A combined-water-system approach for tackling water scarcity: application to the Permilovo groundwater basin,Russia

The suitability of a combined water system (CWS) is assessed for meeting drinking-water demand for the city of Arkhangelsk (northwestern Russian Federation), instead of using the polluted surface water of the Northern Dvina River. An appropriate aquifer system (Permilovo groundwater basin) was found and explored in the 1980s, and there were plans then to operate an abstraction scheme using traditional pumping methods. However, the 1980s planned water system was abandoned due to projected impermissible stream depletion such that complete interception of the cone of depression with the riverbed would cause the riverbed to become dry. The design of a CWS is now offered as an approach to addressing this environmental problem. Several sets of major pumping wells associated with the CWS are located on the banks of Vaymuga River and induce infiltration from the stream. The deficiency of the stream flow in dry seasons is compensated for by pumping from aquifer storage. A numerical model was constructed using MODFLOW-2000. The results of the simulation showed the efficiency of the compensation pumping. The streamflow depletion caused by the CWS is equal to the minimum permissible stream flow and is lower than the depletion projected by the abandoned plan. Application of the CWS in the Permilovo groundwater basin makes it possible to meet water demands during water-limited periods and to avoid environmental problems.     

水力层析法与克立金法估算非均质含水层渗透系数场比较

含水层非均质性空间分布特征的识别,是准确模拟地下水流和污染物运移的前提.基于室内非均质含水层砂箱实验,分别利用水力层析法和克立金插值法刻画了非均质含水层渗透系数场.研究结果表明:(1) 水力层析法与克立金法相比,不仅可以更好地刻画非均质含水层渗透系数场,还可以更高精度地预测地下水流过程;(2) 水力层析抽水实验中,通过增加抽水实验组数可以有效地提高水力层析参数反演的精度,但是抽水实验组数增加到一定程度以后,再增加抽水组数不会显著提升参数反演的效果.后续需要进一步研究水力层析抽水实验合适的组数,进一步对抽水井进行优化布设.      

水力联系系数法定量评价含水层之间水力联系

为了定量研究与评价含水层之间地下水水力联系程度,首次提出了水力联系系数C（hydraulic connection coefficient）的概念。将水力联系系数C定义为观测孔目的含水层水位降深与该观测孔位置抽水含水层水位降深的比值。通过水力联系系数,可定量评价某含水层水平上同层之间和垂向上不同含水层之间的水力联系程度。依据鄂尔多斯盆地白垩系洛河组各含水层段的水力联系系数C值,将含水层之间水力联系分为5个等级。其中,0.000 0 ≤ C<0.062 5,0.062 5 ≤ C<0.125 0,0.125 0 ≤ C<0.250 0,0.250 0 ≤ C<0.500 0,C ≥ 0.500 0,分别代表水力联系等级为极弱、弱、中等、强、极强。以高家堡井田钻孔抽（放）水试验数据为例,采用水力联系系数和观测孔水位响应时间两个指标定量评价了区内巨厚层状非均质洛河组含水层内部水力联系。结果表明：洛河组中上段水平同层之间的水力联系系数分别为0.373 0、0.413 8,观测孔水位响应时间较短（约为5 min）,水力联系强;洛河组下段水平同层之间水力联系系数分别为0.440 1、0.491 1,观测孔水位响应时间较短（为9~20 min）,水力联系强;洛河组中上段与下段垂向水力联系系数分别为0.000 2、0.007 2、0.089 7,观测孔水位响应时间较长（大于60 min）,水力联系极弱至弱。     

Evapotranspiration capture and stream depletion due to groundwater pumping under variable boreal climate conditions: Sudogda River Basin,Russia

