A furrow runs through it: An example of sustainable traditional irrigation in Western Cape Province,South Africa

Water and water related matters are important issues in water scarce countries like the Republic of South Africa. This is especially true for the agricultural sector that relies heavily on the availability of water for irrigation to ensure a secure food supply. In South Africa, present day irrigation projects rely on government subsidies and are usually large undertakings beyond the reach of individuals or small communities. The sustainability of such large irrigation projects is still a matter of debate. A 100 years ago a different set of rules applied. Irrigation could only be achieved by hand-dug furrows that supplied water in relatively small quantities to small farming communities. This paper investigated such a small community, the Leeukloof farming community in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. For the past 93 years this community has maintained a furrow that supplies water not only to farms bordering the Perdeberg River, which supplies the furrow with water, but also to farms not bordering the river. The authors try to reconstruct the changes in agricultural practices brought about by the furrow, methods of water extraction during each phase, as well as the development and role of the furrow system. The perception by the community of the necessity of this method of water extraction from the river system is also investigated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

沟灌土壤水分运动数值模拟与入渗模型

为进一步探明沟灌二维土壤水分运动规律,以非饱和土壤水分运动理论为基础,建立了沟灌土壤水分运动数学模型,用多组试验资料对模型模拟结果进行验证,两者基本吻合,表明模型可用于模拟沟灌二维土壤水分入渗过程.用所建模型对不同因素组合下沟灌土壤湿润体特性进行模拟分析,结果表明:土壤初始含水率、沟间距对沟灌累积入渗量影响较小,土壤质地、容重、沟底宽和沟中水深对其影响较为显著;沟底宽、土壤初始含水率对土壤湿润体水分分布影响较小,土壤质地、容重对其影响较大,沟间距、沟中水深对其影响主要在零通量面附近,当入渗发生交汇后,零通量面处垂向湿润锋运移加快.以此为基础,建立了包含湿周在内的沟灌累积入渗量计算模型.     

沟灌侵蚀研究进展

从沟灌侵蚀机理的角度出发,分析了沟灌水性质、灌溉水作用方式对沟灌侵蚀影响的主要研究成果,及其与一般降雨径流侵蚀的区别;分析了国内外主要沟灌侵蚀预报模型发展的研究成果及存在的主要问题;分析了实践中沟灌侵蚀防治方法的主要研究成果。结合中国沟灌侵蚀研究的实际情况,提出了今后一定时期内在沟灌侵蚀研究方面的发展设想与研究思路。     

Groundwater quality,nitrate pollution and irrigation environmental management in the Neogene sediments of an agricultural region in central Thessaly (Greece)

The degradation of groundwater quality, which has been noted in the recent years, is closely connected to the intensification of agriculture, the unreasonable use of chemical fertilizers and the excess consumption of large volumes of irrigation water. In the hilly region of central Thessaly in Greece, which suffers the consequences of intense agricultural use, a hydrogeological study is carried out, taking groundwater samples from springs and boreholes in the Neogene aquifers. The aim of this study is the investigation of irrigation management, water quality and suitability for various uses (water supply, irrigation), the degradation degree and the spatial distribution of pollutants using GIS. The following hydrochemical types prevail in the groundwater of the study area: Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Mg–Ca–Na–HCO₃ and Na–HCO₃. In the above shallow aquifers, especially high values of NO₃ ⁻ (31.7–299.0), NH₄ ⁺ (0.12–1.11), NO₂ ⁻ (0.018–0.109), PO₄ ³⁻ (0.07–0.55), SO₄ ²⁻ (47.5–146.5) and Cl⁻ (24.8–146.5) are found, particularly near inhabited areas (values are in mg L⁻¹). The water of shallow aquifers is considered unsuitable for human use due to their high polluting load, while the water of the deeper aquifers is suitable for human consumption. Regarding water suitability for irrigation, the evaluation of SAR (0.153–7.397) and EC (481–1,680 μS cm⁻¹) resulted in classification category ‘C3S1’, indicating high salinity and low sodium water which can be used for irrigation in most soils and crops with little to medium danger of development of exchangeable sodium and salinity. The statistical data analysis, the factor analysis and the GIS application have brought out the vulnerable-problematic zones in chemical compounds of nitrogen and phosphates. The groundwater quality degradation is localized and related exclusively to human activities. Based on 2005 and 2008 estimates, the annual safe yield of the region’s aquifers were nearly 41.95 MCM. However, the existing situation is that 6.37 MCM of water is over extracted from these aquifers.     

