that provide insight are drawdowns near pumps and isotope-groundwater ages (million-year-old groundwaters in Egypt). The resultant strong simply structured three-dimensional model representation captures the essence of NAS regional groundwater-flow behavior. Model forecasts inform resource management that transboundary drawdown will likely be minimal—a nonissue—whereas drawdown within pumping centers may become excessive, requiring alternative extraction schemes; correspondingly, significant water-table drawdown may occur in pumping centers co-located with oases, causing oasis loss and environmental impacts.     

Using hydrogeochemistry to understand inter-aquifer mixing in the on-shore part of the Gippsland Basin,southeast Australia

Groundwater in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland Basin of southeast Australia is important for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. This sedimentary basin contains a number of aquifers that are used for water supply, dewatered for open pit coal mining, and which are potentially influenced by off-shore oil and gas production. Major ion chemistry together with stable and Sr isotope data imply that the main hydrogeochemical processes are evapotranspiration with minor silicate and carbonate weathering; methanogenesis and SO₄ reduction in reduced groundwater associated with coal deposits have also occurred. Groundwater has estimated ¹⁴C ages of up to 36 ka and is largely ³H free. Carbon-14 ages are irregularly distributed and poorly correlated with depth and distance from the basin margins. The observations that the geochemistry of groundwater in aquifers with different mineralogies are similar and the distribution of ¹⁴C ages is irregular implies that the aquifers are hydraulically connected and horizontal as well as vertical inter-aquifer mixing occurs. The connection of shallow and deeper aquifers poses a risk for the groundwater resources in Gippsland as contaminants can migrate across aquifers and dewatering of shallow units may impact deeper parts of the groundwater system.     

Controls on groundwater flow in the Bengal Basin of India and Bangladesh: regional modeling analysis

Groundwater for domestic and irrigation purposes is produced primarily from shallow parts of the Bengal Basin aquifer system (India and Bangladesh), which contains high concentrations of dissolved arsenic (exceeding worldwide drinking water standards), though deeper groundwater is generally low in arsenic. An essential first step for determining sustainable management of the deep groundwater resource is identification of hydrogeologic controls on flow and quantification of basin-scale groundwater flow patterns. Results from groundwater modeling, in which the Bengal Basin aquifer system is represented as a single aquifer with higher horizontal than vertical hydraulic conductivity, indicate that this anisotropy is the primary hydrogeologic control on the natural flowpath lengths. Despite extremely low hydraulic gradients due to minimal topographic relief, anisotropy implies large-scale (tens to hundreds of kilometers) flow at depth. Other hydrogeologic factors, including lateral and vertical changes in hydraulic conductivity, have minor effects on overall flow patterns. However, because natural hydraulic gradients are low, the impact of pumping on groundwater flow is overwhelming; modeling indicates that pumping has substantially changed the shallow groundwater budget and flowpaths from predevelopment conditions.     

开鲁盆地铀矿水文地球化学找矿研究

本文从基础地质条件出发 ,界定了开鲁盆地的发展历史 ,全面分析了研究区的水文地质条件、水文地球化学特征及地下水的含铀性 ,确定了在整体坳陷期形成的姚家组和四方台组区域承压含水层的找矿意义。同时 ,从水文地质构造层、渗入渗出体系的划分及浅层地下水和深部地下水化学异常显示等方面入手 ,较详细地阐述了开鲁盆地水文地质条件和水文地球化学特征及其对层间氧化带发育条件的影响 ,预测了两处可地浸砂岩型铀矿的成矿远景地段 ,并指出道德庙是本区最具找矿前景的地区。     

Changes in flow and chemistry of groundwater heavily affected by human impacts in the Baiyangdian catchment of the North China Plain