Groundwater pumping and changes in climate-induced recharge lead to lower groundwater levels and significant changes in the water balance of a catchment. Water previously discharged as evapotranspiration can become a source of pumpage. Neglecting this effect leads to overestimated streamflow depletion. A small river basin (Sudogda River Basin, Russia) with a boreal climate and with long-term records of groundwater head and streamflow rate (showing that the measured stream depletion is less than the pumping rate) was investigated. The role of evapotranspiration in the water balance was analyzed by a hydrogeological model using MODFLOW-2005 with the STR package; the annual variation in recharge was obtained with the codes Surfbal and HYDRUS. The Sudogda River Basin was classified according to landscape and unsaturated-zone texture classes, and for each classified zone, the unsaturated-zone flow simulation was used to calculate the annual recharge dynamics for the observation period. Calibration of the regional flow model was conducted using flow and head observations jointly for two steady-state flow conditions—natural (before pumping started) and stressed (pumping). The simulations showed that pumped water originates from three sources: intercepted baseflow (75% of the annual total pumping rate), the capture of groundwater evapotranspiration discharge plus increased groundwater recharge (17%), and induced stream infiltration (8%). Additionally, multi-year precipitation records were analyzed to detect any long-term recharge and pumping water-budget changes. The results showed that increasing groundwater recharge by natural precipitation leads to (1) decreased intercepted baseflow and induced streamflow infiltration and (2) increased intercepted evapotranspiration discharge, thereby reducing stream depletion.     

Modeling groundwater/surface-water interactions in an Alpine valley (the Aosta Plain,NW Italy): the effect of groundwater abstraction on surface-water resources

A groundwater flow model of the Alpine valley aquifer in the Aosta Plain (NW Italy) showed that well pumping can induce river streamflow depletions as a function of well location. Analysis of the water budget showed that ～80% of the water pumped during 2 years by a selected well in the downstream area comes from the baseflow of the main river discharge. Alluvial aquifers hosted in Alpine valleys fall within a particular hydrogeological context where groundwater/surface-water relationships change from upstream to downstream as well as seasonally. A transient groundwater model using MODFLOW2005 and the Streamflow-Routing (SFR2) Package is here presented, aimed at investigating water exchanges between the main regional river (Dora Baltea River, a left-hand tributary of the Po River), its tributaries and the underlying shallow aquifer, which is affected by seasonal oscillations. The three-dimensional distribution of the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer was obtained by means of a specific coding system within the database TANGRAM. Both head and flux targets were used to perform the model calibration using PEST. Results showed that the fluctuations of the water table play an important role in groundwater/surface-water interconnections. In upstream areas, groundwater is recharged by water leaking through the riverbed and the well abstraction component of the water budget changes as a function of the hydraulic conditions of the aquifer. In downstream areas, groundwater is drained by the river and most of the water pumped by wells comes from the base flow component of the river discharge.     

抽水含水层对非抽水含水层水位影响的效应分析

利用自动水位计记录的抽水试验过程中不同层位含水组之间的动态水位,分析了在抽水试验最初阶段时抽水含水组与非抽水含水组之间的水力联系。研究结果表明:(1)抽水含水层对非抽水含水层存在水位影响效应,在抽水初期,水位影响效应较大;当抽水含水层水位达到稳定或缓慢下降时,水位影响效应随之消失。(2)单位降深水位影响效应显示,上部含水层距离抽水含水层越远,水位影响效应越大;下部含水层距离抽水含水层越远,水位影响效应越小。(3)利用三维地下水流数值模拟方法和应力应变对含水层水位动态影响的原理对水位影响效应机理进行分析,发现水位影响效应与含水层的固体骨架压缩系数(α)、水体积压缩系数(β)、孔隙度(n)和边界控制系数(Cm)等参数有关。     

Stream water bypass through a meander neck, laterally extending the hyporheic zone

