Application of the European water framework directive in a Western Mediterranean basin (Málaga,Spain)

The water framework directive (WFD) is applied within the Guadalhorce river basin, a Western Mediterranean basin in the Málaga province (South Spain). Criteria defining different surface and groundwater bodies are described. The basic hydrographic network is constituted of low-mountain and low-altitude Mediterranean mineralized rivers. Heavily modified surface water bodies correspond (1) to areas where dams regulate the main watercourses, (2) to areas downstream of reservoirs, where river flow is reduced, and (3) to the coastal sector of the river where artificial channelling has caused morphological variations. Groundwater bodies are related to carbonate and porous aquifers and, locally, to aquifers influenced by dissolution of evaporites. The main impacts to water bodies are irrigated lands and livestock farming. There are also point sources of pollution, such as wastewater, landfills, golf courses, industrial zones, quarries and petrol stations. In addition, groundwater is frequently pumped for human supply and irrigation. Qualitative status of groundwater bodies was done by chemical analysis of samples from a monitoring network and the quantitative status by examining variations in piezometric levels. Both revealed the existence of water bodies at risk of not meeting the environmental objectives of the WFD. The main indicators of pollution are nitrates related to agricultural activities, and total organic carbon (TOC), PO₄³⁻ and NH₄⁺ in relation to wastewater.     

Groundwater protection in Mediterranean countries after the European water framework directive

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) has driven the protection of groundwater and characterization of water bodies. Development of appropriate and efficient approaches which consider the special features of the hydrologic regime is essential. The results of different projects that have been carried out to integrate characterization and protection of water bodies are summarized herein. In the Les eaux de la Mediterranée (AQUAMED) Project, applicability to the Mediterranean Region of guidelines provided by the European Commission to facilitate the WFD implementation has been verified. The Background criteria for the identification of groundwater thresholds (BRIDGE) Project developed a methodology to establish threshold values of pollutants contributing to the chemical status of groundwater bodies. This method has been applied to pollutants used to classify groundwater bodies as at risk of not achieving objectives of the WFD. Selected features of protection areas for drinking water and safeguard zones are analyzed, as well as the possibility of using wellhead protection areas.     

Identification of groundwater quality trends in a chalk aquifer threatened by intensive agriculture in Belgium

The European Union (EU) has adopted directives requiring that Member States take measures to reach a “good” chemical status of water resources by the year 2015 (Water Framework Directive: WFD). In order to achieve the environmental objectives for groundwater, the identification and reversal of significant upward trends in pollutant concentrations are required. A very detailed dataset available for the Hesbaye chalk aquifer in Belgium is used to evaluate tools and to propose efficient methodologies for identifying and quantifying nitrate trends in groundwater. Results indicate that the parametric linear regression and the non-parametric Mann-Kendall tests are robust; however, the latter test seems more adequate as it does not require verification of the normality of the dataset and it provides calculated nitrate trends very comparable to those obtained using linear regression. From a hydrogeological point of view, results highlight a general upward trend in the whole groundwater basin. The extrapolation of the trend analysis results indicates that measures have to be taken urgently in order to avoid further major degradation of groundwater quality within the next 10–70 years. However, a good groundwater quality status cannot be expected in the Hesbaye aquifer for the 2015 EU WFD deadline.     

Assessing the environmental status and identifying the dominant pressures of a trans-boundary river catchment,to facilitate efficient management and mitigation practices

Implementing efficient water resources management plans at trans-boundary river catchments is a difficult task that requires strong international cooperation, intensive monitoring programs, and common understanding of the impacts imposed on water resources by human pressures. Evros River, which flows through Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, is an ecologically important water body, protected by international legislation but nevertheless it is susceptible to numerous significant pollution sources that may lead to the deterioration of its environmental status. In this study, a water monitoring program was applied, incorporating chemical and biological parameters to assess the environmental status in the Greek part of the river and identify the associated pollution pressures. For this purpose, seasonal water sampling occurred in 13 sites along the longitudinal course of the river and a series of parameters were recorded including nutrients, heavy metals, microbiological loads, macroinvertebrate, and fish assemblages and abundance. The results indicated that the water quality of Evros River illustrate substantial spatiotemporal fluctuations, which can be well related to specific human activities and associated pressures. Therefore, a trans-boundary monitoring program should be initiated that will provide continuous information for the development and revision of the catchment’s adaptive management plan in order to restrict pollution impacts and achieve a good ecological status as required by the Water Framework Directive 2000/60EC.     