Suitability analysis for sand and gravel extraction site location in the context of a sustainable development in the surroundings of Zaragoza (Spain)

Zaragoza city is located in the central Ebro Basin, in the Iberian Peninsula. The fluvial terraces formed by the Ebro River present a valuable resource of sand and gravel deposits. However, taking advantage of these available resources implies conflicts with other land use interests like urban and industrial development as well as agricultural use, which has also traditionally occupied the alluvial terraces. These deposits represent a substantial groundwater resource that should be preserved for future generations. The development of spatial decision support systems (SDSS) has greatly assisted efforts for solving land-use conflicts. These systems combine the benefits of geographic information systems (GIS) and decision support methodologies and are therefore suitable to manage sustainable development of urban areas. In this contribution, an extraction suitability map taking into consideration a variety of environmental criteria is created with the help of a SDSS. The method used is the analytical hierarchy process which is integrated in ArcGIS. Areas most suitable to sand and gravel extraction are located in the high terraces, and in those terraces covered by pediments where the thickness of resource is relatively high. These areas are far from valuable natural areas, outside areas most vulnerable to groundwater contamination, and beneath soils with poor irrigation characteristics.     

The impact of the development of water resources on environment in arid inland river basins of Hexi region, Northwestern China

Water resources use is a key parameter in the hydrological cycle, especially in arid inland of Northwest China, groundwater movement and circulation processes are closely related to the surface water, while recoverable and renewable groundwater mainly comes from the conversion of surface river water, and there is extensive transfer among rainfall, surface water and groundwater. Human activity, in particular, large-scale water resources exploitation and development associated with dramatic population growth in the last decades, has led to tremendous changes in the water regime. There are misuse and wastage of surface water with traditional multi-channel irrigation for most rivers, which in turn leads to over-exploitation of groundwater to augment supplies. This situation has been exacerbated by rapid population growth and socio-economic development, with decreased irrigational systems return to groundwater due to the irrigation system in the middle reaches of rivers in the Hexi region becoming better. The investigations of this study revealed that over the last decades, man-made oases have developed rapidly in various inland river basins. With the increasing human demand for water, the contradiction between water demand and water supply is becoming increasingly acute and the amount of groundwater usage significantly increased. Notwithstanding the annual surface water from mountains is relatively stable in the Hexi region, the recharges of groundwater have been reduced by 11.1%, with a maximum reduction of 50% in the Shiyang River basin. Groundwater abstraction increased by approximately six times, particularly in the Shiyang River basin, groundwater abstraction exceeds recharge by 4.1×10⁸ m³ year⁻¹ in recent decades. Consequently, the groundwater level has declined widely by 3–16 m, with a maximum decline of 45 m in several groundwater observation wells in the Minqin basin on the lower reaches of the Shiyang River basin. These cause serious human activity-induced environmental problems, such as water-quality deterioration, vegetation degradation, soil salinization and land desert desertification, etc. It is suggested that modernized irrigation technology and new regulation to cover water resources management and allocation with the river basins are urgently needed to achieve a sustainable development. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of the development of water resources on the environment in arid inland river basins in Northwestern China, which were analyzed by comparing the three main river basins (i.e., the Shuilei, the Heihe and the Shiyang River basins) with different water resources development cases.     