To identify impacts of air pollution, sewage drainage, agricultural production, over-pumping and reservoir storage on groundwater, a field survey was conducted in the Baiyangdian catchment of the North China Plain. Major ions and water isotopes were measured. Results show that hydrological processes and hydrogeochemical evolution of shallow groundwater were greatly disturbed by human activities. Excessive pumping resulted in significant declines of groundwater levels over the study area. This also induced infiltration of surface water into groundwater. A groundwater depression cone was the conflux center of groundwater surrounded by recharge zones including alluvial fans and surface water in alluvial plain. Pumping almost was the only way to discharge groundwater. Emission of SO _x and NO _x contributed at least 11% of rock weathering by dissolving into infiltrating precipitation. Surface waters containing sewage replenished ambient groundwater with an average mixing ratio of 74 ± 17% due to groundwater level drawdown. As a result, groundwater had elevated concentrations of Na⁺ and SO₄ ^2? with Na⁺ exchanged into aquifer sediments. About 29 ± 16% of Na⁺ was exchanged from groundwater into soil matrix. Agriculture nitrate was high only in the recharge zones. The most important result is that the transformation of the study area from a place rich in water resource into an area lack of water just took several decades with the joint action of the heavily human activities. Our study also indicates that shallow groundwater could sensitively respond to and record environmental changes.     

On causes and impacts of land subsidence in Bandung Basin, Indonesia

The Bandung Basin is a large intra-montane basin surrounded by volcanic highlands, in western Java, Indonesia, inhabited by more than seven million people. The basin, an area of about 2,300 km², is a highland plateau at approximately 650–700 m above sea level and is surrounded by up to 2,400 m high Late Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic terrain. Based on the results of nine GPS surveys conducted since 2000 up to 2011, it was shown that several locations in the Bandung Basin have experienced land subsidence, with an average rate of about ?8 cm/year and can go up to about ?23 cm/year in certain locations. A hypothesis has been proposed by several studies that land subsidence observed in several locations in the Bandung Basin has been caused mainly by excessive groundwater extraction. It is found that there is a strong correlation between the rates of groundwater level lowering with the GPS-derived rates of land subsidence in several locations in Bandung Basin. The GPS results in this study detected significant subsidence in the textile industry area, where very large volumes of groundwater are usually extracted. The impact of land subsidence in Bandung can be seen in several forms, mainly in the cracking and damage of houses, buildings and infrastructure. Land subsidence also aggravates the flooding in Bandung Basin, which has brought huge economic losses and deteriorated the quality of life and environment in the affected areas.     

The hydrogeology of the Ballimore region,central New South Wales,Australia: an integrated study

The integrated use of geophysical, geological, hydrogeochemical and hydrogeological data has allowed the development of a plausible conceptual model for groundwater flow in the Ballimore region. A realistic model for this under-explored system could not be derived solely by the use of hydrogeological data. Interpretation of the available datasets indicates that two groundwater systems are active: a regional and a local system. These are separated by a regionally extensive aquiclude. Groundwater flow in the regional groundwater system is controlled by the structural fabric of the Palaeozoic basement rocks. The local groundwater system is restricted to the Permian to Recent sequence of cover rocks. The local groundwater system is subdivided into three cells: the deep, intermediate and shallow cells. Groundwater flow within the deep cell of the local groundwater system is controlled by fracture flow. Groundwaters from this aquifer are under artesian pressure and are effervescent (CO₂-gas). The intermediate cell is a leaky aquitard that acts as a mixing zone between the deep and shallow cells. Groundwater flow within the shallow cell is controlled by the influx of surface waters which migrate laterally through permeable beds.     

Interaction between deep and shallow groundwater systems in areas affected by Quaternary tectonics (Central Italy): a geochemical and isotope approach

Hydro- and isotope geochemistry are used to refine groundwater conceptual models in two areas of central Italy (Acque Albule Basin and Velino River Valley) affected by extensional Quaternary tectonics, where deep and shallow groundwater flow systems are interacting. The role of geology, of recent deposits filling the plains and of main tectonic features controlling groundwater flowpaths and deep-seated fluids emergences are investigated and discussed. Environmental isotopes (²H and ¹⁸O) confirm recharge in the surrounding carbonate aquifers, and meteoric origin of both shallow and deep groundwater. Major ion chemistry indicates a mixing between shallow Ca-HCO₃ groundwater from carbonate aquifers and deep Ca-HCO₃-SO₄ groundwater, characterised by higher salinity and temperature and high concentration in sulphates. Isotopic composition of dissolved sulphates (δ ³⁴S and δ ¹⁸O) and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ ¹³C), henceforth indicated as DIC, are used to verify the presence of different sources of groundwater, and to validate the mixing model suggested by the major ion analyses. Sulphate isotope composition suggests a marine origin for the groundwater characterised by elevated sulphate concentration, whose source is present in the deep buried sequences. Carbon isotope composition confirms the role of a DIC source associated to CO₂ degassing of a deep reservoir. Groundwater conceptual models are improved underlining the importance of Plio-Pleistocene sequences filling the tectonic depression. In the Acque Albule area, the travertine plateau represents a mixing stratified aquifer, where deep groundwater contribution is spread into the shallow aquifer. The alluvial–clastic–lacustrine leaky aquifer of Velino Valley enables a complete mixing of shallow and deep groundwater allowing spot-located discharge of deep groundwater along tectonic patterns and facilitating sulphate reduction in the lacustrine sediments, explaining locally the presence of H₂S.     