A meander lobe neck diverts stream water into a hyporheic flow path adjacent to a low gradient stream, Little Kickapoo Creek, Illinois, USA. Hyporheic processes have been well-documented in surface water–groundwater mixing zones underlying and directly adjacent to streams. Alluvial aquifers underlying meander necks provide a further extension of the hyporheic zone. Hydraulic head and temperature data, collected from a set of wells across a meander neck, show stream water moves through the meander neck. The hydraulic gradient across the meander neck (0.006) is greater than the stream gradient (0.003) between the same points, driving the bypass. Rapid subsurface response to elevated stream stage shows a hydraulic connection between the stream and the alluvial aquifer. Temperature data and a Peclet number (Pe) of 43.1 indicate that thermal transport is dominated by advection from the upstream side to the downstream side of the meander neck. The temperature observed within the alluvial aquifer correlates with seasonal temperature variation. Together, the pressure and temperature data indicate that water moves across the meander neck. The inflow of stream water through the meander neck suggests that the meander system may host biogeochemical hyporheic zone processes.     

Modeling approaches and strategies for data-scarce aquifers: example of the Dar es Salaam aquifer in Tanzania

Management of groundwater resources can be improved by using groundwater models to perform risk analyses and to improve development strategies, but a lack of extensive basic data often limits the implementation of sophisticated models. Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is an example of a city where increasing groundwater use in a Pleistocene aquifer is causing groundwater-related problems such as saline intrusion along the coastline, lowering of water-table levels, and contamination of pumping wells. The lack of a water-level monitoring network introduces a problem for basic data collection and model calibration and validation. As a replacement, local water-supply wells were used for measuring groundwater depth, and well-top heights were estimated from a regional digital elevation model to recalculate water depths to hydraulic heads. These were used to draw a regional piezometric map. Hydraulic parameters were estimated from short-time pumping tests in the local wells, but variation in hydraulic conductivity was attributed to uncertainty in well characteristics (information often unavailable) and not to aquifer heterogeneity. A MODFLOW model was calibrated with a homogeneous hydraulic conductivity field and a sensitivity analysis between the conductivity and aquifer recharge showed that average annual recharge will likely be in the range 80–100 mm/year.     

Modelling the response of an alluvial aquifer to anthropogenic and recharge stresses in the United States Southern Great Plains

This paper uses Visual MODFLOW to simulate potential impacts of anthropogenic pumping and recharge variability on an alluvial aquifer in semi-arid northwestern Oklahoma. Groundwater withdrawal from the aquifer is projected to increase by more than 50% (relative to 1990) by the year 2050. In contrast, climate projections indicate declining regional precipitation over the next several decades, creating a potential problem of demand and supply. The following scenarios were simulated: (1) projected groundwater withdrawal, (2) a severe drought, (3) a prolonged wet period, and (4) a human adjustment scenario, which assumes future improvements in water conservation measures. Results indicate that the combined impacts of anthropogenic pumping and droughts would create drawdown of greater than 12 m in the aquifer. Spatially, however, areas of severe drawdown will be localized around large-capacity well clusters. The worst impacts of both pumping and droughts will be on stream–aquifer interaction. For example, the projected aquifer pumpage would lead to a total streamflow loss of 40%, creating losing stream system regionally. Similarly, a severe drought would lead to a total streamflow loss of >80%. A post-audit of the model was also carried out to evaluate model performance. By simulating various stress scenarios on the alluvial aquifer, this study provides important information for evaluating management options for alluvial aquifers.     

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.     

地下水地源热泵系统应用对地温场的影响

通过建立地下水地源热泵系统试验场,运行热泵系统,并进行地下水温度连续监测,分析应用地下水地源热泵系统对地温场的影响。抽水井与回灌井之间以及回灌井附近的地下水温度随系统运行明显变化。系统运行后,回灌水体将以不规则边缘的透镜体贮存于含水层中,以回灌井为中心向外围扩展,水温最低或最高点位于含水层中部。粘性土相对隔水层的温度变化幅度、影响范围均小于含水层。由于热量的累积效应,即使是冷热负荷均衡的热泵系统,运行一个采暖、制冷周期后也将在热源井附近的抽、灌水含水层以及相邻的隔水层中形成冷量或热量的小范围聚积。     