甘肃河西走廊内陆河流域节水战略选择——地表水与地下水联合管理

过去20多年甘肃河西走廊内陆河流域的水资源管理经历了各类制度改革,不同程度地推动了地表水和地下水的联合管理。但是,由于机构设置及其权限制约以及改革目标差异,河西走廊地区的3个内陆河流域水资源管理效率差异化越来越显著,与石羊河流域相比,黑河和疏勒河流域的监管制度和管理办法并未完全跳出多头管理体制的窠臼,地表水和地下水没有形成有效的联合管理。通过梳理3个流域的水资源管理机构设置和管理模式,总结农业灌溉用水监管的经验教训,对比分析地表水和地下水联合管理措施在实践操作中的利弊,进一步探讨流域联合管理的实践意义和实现路径,寻求普遍适用于内陆河流域水资源的管理办法,保障内陆河流域节水战略的顺利实施。近10 a的实践经验表明：地表水和地下水联合管理是内陆河流域提高水资源利用效率、促进水资源可持续利用最为有效的路径,更是实现区域生态环境绿色发展的必由之路。     

Large-scale GIS-based hydrogeological modeling of Flanders: a tool for groundwater management

For the implementation of the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), technological and scientific support are required. This paper presents a methodology to support a first step of the implementation of WFD, which is the delineation of groundwater bodies. The methodology consists of (1) the development of a complete and generally-accepted hydrogeological classification system for Flanders, named the HCOV code, (2) the development of a geographic information systems (GIS)-managed borehole database, and (3) the development of aquifer and aquitard models by means of a solid modeling approach. For each unit of the hydrogeological classification code for Flanders unit, GIS maps are generated for the three basic characteristics of hydrogeological layers: extent, base level and thickness, such that combined, the volume and extent of a hydrogeological layer is unambiguously defined. This GIS-based hydrogeological database has become a useful tool for groundwater management purposes and to provide the input for groundwater modeling.     

Determination of areas vulnerable to pollution in a karstic river basin in Turkey via a decision support system based on DRASTIC,SWAT and isotopes analysis

Determination of areas vulnerable to water pollution in river basins helps to generate appropriate water management protection plans. This study aims to define areas vulnerable to pollutants in a data-scarce karstic river basin in Turkey by using a holistic approach integrating the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), the DRASTIC framework, and selected isotopes within a decision support system based on a geographic information system to delineate vulnerable areas. DRASTIC was used to show groundwater vulnerability to pollutants. The concentrations of isotopes ¹⁸O, ²H, and ³H in groundwater were used to define the vulnerable areas of the karst region. SWAT was utilized to show watershed vulnerability to pollutants in shallow aquifers. The recharge rate parameter in DRASTIC was obtained from SWAT. This methodological approach was applied to the Yuvacık Dam Basin in Kocaeli, part of the Marmara River Basin, as it is a good example of a karstic watershed. According to this study, each approach provides different vulnerabilities when applied separately. The final map obtained from the integrated approach shows that drinking water supplies in the northeast and northwest parts of the basin are highly vulnerable to pollution. All the karst spring catchments and areas near the basin outlet are highly vulnerable. Moreover, across all water samples taken across the basin, those exhibiting the highest concentrations in nitrate were all found in the areas mapped as highly vulnerable. The methodology was validated by analyzing nitrate concentration in 22 groundwater and surface-water samples.

     

同位素水化学指示的新疆孔雀河流域地下水与地表水关系

地下水是孔雀河流域农业灌溉的主要水源之一,其对本地区经济发展的支撑作用日益增强.为实现孔雀河流域水资源合理开发和生态保护,采用环境同位素和水化学方法,研究了孔雀河流域地下水与地表水关系.结果表明:地下水的主要补给来源为河水.含水层成因类型和现代河道分布共同控制着孔雀河流域地下咸淡水的空间分布格局;氢氧稳定同位素对不同水...     

石羊河流域武威盆地地下水系统的管理模型

武威盆地位于祁连山北麓,河西走廊东段,腾格里沙漠西侧,是一个历史悠久的农业灌溉盆地。本文针对该区由于不合理开发水资源所引起的生态环境问题,采用系统工程的思想和方法,应用地下水系统管理模型确定地下水系统的最优开采方案,以使地下水的开采在取得最大经济效益的同时,保持良好的生态环境和社会环境。论文通过地下水系统的目标分析、环境分析、结构分析和模型化,确立了盆地地下水系统管理的目标、自然环境、技术经济环境和社会环境约束条件,校正了地下水系统的数值模型。在此基础上,用响应矩阵法把地下水系统的数值模型与最优化模型藕合起来,建立了盆地地下水系统的管理模型。通过运转管理模型,获得了盆地地下水的最优开采方案,为地下水合理开发利用,提供了科学依据。     

