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Sustainable Groundwater Resource Management
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Sustainable Groundwater Resource Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2021) | Viewed by 7487

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zoran Kovač

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: hydrogeology; hydrogeochemistry; stable isotopes; groundwater resource management
Dr. Stanko Ružičić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: potentially toxic metals; modeling of solute transport; unsaturated zone; soil contamination

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquifers represent the main source of potable water in most parts of the world. Over the last decades, due to anthropogenic influence, groundwater quality has been degraded, while the quantity has become very limited in some areas. To enable sustainable management of groundwater resources, i.e., aquifers, the development of new methods and detailed hydrogeology research are required. New knowledge must identify the main environmental problems caused by human influence and propose measures whose implementation will improve the condition of the aquifers. Research related to the groundwater dynamics, groundwater–surface water interaction, groundwater origin, hydrogeochemistry, the difference between natural and humanly conditioned concentrations, soil and groundwater contamination, the establishment of groundwater monitoring, and use of geostatistical methods can give new insights that would enable mitigation of the most pressing environmental problems. From this perspective, the identification of the main sources of contamination, as well as its movement through unsaturated and saturated zones, must not be forgotten. This means that different kinds of numerical models and scenarios should be developed. All these will provide the basis for the creation of integrated decision making and management systems that will consider environmental problems from different perspectives and help stakeholders to implement key measures, which will provide sustainable use of one of the most essential resources for human life.

The scope of the Special Issue is related to the creation and implementation of methods in groundwater research that look at environmental issues from different perspectives to enable sustainable groundwater resources management. In that sense, the focus of this Special Issue is related to different kinds of scientific research that will provide new hydrogeological knowledge:

  • Groundwater dynamics;
  • Groundwater origin;
  • Groundwater and soil contamination;
  • Geochemical characteristics of the unsaturated and saturated zone;
  • Implementation of different geochemical and geostatistical methods in the hydrogeology research;
  • Numerical models of groundwater flow and transport of the contaminants;
  • Creation of integrated decision making and management systems.

Dr. Zoran Kovač
Dr. Stanko Ružičić
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

  • sustainable groundwater management
  • groundwater origin and dynamics
  • groundwater contamination
  • soil contamination
  • hydrogeology
  • hydrogeochemistry
  • geostatistics
  • numerical models
  • groundwater flow
  • contaminant transport
  • decision making and management system