Numerical groundwater-flow modeling to evaluate potential effects of pumping and recharge: implications for sustainable groundwater management in the Mahanadi delta region,India

Process-based groundwater models are useful to understand complex aquifer systems and make predictions about their response to hydrological changes. A conceptual model for evaluating responses to environmental changes is presented, considering the hydrogeologic framework, flow processes, aquifer hydraulic properties, boundary conditions, and sources and sinks of the groundwater system. Based on this conceptual model, a quasi-three-dimensional transient groundwater flow model was designed using MODFLOW to simulate the groundwater system of Mahanadi River delta, eastern India. The model was constructed in the context of an upper unconfined aquifer and lower confined aquifer, separated by an aquitard. Hydraulic heads of 13 shallow wells and 11 deep wells were used to calibrate transient groundwater conditions during 1997–2006, followed by validation (2007–2011). The aquifer and aquitard hydraulic properties were obtained by pumping tests and were calibrated along with the rainfall recharge. The statistical and graphical performance indicators suggested a reasonably good simulation of groundwater flow over the study area. Sensitivity analysis revealed that groundwater level is most sensitive to the hydraulic conductivities of both the aquifers, followed by vertical hydraulic conductivity of the confining layer. The calibrated model was then employed to explore groundwater-flow dynamics in response to changes in pumping and recharge conditions. The simulation results indicate that pumping has a substantial effect on the confined aquifer flow regime as compared to the unconfined aquifer. The results and insights from this study have important implications for other regional groundwater modeling studies, especially in multi-layered aquifer systems.     

Augmentation of seasonal low stream flows by artificial recharge in the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer of Idaho and Washington, USA

Conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater requires sophisticated spatial and temporal analysis. In situations involving multiple jurisdictions such as state boundaries, management problems are magnified due to often conflicting regulations and policies. A transient MODFLOW model of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer/river system mutually accepted by both the states of Idaho and Washington, USA, was used to evaluate regional solutions to potential water shortages through the use of strategically placed infiltration basins or injection wells. Artificial recharge of the SVRP aquifer was simulated using diversions from Lake Pend Oreille during winter periods when flows are high and excess water is available. Alternative locations for potential wells and detention basins were examined. Lag times for the water to impact stream/groundwater interaction areas along the Spokane River were evaluated to assess the potential for augmenting stream flows from July through September. Results indicated that the aquifer could be used to improve low-flow season streamflow values utilizing both infiltration basins and injection wells with winter surface water diversions. Depending on the location, as much as 30% of the winter diversion rate could be lagged to improve summer flows at the Spokane gage. Thus, a regional mitigation strategy is scientifically feasible.     

The protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Otago, New Zealand

Surface waters (streams, rivers, and wetlands) are the most important groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in Otago, New Zealand. Pumping wells in the vicinity can deplete water in the GDE. In Otago, most of the surface water resources are allocated and a method, which would assist in the implementation of water management policy, is needed to acknowledge the strong hydraulic link between surface and shallow groundwater. A simplified method has been developed which derives a numerical relationship between the bore pumping rate and the distance between the bore and surface water body beyond which depletion is considered insignificant. A range of GDE depletion scenarios are examined at various combinations of hydraulic parameters to find a minimum distance for a given pumping rate, at which 90% of the modelled surface water depletion scenarios become less than a threshold GDE depletion after a specified time. A buffer zone, based on the minimum distance is placed around GDEs, and groundwater abstraction rights within the buffer are subject to stricter rules. Applicants wishing to abstract from bores within the buffer zone will need to address the environmental impact of the proposed activity on the GDE.     

