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Sustainability
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Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources
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Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2940

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yassine Ait Brahim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: hydrogeology; water management; isotope hydrology; climate change
Dr. Mohamed Ouarani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
Interests: integrated hydrological modeling; water resources management; water accounting; stable isotopes; agricultural water use
Dr. Youssef Brouziyne

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Giza, Egypt
Interests: agronomy services; hydrology; climate change

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to contribute your novel research findings to this Special Issue, titled "Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources". This issue is dedicated to advancing the sustainable management, protection, and utilization of groundwater resources. We seek to gather cutting-edge research and practical solutions addressing critical topics, including groundwater recharge techniques and quantification methods, aquifers, including karst systems, characterization using different methods, tracing and environmental isotope techniques, the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities, groundwater contamination and remediation, groundwater-surface water interactions, sustainable agricultural practices, innovative technologies, and effective policy and governance frameworks. Groundwater sustainability is crucial for ensuring long-term water security and ecosystem health. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by showcasing innovative studies and best practices that contribute to the sustainable use and management of groundwater.

We look forward to your valuable contributions that will help advance our understanding and implementation of sustainable hydrogeology practices.

Dr. Yassine Ait Brahim
Dr. Mohamed Ouarani
Dr. Youssef Brouziyne
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • groundwater recharge
  • aquifer characterization
  • groundwater contamination and remediation
  • groundwater–surface water interactions
  • sustainable agricultural use
  • hydrogeological modeling
  • hydrogeophysics
  • effective policy and governance frameworks for groundwater
  • climate change and anthropogenic activities impact on groundwater resources
  • the application of environmental tracers and isotopes in hydrogeology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 7146 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Recharge Assessment and Recharge Zonation of the Intermontane Groundwater Basin, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Using a Groundwater Flow Model and Stable Isotopes
by Muhammad Zakir Afridi, Nipada Santha, Sutthipong Taweelarp, Nattapol Ploymaklam, Morrakot Khebchareon, Muhammad Shoaib Qamar and Schradh Saenton
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5560; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125560 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Urbanization, escalating agriculture, tourism, and industrial development in the Chiang Mai–Lamphun groundwater basin in northern Thailand have increased water demand, causing widespread groundwater extraction. Over the past few decades, there has been a rapid, unrecoverable steady drop in groundwater levels in several areas [...] Read more.
Urbanization, escalating agriculture, tourism, and industrial development in the Chiang Mai–Lamphun groundwater basin in northern Thailand have increased water demand, causing widespread groundwater extraction. Over the past few decades, there has been a rapid, unrecoverable steady drop in groundwater levels in several areas in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces. This study employed hydrogeological investigations, hydrometeorological data analyses, stable isotopic analysis (δ18O and δ2H), and groundwater flow modeling using a 3D groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) to quantify groundwater recharge and delineate important groundwater recharge zones within the basin. The results showed that floodplain deposits exhibited the highest recharge rate, 104.4 mm/y, due to their proximity to rivers and high infiltration capacity. In contrast, younger terrain deposits, covering the largest area of 1314 km2, contributed the most to total recharge volume with an average recharge rate of 99.8 mm/y. Seven significant recharge zones within the basin, where annual recharge rates exceeded 105 mm/y (average recharge of the entire basin), were also delineated. Zone 4, covering parts of densely populated Muaeng Lamphun, Ban Thi, and Saraphi districts, had the largest area of 330 km2 and a recharge rate of 130.2 mm/y. Zone 6, encompassing Wiang Nong Long, Bai Hong, and Pa Sang districts, exhibited the highest recharge rate of 134.6 mm/y but covered a smaller area of 67 km2. Stable isotopic data verified that recent precipitation predominantly recharged shallow groundwater, with minimal evaporation or isotopic exchange. The basin-wide average recharge rate was 104 mm/y, reflecting the combined influence of geology, permeability, and spatial distribution. These findings provide critical insights for sustainable groundwater management in the region, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing water demand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources)