Migration of arsenic in multi-aquifer system of southern Bengal Basin: analysis via numerical modeling

A heterogeneous anisotropic steady-state groundwater flow model for the multi-aquifer system of a part of southern Bengal Basin shows that human intervention has changed the natural groundwater flow system. At present, the shallow groundwater flow is restricted within the aquifer, with very short travel time of tens of years and vertical path length. The deep aquifer is fed by surface water or rainwater from distant locations with travel time of thousands of years and has no hydraulic connection with the arsenic-rich shallow aquifer. Numerical simulations indicate that the future pumping of deep groundwater is not likely to drive in arsenic from the shallow aquifer. Therefore, new wells may be installed in the deep aquifer. High pumping of shallow unpolluted aquifer consisting of brown sand will drive in groundwater containing organic matter from the post-Last Glacial Maximum aquifer-aquitard system. The organic matter drives reduction of manganese oxides at strip interfaces between palaeo-channel and palaeo-interfluve. After the completion of manganese reduction, FeOOH reduction may take place in the marginal palaeo-interfluvial aquifer and release sorbed arsenic. Arsenic then moves into the interior of palaeo-interfluvial aquifer polluting its fresh groundwater. Arsenic migration rates ranges between 0.21 and 6.3 and 1.3 × 10^?2 and 0.4 m/year in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. Therefore, palaeo-interfluvial aquifer will remain arsenic-free for hundreds to thousands of years to supply safe drinking water.     

开采条件下山东德州深层水资源组成及其与地面沉降的关系

针对德州长期过量开采深层水导致地下水位不断下降、地面沉降等环境地质问题,以深层地下水动态、地面沉降监测及其对应的粘性地层为主要研究对象,应用水文地球化学、地下水动力学和同位素技术方法,初步查明深层水主要形成于末次冰期盛期的大气降水补给;考虑地面沉降条件下,开采资源中20.6%的侧向径流补给和越流补给来自区域径流系统,反映深层地下水具有一定的更新能力;含水层弹性释水占17.5%,其中61.9%来自粘性土的压密释水,这是产生地面沉降的直接原因。     

Environmental impact assessment using FORM and groundwater system reliability concept: case study Jining, China

In this paper, fist-order reliability method (FORM) is used to evaluate the impacts of uncertainties posed by traditional deterministic models on the environment in Jining, China. Because of groundwater contamination in shallow aquifer, and an increase in water demand, the new wells target the confined aquifer with constant pumping rate of 5,000 m³/d. Using Theis equation, the groundwater drawdown is analyzed to determine whether the confined aquifer will be contaminated. Although the piezometric level is higher than the phreatic level by 11.0 m, the risk of drawdown is still 19.49% when the pumping rate of 5,000 m³/d is maintained for 2 years. The deterministic model indicates a drawdown of 8.94 m which is lower than the maximum tolerance drawdown of 11.0 m. The sensitivity and uncertainty analysis reveal that the model result is more sensitive to transmissivity than specific yield, while the reliability analysis offers significant information for the decision makers. This approach exposes and minimizes the risk of undesirable consequences such as groundwater contamination.     