Use of stream response functions to determine impacts of replacing surface-water use with groundwater withdrawals

A regional-scale numerical groundwater model is used to study the impacts of replacing surface-water use with groundwater wells to improve low-flow stream conditions for endangered species within the Bertrand and Fishtrap watersheds, southern British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. Stream response functions ranging from 0 to 1.0 were calculated for individual wells placed within a steady-state groundwater flow model at varying distances from the streams to determine the impact that these replacement wells, operating under sustained pumping rates, would have on summer instream flows. Lower response ratios indicate groundwater pumping will have less of an impact on streamflow than taking an equivalent amount of water directly from a surface-water source. Results show that replacing surface-water use with groundwater withdrawals may be a viable alternative for increasing summer streamflows. Assuming combined response factors should be ≤0.5 for irrigators to undergo the expense of installing new wells, ~57% of the land area within 0.8 km of Bertrand Creek would be suitable for replacement wells. Similarly, 70% of the land area within 0.8 km of Fishtrap Creek was found to be appropriate. A visual analysis tool was developed using STELLA to allow stakeholders to quickly evaluate the impact associated with moving their water right.     

Effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements at water-supply wells

The effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow patterns on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements were examined in five hydrologically distinct aquifer systems in the USA. Although naturally occurring, these trace elements can exceed concentrations that are considered harmful to human health. The results show that pumping-induced hydraulic gradient changes and artificial connection of aquifers by well screens can mix chemically distinct groundwater. Chemical reactions between these mixed groundwaters and solid aquifer materials can result in the mobilization of trace elements such as U, As and Ra, with subsequent transport to water-supply wells. For example, in the High Plains aquifer near York, Nebraska, mixing of shallow, oxygenated, lower-pH water from an unconfined aquifer with deeper, confined, anoxic, higher-pH water is facilitated by wells screened across both aquifers. The resulting higher-O₂, lower-pH mixed groundwater facilitated the mobilization of U from solid aquifer materials, and dissolved U concentrations were observed to increase significantly in nearby supply wells. Similar instances of trace element mobilization due to human-induced mixing of groundwaters were documented in: (1) the Floridan aquifer system near Tampa, Florida (As and U), (2) Paleozoic sedimentary aquifers in eastern Wisconsin (As), (3) the basin-fill aquifer underlying the California Central Valley near Modesto (U), and (4) Coastal Plain aquifers of New Jersey (Ra). Adverse water-quality impacts attributed to human activities are commonly assumed to be related solely to the release of the various anthropogenic contaminants to the environment. The results show that human activities including various land uses, well drilling, and pumping rates and volumes can adversely impact the quality of water in supply wells, when associated with naturally-occurring trace elements in aquifer materials. This occurs by causing subtle but significant changes in geochemistry and associated trace element mobilization as well as enhancing advective transport processes.     

Aquifer parameter estimation using tide-induced water-table fluctuations in the Biscayne Aquifer,Miami-Dade County,Florida (USA)

The Biscayne Aquifer (Florida, USA) is a coastal, shallow, unconfined, and heterogeneous aquifer with high water tables, composed of less-permeable sand to highly permeable karstic limestone. These properties make the Biscayne Aquifer one of the world’s most productive groundwater resources. The aquifer’s high yield and non-Darcian flow cause challenges for estimating aquifer parameters, which are essential for understanding groundwater processes and managing and protecting the groundwater resources. Water-table fluctuations in the Biscayne Aquifer are associated with astronomical tidal forces and gate operations on canal water-control structures. Analysis of observed groundwater level fluctuations can provide an understanding of the connectivity between the aquifer, Biscayne Bay, and the water level in the canals. Further, groundwater level fluctuations can be used for aquifer parameter estimation. In this research, observed ocean water levels measured at tidal stations and groundwater levels are fitted to Jacob’s analytical solution, where the amplitude of the groundwater head fluctuation decreases exponentially, and the time lag increases with distance from the shore. Observed groundwater levels were obtained from monitoring wells along the Miami-Dade shore and the barrier island of Miami Beach. Results indicate that Jacob’s solution is effective for aquifer parameter estimation in Miami Beach, where monitoring wells are closer to the shore. Estimated hydraulic conductivity appears to increase by four orders of magnitude to approximately 1 m s^–1 as the distance from shore increases. Constructing monitoring wells closer to the shore in Miami-Dade County and elsewhere would permit improved aquifer parameter estimation and support enhanced groundwater modeling efforts.