China’s huge investment on water facilities: an effective adaptation to climate change, natural disasters, and food security

China’s huge investment on water infrastructure for sustainable water use, followed by recently frequent natural disasters, caused worldwide concerns, i.e., continuously published by Nature and Science. Most researchers emphasized challenges on this investment; yet, we argue that the 2011-plan, targeting reservoirs, wells, irrigation systems, inter-basin water transfer projects, is the most effective adaptation to climate change, drought and flooding, as well as food security. This provides a good case of water management and development, particularly for the current uneven water resources and food security by climate change.     

The hydrogeology of Adama-Wonji basin and assessment of groundwater level changes in Wonji wetland,Main Ethiopian Rift: results from 2D tomography and electrical sounding methods

Rise of groundwater level becomes an emerging concern at Wonji irrigation field, Main Ethiopian Rift. An integrated study based on geophysical resistivity methods is conducted at Wonji wetland to understand the link between irrigation water and the shallow aquifer system as well as to confirm the current concern of groundwater rise. The study was also intended to improve the uncertainty of understanding the hydrogeology of Wonji wetland including the extent and direction of groundwater–surface water interaction. The vertical and horizontal contacts between the different geological series of the Wonji area are resolved with 2D high-resolution geophysical imaging. Results from both VES and 2D tomography show low resistivity layers under Wonji irrigation field with narrow ranges in resistivity variation which corresponds to a homogeneous saturated layer. The geoelectric sections reveal two fault systems running NW–SE and N–S directions which impede lateral groundwater flow. Furthermore, groundwater is converged towards the Wonji irrigation site strained by these fault systems. The geophysical results show strong link between irrigation water and the shallow unconfined aquifer as well as among the local and regional flow systems.     

Towards a policy for sustainable use of groundwater by non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan

A 'first pass' groundwater management policy has been developed for use by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan, designed to prevent derogation of existing traditional water sources, aquifer over-abstraction and chemical deterioration of soil and groundwater quality. Key elements include (1) continuing promotion of groundwater as a drinking water source, (2) a presumption against use of motorised pumps to abstract groundwater for irrigation unless other options (surface water, qanats) are not available, (3) the use of groundwater for irrigation as a temporary alternative to surface water (i.e. a strategy for drought survival) rather than as a long-term development policy, (4) limiting groundwater abstraction to a long-term average of 1 l s^–1 km^–2, (5) siting irrigation wells at least 500 m from other groundwater sources and (6) analysing irrigation groundwater for electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio, boron and residual sodium carbonate alkalinity. Analyses of these parameters indicate that groundwater from some areas is of dubious suitability for irrigation. In some villages and towns, groundwater contains elevated nitrate and faecal bacteria concentrations, probably derived from latrines, sewage or animal wastes. Electronic Publication     

The Effectiveness of Centre-Pivot Irrigation from Dolomitic Ground Water in the Northwest Province,South Africa

Because South Africa is situated in a semi-dry region, the limited water resources are placed under increasing pressure by consumers from different sectors. Irrigation consumes more than half of the available water resources in South Africa. In the Northwest Province large volumes of water are found in dolomitic aquifers. Since 1970 irrigation from these aquifers has resulted in an exponential growth in the withdrawal of groundwater. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of groundwater utilization with centre-pivot irrigation in the Northwest Province, as well as to identify the most important variables that influence this effectiveness. Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to establish a model with which the probable effectiveness of groundwater utilization on a specific farm can be predicted. The results show that four variables have a significant effect on the net profit margin from centre-pivot irrigation in the study area, namely: • Knowledge regarding the water capacity of the soil • Adjusting irrigation according to precipitation • The use of a yield target for fertiliser application, and • Soil characteristics The above parameters were used to develop a model with which farmers in the study area can be ranked according to the effectiveness of their water usage for centre-pivot irrigation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