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28 pages, 8099 KiB  
Article
Heavy Metal Contamination of Sediments in the Inaouène Watershed (Morocco): Indices, Statistical Methods, and Contributions to Sustainable Environmental Management
by Marouane Laaraj, Yassine Ait Brahim, Valerie Mesnage, Fadwa Bensalem, Ikram Lahmidi, Mohammed Mouad Mliyeh, Hamid Fattasse, Khalid Arari and Lahcen Benaabidate
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4668; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104668 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 538
Abstract
The Inaouène watershed (3600 km2), part of the Sebou River’s upper valley in northern Morocco, faces urban, agricultural, and industrial discharges. This research investigates the environmental impact of heavy metal contamination in sediments and its implications for sustainable watershed management and [...] Read more.
The Inaouène watershed (3600 km2), part of the Sebou River’s upper valley in northern Morocco, faces urban, agricultural, and industrial discharges. This research investigates the environmental impact of heavy metal contamination in sediments and its implications for sustainable watershed management and long-term ecological protection. Sediment samples were collected from six sites along the river and the Idriss 1st dam. A combined approach of geochemical analyses and multivariate statistical methods (PCA, HCA) identified metal sources and grouped sites by contamination patterns. Additionally, pollution indices (Igeo, EF, PLI) were used to assess contamination levels and infer potential sources. Results revealed variable metal concentrations: upstream (Ech1) showed high levels of chromium (133 mg/kg) and copper (32.5 mg/kg) linked to urban discharges and erosion, while downstream (Ech6) exhibited high barium (3245 mg/kg) and strontium (505 mg/kg) concentrations due to dam sedimentation. Pollution indices confirmed moderate to high contamination, particularly at Ech1 and Ech6. Multivariate analysis identified three main clusters influenced by both anthropogenic and geological factors. These findings underline the need for integrated sediment management, regular monitoring, and environmental protection strategies to preserve the watershed and the aquifer’s ecological balance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources)
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36 pages, 7819 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Groundwater Recharge Assessment in Mediterranean Regions: A Comparative Study Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Integrated with Geographic Information Systems for the Algiers Watershed
by Farouk Mezali, Meriem Chetibi, Khatir Naima, Abdessamed Derdour, Saida Benmamar, Hussein Almohamad, Fahdah Falah ben Hasher and Hazem Ghassan Abdo
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073242 - 5 Apr 2025
Viewed by 779
Abstract
Groundwater recharge is critical for sustainable water management in water-scarce regions like North Algeria, where climate change and urbanization exacerbate resource challenges, particularly in the populous Algiers watershed. This study evaluates groundwater recharge potential using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its fuzzy [...] Read more.
Groundwater recharge is critical for sustainable water management in water-scarce regions like North Algeria, where climate change and urbanization exacerbate resource challenges, particularly in the populous Algiers watershed. This study evaluates groundwater recharge potential using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its fuzzy extension (FAHP), integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to map recharge zones. Employing open-source data, AHP and FAHP assessed factors such as lithology, slope, and rainfall, classifying the watershed into high, moderate, and low recharge potential zones. Results show AHP identifying 44.01% (528.95 km2) as high, 52.82% (634.93 km2) as moderate, and 3.18% (38.14 km2) as low potential, with FAHP yielding similar outcomes (44.35%, 52.47%, and 3.17%, respectively). Validation using borehole drawdown data confirmed a 73.3% accuracy and an AUC of 0.72, indicating moderate to good reliability. High recharge zones were concentrated in the central and northern areas with permeable soils and gentle slopes, moderate zones dominated the region, and low zones were minimal. This study concludes that both AHP and FAHP are effective for preliminary recharge assessments, with AHP favored for its simplicity, though FAHP excels with uncertain data. Limited high-resolution hydrogeological data highlight the need for further refinement, yet the approach offers a replicable framework for managing groundwater in arid, urbanized regions facing similar environmental pressures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Management: Multidisciplinary Approaches for Securing Water Resources)
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