     

Time series analysis of daily rainfall and streamflow in a volcanic dike-intruded aquifer system, O��ahu, Hawai��i, USA

A conceptual model of groundwater occurrence was developed for a dike-intruded aquifer system in M??kaha valley, O??ahu, Hawai??i, USA, and used to explain the impacts of water resource development on groundwater levels and streamflow. Time-series analyses were applied to two subsets of daily rainfall, total flow, and baseflow??from the third (1946?C1968) and fourth (1968?C1991) periods of development??to evaluate changes in streamflow response. Autocorrelation, cross-correlation, squared coherency and phase functions were used to estimate the decorrelation lag time, and the correlation length, linearity with frequency, and frequency response delay between rainfall and streamflow. The decorrelation lag time for total flow and baseflow declined by 16?C20?days (d). The correlation length between rainfall and streamflow declined 4?C7?d for total flow and 10?C13?d for baseflow. The squared coherency function indicates an overall decline in linearity between rainfall and total flow across most frequencies. The changes in hydrologic response following increased water-resource development is consistent with a model of groundwater depletion resulting in less groundwater discharge and more induced groundwater recharge. Changes in streamflow response are inconsistent with observed changes in rainfall and imply that streamflow decline is more likely to be the result of groundwater pumping.     

露头处具有淤泥层的滨海含水层系统中海潮引起的水头波动

滨海地区社会与经济的发展引发了各种各样的水文地质问题, 因此对滨海地区的水文地质条件, 尤其是地下水与海水之间的水力联系的研究尤为重要.本文考察了海底露头处具有淤泥层的滨海含水层系统中由海潮引起的水头波动.该系统由潜水含水层、承压含水层和介于其间的弱透水层构成.建立了该系统的数学模型, 得到了该模型的解析解.该解析解包含2个无量纲参数: 弱透水层的相对越流系数和淤泥层的相对透水系数.解析解表明, 淤泥层使各处的水头波幅被缩小了一个常数倍(波幅缩减因子), 并使各处的波动相位产生了一个不超过45°的正位移常数(时滞).该时滞对半日潮不超过1.5h, 对全日潮不超过3h.波幅缩减因子和正位移常数只与弱透水层的相对越流系数和淤泥层的相对透水系数有关.当这两个无量纲参数取某些特殊值时, 本次研究的解和前人考虑的几种较简单情形所对应的解一致.承压含水层中水头波幅随着淤泥层的相对透水系数的递增而严格递增, 随弱透水层的相对越流系数的递增而严格递减; 波动相位随着这2个无量纲参数的递增均严格递减.分析表明弱透水层的越流和淤泥层的存在均对承压含水层水头波动有显著影响.      

复杂地质条件下某深大基坑降水方案优化设计

某深大基坑位于长江下游岸边,场地地层为典型的二元结构,基坑开挖涉及的两层承压含水层间的弱透水层局部缺失,之间水力联系密切,基坑场地地质条件极为复杂,基坑施工降水直接关系到基坑工程的安全。这里将基坑分3个区,分别进行降水设计。具体降水方案:Ⅰ区两层承压含水层和Ⅱ区第一承压含水层被围护结构隔断内外水力联系,采用疏干井降水;Ⅱ区第二承压含水层未被围护结构隔断,Ⅲ区两层承压含水层水力联系密切,针对这两个区域设计了两套降水方案,方案一在Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区均布置有降水井,在Ⅱ区对第二承压含水层降水,在Ⅲ区对第一承压含水层降水;方案二仅在Ⅲ区布置降水井对第一承压含水层降水。为了更好地对降水方案进行对比分析,验证方案的可行性,对此进行了数值模拟分析,计算结果显示,两种方案均能满足降水要求,不过方案二布井数量少,基坑外水位降深较小,对周边环境影响更小,优于方案一。