一种沟灌累积入渗量简化计算方法

为简化沟灌二维累积入渗量的数值计算,采用理论分析和数值模拟相结合的方法,研究分析了土壤初始含水率、入渗水深、沟底宽、边坡系数、土壤质地和容重等因素对沟灌边界效应和拟合系数γ的影响,并建立了系数γ与主要影响因素间的函数关系式,提出了沟灌累积入渗量简化计算方法.结果表明,土壤初始含水率、沟底宽和边坡系数对沟灌边界效应的影响较小,而入渗水深、土壤质地和容重对沟灌边界效应的影响显著;拟合系数γ主要与入渗水深的变化有关,随入渗水深的增大呈现减小趋势,但对初始含水率、沟底宽、边坡系数、土壤质地和容重等因素变化的敏感性较低,可忽略其影响;建立了估算拟合系数γ的计算式,结合已有文献资料对其可靠性进行了验证,结果表明黏壤土和砂壤土不同入渗时间内,其沟灌累积入渗量计算值与实测值和HYDRUS软件模拟值具有高的一致性,说明文中所建公式估算拟合系数γ值可靠.研究结果可为简化沟灌累积入渗量的数值计算提供理论依据和技术支撑.     

Hydrology of part of the Oramiriukwa River basin,southeast of Owerri,Imo State,Nigeria

The Oramiriukwa River is within the sandy coastal plain strata of the Benin formation (Miocene–Recent). The base flow is very high ranging from 79.13–98.56%, which is caused by the excellent hydraulic interconnection between the river and the adjacent unconfined aquifer. Recharge rates are high, estimated to range from 1.8×10¹²–2.5×10¹² m³/year. Coastal sands are medium-to-coarse grained, moderately-to-poorly sorted, angular to subangular, with lenses of clay and clayey fine-grained sands. The coastal sands and clay lenses form aquifer and aquitard systems, which are unconfined to semi-confined. Groundwater recharge potential is high. Runoff from precipitation is low. Groundwater and surface water are fairly acidic; pH ranges from 5.5–6.1 (groundwater) and 5.8–6.5 (surface water), and hardness is generally low. Chemical analysis and percentage sodium show that groundwater and surface water are somewhat potable after some pH modification of the surface water. The waters are good for agricultural use, especially for irrigation and poultry water supply. However, pollution from landfill leachate is serious. Electronic Publication     

Groundwater irrigation and its implications for water policy in semiarid countries: the Spanish experience

Over the last decades, groundwater irrigation has become commonplace in many arid and semiarid regions worldwide, including Spain. This is largely a consequence of the advances in drilling and pumping technologies, and of the development of Hydrogeology. Compared with traditional surface water irrigation systems, groundwater irrigation offers more reliable supplies, lesser vulnerability to droughts, and ready accessibility for individual users. Economic forces influence the groundwater irrigation sector and its development. In Spain's Mediterranean regions, abstraction costs often amount to a very small fraction of the value of crops. In the inner areas, groundwater irrigation supports a more stable flow of farm income than rainfed agriculture. The social (jobs/m³) and economic (€/m³) value of groundwater irrigation generally exceeds that of surface water irrigation systems. However, poor groundwater management and legal controversies are currently at the base of Spain's social disputes over water. A thorough and transparent assessment of the relative socio-economic value of groundwater in relation to surface water irrigation might contribute to mitigate or avoid potential future conflicts. Enforcement of the European Union's Water Framework Directive may deliver better groundwater governance and a more sustainable use.