Interaction between shallow and deep aquifers in the Tivoli Plain (Central Italy) enhanced by groundwater extraction: A multi-isotope approach and geochemical modeling

In the Tivoli Plain (Rome, Central Italy) the interaction between shallow and deep groundwater flow systems enhanced by groundwater extraction has been investigated using isotopic and chemical tracers. A conceptual model of the groundwater flowpaths has been developed and verified by geochemical modeling. A combined hydrogeochemical and isotopic investigation using ion relationships such as DIC/Cl⁻, Ca/(Ca + Mg)/SO₄/(SO₄ + HCO₃), and environmental isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ³⁴S and δ¹³C) was carried out in order to determine the sources of recharge of the aquifer, the origin of solutes and the mixing processes in groundwater of Tivoli Plain. Multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis and Cluster analyses have confirmed the existence of different geochemical facies and the role of mixing in the chemical composition of the groundwater.     

The interaction between surface water and groundwater and its effect on water quality in the Second Songhua River basin,northeast China

The relationship between surface water and groundwater not only influences the water quantity, but also affects the water quality. The stable isotopes (δD, δ ¹⁸O) and hydrochemical compositions in water samples were analysed in the Second Songhua River basin. The deep groundwater is mainly recharged from shallow groundwater in the middle and upper reaches. The shallow groundwater is discharged to rivers in the downstream. The runoff from upper reaches mainly contributed the river flow in the downstream. The CCME WQI indicated that the quality of surface water and groundwater was ‘Fair’. The mixing process between surface water and groundwater was simulated by the PHREEQC code with the results from the stable isotopes. The interaction between surface water and groundwater influences the composition of ions in the mixing water, and further affects the water quality with other factors.     

河套灌区西部浅层地下水咸化机制

浅层地下水水位埋深浅、含盐量高,是导致河套灌区土壤次生盐渍化的重要原因.以河套灌区西部地区为研究区,通过对浅层地下水的水化学和氢氧同位素特征分析以及水文地球化学模拟,探讨了灌区浅层地下水的补给来源和主控水-岩作用过程,并定量估算了蒸发作用对浅层地下水含盐量的影响.研究区内浅层地下水为弱碱性咸水,pH为7.23~8.45,总溶解性固体（total dissolved solids,TDS）变化范围为371~7 599 mg/L;随着地下水咸化程度增大,水化学类型由HCO₃-Na·Mg·Ca型向Cl-Na型过渡.引黄灌溉和大气降水是浅层地下水的主要补给来源,径流过程中浅层地下水受蒸发作用和植物蒸腾作用影响,地下水化学组分主要来源于蒸发盐溶解和硅酸盐风化水解,并受强烈的蒸发作用和离子交换作用影响.水文地球化学模拟和主成分分析结果显示,蒸发作用和岩盐溶解作用对区内浅层地下水咸化贡献最大,石膏和白云石等矿物的溶解、硅酸盐的水解、Na-Ca离子交换以及局部地形起伏对地下水咸化过程也有较大贡献.      

稳定同位素和放射性同位素方法在铀矿水化找矿中的应用

在水文地球化学找矿研究中,采用稳定同位素和放射性同泣素方法判别放射性水异常及其成圈是一个重要的课题。在宝昌盆地采用氢氧同位素及氚的研究确定了3种类型的地下水异常。它们是:(1)局部淋滤富集和蒸发浓缩作用形成;(2)铀矿化引起的异常水;(3)深部与浅部水的混合作用形成。异常水的补给高程估计为1796m。异常地下水中~(234)U的过剩显示了矿化存在的可能性。同位素水文学的研究为水文地球化学找铀提出了一个新的方向。     

三江平原富锦地区浅层地下水水化学特征及其形成作用

三江平原富锦地区是我国重要的产粮基地,农业灌溉对当地地下水水质造成了一定程度的影响,而地下水水质的变化制约着当地农业的发展及居民的饮水安全,因此对三江平原富锦地区地下水水化学特征及其形成作用进行研究具有十分重要的意义。本次研究对浅层地下水及地表水进行采样,运用Gibbs图、离子比例系数、δD和δ~(18)O同位素、克里金插值及反向地球化学模拟等方法,对三江平原富锦地区浅层地下水的水化学形成机制进行了分析。研究结果表明:地下水中TDS、NO_3-N质量浓度沿地下水流向呈递增趋势,地下水水化学类型以HCO_3-Ca和SO_4-Ca为主;硅铝酸盐以及岩盐的风化溶解是研究区地下水中离子的主要来源;溶滤作用、阳离子交替吸附作用和农业施肥、地下水开采等人类活动影响是控制地下水化学特征形成的主要作用。