Multi-objective, multiple participant decision support for water management in the Andarax catchment, Almeria

Water management in the Andarax river basin (Almeria, Spain) is a multi-objective, multi-participant, long-term decision-making problem that faces several challenges. Adequate water allocation needs informed decisions to meet increasing socio-economic demands while respecting the environmental integrity of this basin. Key players in the Andarax water sector include the municipality of Almeria, the irrigators involved in the intensive greenhouse agricultural sector, and booming second residences. A decision support system (DSS) is developed to rank different sustainable planning and management alternatives according to their socio-economic and environmental performance. The DSS is intimately linked to sustainability indicators and is designed through a public participation process. Indicators are linked to criteria reflecting stakeholders concerns in the 2005 field survey, such as fulfilling water demand, water price, technical and economical efficiency, social and environmental impacts. Indicators can be partly quantified after simulating the operation of the groundwater reservoir over a 20-year planning period and partly through a parallel expert evaluation process. To predict the impact of future water demand in the catchment, several development scenarios are designed to be evaluated in the DSS. The successive multi-criteria analysis of the performance indicators permits the ranking of the different management alternatives according to the multiple objectives formulated by the different sectors/participants. This allows more informed and transparent decision-making processes for the Andarax river basin, recognizing both the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of water resources management.     

How to assess hydromorphology? A comparison of Ukrainian and German approaches

Recently, the Ukrainian Western Bug water authorities developed a national field survey to assess the quality of river habitats. The Ukrainian government already cooperates with EU member states along transboundary rivers and also orientates itself towards the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). As a future application for EU membership is feasible, the water authorities started to implement WFD criteria into their national survey schemes including the assessment of rivers’ hydromorphology. This article compares two different hydromorphological survey methods to identify similarities and differences of the classification approaches with regard to the conformity of obtained outputs with the WFD demands. The field surveys, the Ukrainian (UA-FS) and the German (LAWA-FS), were applied in parallel on 14 river sections along the Western Bug River and parts of its tributaries. Results show a wide range of conformity, but also several differences between and gaps within all methods. The UA-FS generally lacks the idea of reference condition in rivers’ hydromorphology and the definition of different stream types or near-natural land uses. The UA-FS and the LAWA-FS approaches are similar with respect to their incorporated compartments and most main parameters, but differ in definition and interpretation of specific functional units and single parameters. Greatest similarities down to single parameters exist in aspects of land use, bank vegetation, currents diversity, and within-stream variation of water depths. Differences include the assessment and interpretation of lateral erosion, sinuosity, type and depth of profile, substrate diversity, as well as special structures of bank and riverbed. Overall, the LAWA-FS is more conservative in its rating than the UA-FS. Still, UA-FS can be regarded as an important improvement for a systematic and reliable monitoring of river hydromorphology in the Ukraine that will help to successfully engage with both the integrated water resources management and the WFD harmonisation process in the future.     

The significance of morphometric analysis for obtaining groundwater potential zones in a structurally controlled terrain

Watershed development and management plans are more important for harnessing surface water and groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions. To prepare a comprehensive watershed development plan, it becomes necessary to understand the topography, erosion status and drainage patterns of the region. This study was undertaken to determine the drainage characteristics of Pageru River basin using topographical maps on a scale of 1:50,000. The total area of the Pageru River basin is 480 km². It was divided into X sub-basins for analysis. The drainage patterns of the basin are dendritic and include a sixth order stream. The quantitative analysis of various aspects of a river basin drainage network characteristics reveals complex morphometric attributes. The streams of lower orders mostly dominate the basin. The development of stream segments in the basin area is more or less affected by rainfall. The elongated shape of the basin is mainly due to the guiding effect of thrusting and faulting. The erosional processes of fluvial origin have been predominately influenced by the subsurface lithology of the basin.     