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Resumen Durante las últimas décadas, la irrigación con agua subterránea se ha vuelto común en muchas regiones áridas y semiáridas alrededor del mundo, incluyendo a España. Ésta es en gran medida una consecuencia de los adelantos en las tecnologías de perforación y bombeo, y del desarrollo de la Hidrogeología. Comparada con los sistemas tradicionales de irrigación con agua superficial, la irrigación con agua subterránea ofrece suministros más fiables, la vulnerabilidad es menor a las sequías, y posee accesibilidad inmediata para los usuarios individuales. Las fuerzas económicas influyen el sector de irrigación con agua subterránea y su desarrollo. En las regiones mediterráneas de España, los costos de extracción suman a menudo una parte muy pequeña del valor de las cosechas. En las áreas internas, la irrigación con agua subterránea constituye un flujo más estable de ingresos para la granja, que la agricultura dependiente del agua lluvia. El valor social (empleos/m³) y económico (€/m³) de la irrigación con agua subterránea, generalmente excede a aquél con sistemas de irrigación de agua superficial. Sin embargo, la gestión pobre del agua subterránea y las controversias legales están actualmente en la base de las disputas sociales en España acerca del agua. Una evaluación completa y transparente del valor socio-económico relativo de agua subterránea respecto a la irrigación con agua superficial, podría contribuir mitigar o evitar los conflictos potenciales del futuro. La entrada en vigor del Marco Reglamentario de Agua de la Unión Europea, puede conllevar a una administración mejor del agua subterránea y a un uso más sostenible.

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Résumé Depuis les dernières décennies, l’irrigation avec l’eau souterraine est devenue commune dans plusieurs régions arides et semi-arides, incluant l’Espagne. Ceci est largement une conséquence due à l’avancement aux technologies de forages et des pompages, et au développement de l’Hydrogéologie. Comparé avec des systèmes traditionnels d’irrigation utilisant l’eau de surface, l’irrigation avec l’eau souterraine offre une technique d’alimentation plus fiable, une vulnérabilité à la sécheresse moins grande, et une accessibilité plus aisée pour chaque utilisateur. Les forces économiques influencent le secteur de l’irrigation par l’eau souterraine et son développement. Dans les régions de l’Espagne Méditerranéenne, les coûts d’exploitation représentent toujours une petite fraction de la valeur des cultures. Dans les régions intérieures, l’irrigation par l’eau souterraine supporte une agriculture plus stable et continue qu’une agriculture reposant sur l’eau de pluie. La valeur sociale (emploi/m³) et économique (€/m³) de l’irrigation avec l’eau souterraine, excède généralement celle des systèmes d’irrigation avec l’eau de surface. Néanmoins, des gestions pauvres de l’eau souterraine et des controverses légales sont couramment à la base de disputes sociales sur l’eau. Un bilan transparent et minutieux des valeurs relatives socio-économiques de l’eau souterraine en relation avec l’eau de surface d’irrigation, devrait contribuer à éviter de potentiels et futurs conflits. Un renforcement de la Directive Cadre de l’Union Européenne devrait apporter une meilleure gouvernance et un usage plus durable.

     

Irrigation related arsenic contamination of a thin,alluvial aquifer,Madison River Valley,Montana, U.S.A.

The arsenic concentration in 13 water samples from wells in the thin, alluvial aquifer of the Madison River Valley, Montana, U.S.A. ranged from 26 to 150 μg/l. The Madison River, which originates in Yellowstone National Park, has a mean arsenic concentration of 51 μg/l (σ=26 μg/l), based upon very limited sampling in the study area during the main irrigation period. Groundwater arsenic concentration increases down the valley can be best correlated with the intensity of ditch irrigation in this semiarid area. No other sources of dissolved arsenic as concentrated as that of the river water have been identified. Evaporative concentration of river-derived irrigation water is believed to have been the overwhelming factor in the contamination of this shallow aquifer.     

Changes in irrigation management and quantity and quality of drainage water in a traditional irrigated land