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6282 KiB  
Article
Geometric and Fractal Characterization of Pore Systems in the Upper Triassic Dolomites Based on Image Processing Techniques (Example from Žumberak Mts, NW Croatia)
by Ivica Pavičić, Zlatko Briševac, Anja Vrbaški, Tonći Grgasović, Željko Duić, Deni Šijak and Ivan Dragičević
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7668; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147668 - 09 Jul 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2100
Abstract
Karst aquifers are important sources of thermal and groundwater in many parts of the world, such as the Alpine–Dinaric–Carpathian region in Europe. The Upper Triassic dolomites are regionally recognized thermal and groundwater aquifers but also hydrocarbon reservoirs. They are characterized by predominantly fractured [...] Read more.
Karst aquifers are important sources of thermal and groundwater in many parts of the world, such as the Alpine–Dinaric–Carpathian region in Europe. The Upper Triassic dolomites are regionally recognized thermal and groundwater aquifers but also hydrocarbon reservoirs. They are characterized by predominantly fractured porosity, but the actual share of depositional and diagenetic porosity is rarely investigated. In this research, we presented the geometric characterization of the measured microporosity of the Upper Triassic dolomites of the Žumberak Mts (Croatia), through thin-section image processing and particle analysis techniques. Pore parameters were analyzed on microphotographs of impregnated thin sections in scale. A total of 2267 pores were isolated and analyzed. The following parameters were analyzed: pore area, pore perimeter, circularity, aspect ratio (AR), roundness, solidity, Feret AR, compactness, and fractal dimension. Furthermore, porosity was calculated based on the pore portion in each image. The effective porosity on rock samples was determined using saturation and buoyancy techniques as an accompanying research method. We analyzed distributions of each parameter, their correlation, and most of the parameters are characterized by an asymmetric or asymmetric normal distribution. Parameters that quantify pore irregularities have similar distributions, and their values indicate the high complexity of the pore geometry, which can significantly impact permeability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Resource Management)
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18 pages, 10312 KiB  
Article
Forecasting Underground Water Dynamics within the Technogenic Environment of a Mine Field. Case Study
by Oleg Bazaluk, Ivan Sadovenko, Alina Zahrytsenko, Pavlo Saik, Vasyl Lozynskyi and Roman Dychkovskyi
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7161; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137161 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
The objective is to analyze the dynamics of the underground water of a mine field based on the study of the geofiltration process of the rock mass disturbed by mining to achieve safe extraction operations as well as subsurface territories at the stage [...] Read more.
The objective is to analyze the dynamics of the underground water of a mine field based on the study of the geofiltration process of the rock mass disturbed by mining to achieve safe extraction operations as well as subsurface territories at the stage of the mining enterprise closure. Numerical modeling, based on a finite difference method under the conditions of multifactority and definite uncertainty of processes of transformation of technogenic environment of a mine field, helps solve a problem concerning underground water dynamics forecasting. A hydrodynamic model of the M.I. Stashkov mine was developed while solving option series of epignosis problems in terms of the chronology of mine field stoping. The abovementioned made it possible to identify regularities of the history of filtration, the capacity parameters of rock mass and the expansion of areas of heightened hydraulic conductivity as well as to evaluate qualitatively the water balance components of a carbonic watered formation and an overlying one. The stage of mining closure helped obtain the forecasting hydrodynamic solutions. The efficiency of measures, concerning reduction of water ingress into mine workings and the mitigation of surface ecological effects of mine flooding was evaluated quantitatively. It was determined that implementation of the water control procedures makes it possible to perform a 10–38% decrease in water ingress. In this context, they may be applied both independently and simultaneously. In terms of mine closure and flooding, a period of complete underground water recovery takes three years; in the process, surface zones of potential waterlogging and swamping are developed within the floodplain of Samara River, located at the territory of Western Donbas (Ukraine). The scientific novelty is to define regularities of hydraulic conductivity transformation of the rock mass of a mine field starting from the mine working roof fall, up to its compaction during the mine operation period. To do that, nonstationary identification problems were solved, using numerical modeling. The abovementioned makes it possible to improve the reliability of hydrodynamic prognoses and develop technological schemes to control water at the state of the mine closure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Resource Management)
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20 pages, 8931 KiB  
Article
Determination of Soil Hydraulic Parameters and Evaluation of Water Dynamics and Nitrate Leaching in the Unsaturated Layered Zone: A Modeling Case Study in Central Croatia
by Jasmina Defterdarović, Lana Filipović, Filip Kranjčec, Gabrijel Ondrašek, Diana Kikić, Alen Novosel, Ivan Mustać, Vedran Krevh, Ivan Magdić, Vedran Rubinić, Igor Bogunović, Ivan Dugan, Krešimir Čopec, Hailong He and Vilim Filipović
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126688 - 12 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2956
Abstract
Nitrate leaching through soil layers to groundwater may cause significant degradation of natural resources. The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of the similar soil type with same management on various locations; (ii) to determine annual water [...] Read more.
Nitrate leaching through soil layers to groundwater may cause significant degradation of natural resources. The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of the similar soil type with same management on various locations; (ii) to determine annual water dynamics; and (iii) to estimate the impact of subsoil horizon properties on nitrate leaching. The final goal was to compare the influence of different SHPs and layering on water dynamics and nitrate leaching. The study was conducted in central Croatia (Zagreb), at four locations on Calcaric Phaeozem, Calcaric Regosol, and Calcaric Fluvic Phaeozem soil types. Soil hydraulic parameters were estimated using the HYPROP system and HYPROP-FIT software. Water dynamics and nitrate leaching were evaluated using HYDRUS 2D/3D during a period of 365 days. The amount of water in the soil under saturated conditions varied from 0.422 to 0.535 cm3 cm−3 while the hydraulic conductivity varied from 3 cm day−1 to 990.9 cm day−1. Even though all locations have the same land use and climatic conditions with similar physical properties, hydraulic parameters varied substantially. The amount and velocity of transported nitrate (HYDRUS 2D/3D) were affected by reduced hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil as nitrates are primarily transported via advective flux. Despite the large differences in SHPs of the topsoil layers, the deeper soil layers, having similar SHPs, imposed a buffering effect preventing faster nitrate downward transport. This contributed to a very similar distribution of nitrates through the soil profile at the end of simulation period. This case study indicated the importance of carefully selecting relevant parameters in multilayered soil systems when evaluating groundwater pollution risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Groundwater Resource Management)
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