1985-2013年黑河中游流域地下水位动态变化特征

在气候变化和人类活动的影响下, 黑河流域地表水和地下水的时空分布特征发生了很大变化. 研究水系统演化及其驱动机制对流域水资源可持续管理非常关键. 基于甘肃河西黑河中游流域地下水位动态、水文气象、土地利用和灌溉统计数据, 研究了1985-2013年黑河中游流域地下水位时空变化. 结果表明: 地表水的不合理分配和耕地的扩展导致了地下水的过量开采和地下水位的剧烈变化. 1985-2004年区域地下水位以下降为主; 2005-2013年呈现下降和回升两极发展趋势, 冲洪积扇群带地下水最大下降达17.41 m, 而黑河干流沿岸地下水位最大回升了3.3 m, 地下水埋深普遍增加了1.0~3.0 m. 尽管地下水位在2005-2013年表现出回升趋势, 但干流中游盆地地下水系统处于严重负均衡状态, 制定合理的“生态分水”方案和水资源综合管理规划非常紧迫.     

In situ monitoring of karst springs in Wallonia (southern Belgium)

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive, as well as the forthcoming entry into force of other European water policies focusing on water resources, require a thorough reorganization of groundwater resources monitoring in most European countries. In Wallonia, monitoring programs were initiated in 2005 to control the quantitative and chemical statuses of groundwater bodies, as well as the effectiveness of management plans aimed at achieving environmental objectives. In karst aquifers, springs are preferential monitoring targets even if, as a result of the high heterogeneity of this type of aquifer, the interpretation of time series and spatial data remains a challenge. Since 2006, a “springs” monitoring network has been progressively set up in the southern part of Belgium. Currently, in situ measurements of discharge, temperature, conductivity, turbidity and fluorescence of water are conducted at nine karstic outlets in the Devonian and the Carboniferous limestone aquifers of Wallonia. The main objective of this ongoing research is to evaluate the suitability and the robustness of such standard measurements to discriminate anthropogenic impacts from natural variations, at both short- and long-term scales. Discharge and temperature data revealed being useful in the assessment of regional hydro-climatic trends. Groundwater proved to be a better natural filter for the assessment of long-term climatic changes than mathematical filtering of noisy surface signals. Investigations of such data at a European scale could therefore give additional insight into the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources. Conductivity, turbidity and fluorescence data characterize the particulate, mineral and organic health of water and a better understanding of their natural dynamics could help in the early detection of anthropogenic deviations. However, the current reproducibility of these measurements is too low to ascertain observed trends and fluctuations, and further research is still needed.     

Impact of peatland drainage and restoration on esker groundwater resources: modeling future scenarios for management

Esker aquifers are common groundwater bodies in Europe. Management of these aquifers should take account of the sustainability of groundwater-dependent ecosystems and land use in an integrated way. An unconfined esker aquifer in northern Finland was modelled with MODFLOW to determine how groundwater resources are impacted by the surrounding peatland drainage scheme and to simulate scenarios for possible drainage restoration. The impacts of groundwater abstraction and climate change were also simulated. A calibration-constrained Monte Carlo method was used to provide information on the uncertainties associated with model predictions. The results suggest that peatland drainage in the vicinity of eskers can have a significant role in lowering the water table, even though climate variability may mask these impacts. Drainage restoration by filling the ditches might have positive impacts on the aquifer water levels. Comparison of water-table changes caused by peatland drainage with the changes brought by water abstraction and climate variability helped to quantify impacts of different land-use scenarios and facilitated discussion with the local stakeholders. Based on this study, more attention should be devoted to peatland drainage schemes in integrated groundwater management of esker aquifers.     

Run-off analyses using isotopes and hydrochemistry in Yushugou River basin,eastern Tianshan Mountains

Yushugou River basin of East Tianshan Mountains receives water from melting glaciers. In recent years, the glaciers retreated strongly due to global warming which intensified the water cycle in the river basin. For this reason, the relation of water bodies based on hydrochemistry and isotope in the summer flood was carried out. Hydrochemistry research showed that there was frequent hydraulic interaction between river water and groundwater. Studying the isotopes and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}\) of river water, glacier meltwater, groundwater and precipitation, indicated that Yushugou River was recharged by the glacier meltwater, groundwater and precipitation during the summer flood period. The analysis result based on the three-component mixing model showed that Yushugou River was recharged by 54.9% of glacier meltwater, 37.6% of the run-off came from groundwater, while less than 8% was contributed by precipitation. The study suggests that the role of glacier meltwater and groundwater, especially glacier meltwater, should be specially concerned in water resource protection and reasonable utilization, and the injection of glacier meltwater is the main reason for run-off variation in this alpine basin during the summer flood period.     