Irrigated agriculture allows for the increase of agrarian yields and stability in food supply and raw materials, being, at the same time, responsible for the reduction of water resources availability and for the pollution by salts and nitrate. This work aims to analyze the impact of changes in irrigation management (establishment of an on-demand flood irrigated system, assignment of irrigation allowances and water payment for surface and irrigation water consumption) in a traditional irrigated land on drainage flow, electrical conductivity and nitrate concentration in irrigation return flows between the year 2001 and the period 2005–2008. Changes in water management significantly modified quantity (lower drainage) and quality (electrical conductivity and nitrate) of irrigation return flows, keeping similar evolution paths during the year with water ameliorants in summer due to the use of good irrigation water quality. Salinity in irrigation return flows is not a current problem in the area as electrical conductivity values in water did not exceed the limit established for water used in irrigation or intended for human consumption. Despite the fact that changes in irrigation management and crop distribution have reduced nitrate concentrations in irrigation return flows by 43 %, the water still presents nitrate values exceeding the 50 mg NO₃ ^?/l. Thus, nitrate remains as the main agro-environmental problem in this irrigation area. However, the nitrate concentration trends detected in this work mark the possibility of reaching nitrate values below 50 mg NO₃ ^?/l in the case of maintenance of the conditions in this agricultural system.     

Using Landsat data to determine land use changes in Datong basin,China

The aim of this study was to determine land use changes in Datong basin using multitemporal Landsat data for the period of 1977–2006. Four dates of Landsat images from 1977, 1990, 2000, and 2006 were selected to classify the study area. Based on the supervised classification method of maximum likelihood algorithm, images were classified into six classes: water, urban, forest, agriculture, wetland, and barren land. A multidate postclassification comparison change detection algorithm was used to determine changes in land use in four intervals. It is found that (1) urban land area increased 213% due to urbanization that resulted from rapid increase of urban population and high-speed economic development, (2) agriculture area increased 34.0% due to land reclamation that resulted from rapid increase of rural population and improvement of irrigation capacity, (3) forest area decreased 20.9% due to deforestation for urban area and agricultural use, (4) barren land area decreased 78.2% due to cultivation for agricultural use, and (5) water and wetland decreased 39.1 and 67.1%, respectively, due to exploitation of surface water and decrease of recharge from groundwater to surface water that resulted from over exploitation of groundwater.     

Water resources development and management in the Cuddapah district, India

 Intensive application of surface water in command areas of irrigation projects is creating water logging problems, and the increase of groundwater usage in agriculture, industry and domestic purposes (through indiscriminate sinking of wells) is causing continuous depletion of water levels, drying up of wells and quality problems. Thus the protect aquifers to yield water continuously at economical cost, the management of water resources is essential. Integrated geological, hydrological (surface and groundwater) and geochemical aspects have been studied for the development and management of water resources in drought-prone Cuddapah district. The main lithological units are crystallines, quartzites, shales and limestones. About 91 000 ha of land in the Cuddapah district is irrigated by canal water. A registered ayacut of about 47 000 ha is irrigated by 1368 minor irrigation tanks. A total of 503 spring channels are identified in the entire district originating from the rivers/streams, which has the capacity of irrigating about 8700 ha. The average seasonal rise in groundwater level is 7.32 m in quartzites, 5.35 m in crystallines, 3.82 m in shales, 2.50 m in limestones and 2.11 m in alluvium. Large quantities of groundwater are available in the mining areas which can be utilised and managed properly by the irrigation department/cultivators for the irrigation practices. Groundwater assessment studies revealed that 584 million m³ of groundwater is available for future irrigation in the district. From the chemical analysis, the quality of groundwater in various rock units is within the permissible limits for irrigation and domestic purposes, but at a few places the specific conductance, chloride and fluoride contents are high. This may be due to untreated effluents, improper drainage system and/or the application of fertilisers. Received: 10 June 1998 · Accepted: 15 November 1998     

引大工程供水区水资源优化配置模型及方案研究

引大入秦工程是由大通河向甘肃中部兰州市永登县秦王川地区跨流域引水的以农业灌溉为主要目的大型调水工程。工程建成通水后,对改变当地农业生产条件和贫困面貌、安置贫困山区移民、促进秦王川地区的经济社会发展发挥了重要作用。但是,由于各种因素的综合影响,工程在设计效益的发挥等方面存在一些问题,集中表现在供水能力未能充分发挥、工程水资源配置没有实现最优化。在收集到翔实的第一手资料的基础上,将引大灌区和周边可能的供水范围作为一个统一的研究对象即引大工程供水区,根据供水区的供需水现状和用水发展趋势,采用水资源系统分析理论中的最优化技术,建立以经济效益、社会效益和环境效益最优为目标、以供需水量为约束条件的优化配置模型,通过求解模型,确定近期和远期供水区的水资源在各子区不同用水部门间的最优化配置方案,为富余水源寻找出路,这对最大限度地发挥工程效益,促进区域经济社会的可持续发展具有重要作用。     

Suitability assessment of shallow and deep groundwaters for drinking and irrigation use in the El Khairat aquifer (Enfidha, Tunisian Sahel)

The El Khairat aquifer is an important groundwater aquiferous system, which is considered a major source for drinking and irrigation water in Enfidha in Tunisian Sahel. The analysis of groundwater chemical characteristics provides much important information useful in water resources management. Assessing the water quality status for special use is the main objective of any water monitoring studies. An attempt has been made for the first time in this region to appreciate the quality and/or the suitability of shallow and deep groundwater for drinking and irrigation. In order to attend this objective, a total of 35 representative water samples were collected during February 2007 from both boreholes (17) and wells (18); and analyzed for the major cations (sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium) and anions (chloride, sulphate, bicarbonate, and nitrate) along with various physical and chemical parameters (temperature, pH, total dissolved salts, and electrical conductivity). Based on the physico-chemical analyses, irrigation quality parameters like sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), percentage of sodium (Na%), and permeability index (PI) were calculated. In addition to this, iso-concentration maps were constructed using the geographic information system to delineate spatial variation of qualitative parameters of groundwater samples. The correlation of the analytical data has been attempted by plotting different graphical representations such as Piper, Wilcox, and US Salinity Laboratory for the classification of water. The suitability of the water from the groundwater sources for drinking and irrigation purposes was evaluated by comparing the values of different water quality parameters with World Health Organization guideline values for drinking water. A preliminary hydrochemical characterization shows that most of the groundwater samples fall in the field of calcium–magnesium–chloride–sulphate type of water. Majority of the samples are not suitable for drinking purposes and far from drinking water standards. The high EC value and the percentage of Na in most of the groundwater render it unsuitable for irrigation. Wilcox classification suggested that around 50% of both deep and shallow groundwater samples are unsuitable for irrigation. According to the US Salinity Classification, most of the groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation unless special measures are adopted.     

Transient, longitudinal, sedimentary furrows in the York River subestuary, Chesapeake Bay: Furrow evolution and effects on seabed mixing and sediment transport

Sedimentary furrows in fine-grained sediments have been observed in a variety of settings ranging from the deep ocean and deep lake bottoms to shallow estuaries and are commonly described as persistent, long-term features of the seabed. A series of 12 sidescan sonar surveys over the course of three years reveal that transient, longitudinal sedimentary furrows regularly form and then occasionally dissipate within the middle portion of the York River. Varying furrow morphologies were observed depending on current conditions, ranging from large regularly space (0.7–7 m) linear furrows during low current conditions to large patches of meandering furrows as the mean current increases or no bed forms during the higher current conditions. Based on²¹⁰Pb and¹³⁷Cs profiles of kasten cores, differences in physical mixing depths of ∼25 cm between cores collected <2 m apart indicate a high degree of small-scale spatial heterogeneity within the seabed. By documenting the position of kasten cores using a digital sidescan sonar system, we showed that a core taken within a furrow had a mixing depth 15 cm shallower than an adjacent core taken between furrows. A time-series of mixing depths over the 35 mo of the study reveals that, along with the ∼25 cm scale differences in mixing depths due to the formation and destruction of furrows, there is a longer temporal signal of mixing producing 100-cm-scale changes in mixing depths on the annual to interannual time frame. Although the formation and destruction of the furrows appear to be a significant process contributing to decimeter-scale seabed mixing, there is a longer-term unknown process which is controlling the meter-scale seabed mixing.