Multi-tracer investigation of river and groundwater interactions: a case study in Nalenggele River basin,northwest China

Environmental tracers (such as major ions, stable and radiogenic isotopes, and heat) monitored in natural waters provide valuable information for understanding the processes of river–groundwater interactions in arid areas. An integrated framework is presented for interpreting multi-tracer data (major ions, stable isotopes (²H, ¹⁸O), the radioactive isotope ²²²Rn, and heat) for delineating the river–groundwater interactions in Nalenggele River basin, northwest China. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were undertaken to estimate the bidirectional water exchange associated with small-scale interactions between groundwater and surface water. Along the river stretch, groundwater and river water exchange readily. From the high mountain zone to the alluvial fan, groundwater discharge to the river is detected by tracer methods and end-member mixing models, but the river has also been identified as a losing river using discharge measurements, i.e. discharge is bidirectional. On the delta-front of the alluvial fan and in the alluvial plain, in the downstream area, the characteristics of total dissolved solids values, ²²²Rn concentrations and δ¹⁸O values in the surface water, and patterns derived from a heat-tracing method, indicate that groundwater discharges into the river. With the environmental tracers, the processes of river–groundwater interaction have been identified in detail for better understanding of overall hydrogeological processes and of the impacts on water allocation policies.     

Spatial assessment of salinity and nitrate pollution in Amman Zarqa Basin: a case study

Intensive use of land resources in arid and semi-arid regions exert serious pressures on groundwater resources and jeopardize further socio-economical developments. The Amman-Zarqa Basin (AZB), the most vital basin in Jordan, is facing recent groundwater deterioration due to a very large increase in water demands for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. The objectives of this paper were to quantify the degree of contamination in the basin by evaluating the characteristics, distribution and seasonal variations of two pollution indicators (nitrate concentration and salinity) and to determine the impacts of human activities (land use) on groundwater quality. Based upon long-term data (1970–2005) of groundwater samples collected from 538 wells across the AZB, spatial analyses indicated that both indicators have a strong spatial dependence and are anisotropically distributed. Prediction maps of Ordinary Kriging and Indicator Kriging provided detailed indications of the major and minor sources of pollution in the basin. Inefficient wastewater treatment plants, industrial activities and agricultural practices were responsible for 91, 85, and 25% salinization of nearby wells, respectively. Nitrate pollution had reached 73% above threshold (50 mg/L) in some cases. The temporal analyses estimated the salinity buildup rate to be around 8 × 10⁻² μS/cm per day, while nitrate buildup rate was estimated to be around 6 × 10⁻² mg/L per day. Remote sensing and spatial analyses helped greatly in groundwater quality assessment not only in providing the environmental status of the AZB but also in delineating the potential of contamination risk zones and their correlation to human activities. Furthermore, the paper suggests some environmental protection strategies that should be adopted to protect the vital groundwater resources of the basin from further deterioration.     

黑河流域节水生态农业与流域水资源集成管理研究领域

概述了中国内陆河流域面临的水问题和日益激化的用水矛盾,强调了内陆河地区支柱产业——绿洲农业应该坚持节水和生态的方向,流域集成管理是持续农业的基础。长期从事该方面研究的黑河流域是个较好借鉴,同时也提供了深入开展相关研究的基础,为此提出了以黑河流域为背景的四大研究流域：水文、生物、经济系统水循环与水资源形成演变,节水农业的生物学研究与抗旱品种繁育,农业节水新材料研发与工程节水技术集成,水资源合理配置与流域集成管理;并简述了各领域的主要方向。     

Groundwater and surface-water interactions and impacts of human activities in the Hailiutu catchment,northwest China

The interactions between groundwater and surface water have been significantly affected by human activities in the semi-arid Hailiutu catchment, northwest China. Several methods were used to investigate the spatial and temporal interactions between groundwater and surface water. Isotopic and chemical analyses of water samples determined that groundwater discharges to the Hailiutu River, and mass balance equations were employed to estimate groundwater seepage rates along the river using chemical profiles. The hydrograph separation method was used to estimate temporal variations of groundwater discharges to the river. A numerical groundwater model was constructed to simulate groundwater discharges along the river and to analyze effects of water use in the catchment. The simulated seepage rates along the river compare reasonably well with the seepage estimates derived from a chemical profile in 2012. The impacts of human activities (river-water diversion and groundwater abstraction) on the river discharge were analyzed by calculating the differences between the simulated natural groundwater discharge and the measured river discharge. Water use associated with the Hailiutu River increased from 1986 to 1991, reached its highest level from 1992 to 2000, and decreased from 2001 onwards. The reduction of river discharge might have negative impacts on the riparian ecosystem and the water availability for downstream users. The interactions between groundwater and surface water as well as the consequences of human activities should be taken into account when implementing sustainable water resources management in the Hailiutu catchment.