Search Results (35)

Rapid socio-economic development and the impact of human activities have exerted tremendous pressure on the groundwater system of the Dawen River Basin (DRB), the largest tributary in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Hydrochemical studies on the DRB have largely centered on the upstream Muwen River catchment and downstream Dongping Lake, with some focusing solely on karst groundwater. Basin-wide evaluations suggest good overall groundwater quality, but moderate to severe contamination is confined to the lower Dongping Lake area. The hydrogeologically complex mid-reach, where the Muwen and Chaiwen rivers merge, warrants specific focus. This region, adjacent to populous areas and industrial/agricultural zones, features diverse aquifer systems, necessitating a thorough analysis of its hydrochemistry and origins. This study presents an integrated hydrochemical, isotopic investigation and EWQI evaluation of groundwater quality and formation mechanisms within the multiple groundwater types of the central DRB. Central DRB groundwater has a pH of 7.5–8.2 (avg. 7.8) and TDSs at 450–2420 mg/L (avg. 1075.4 mg/L) and is mainly brackish, with Ca²⁺ as the primary cation (68.3% of total cations) and SO₄²⁻ (33.6%) and NO₃⁻ (28.4%) as key anions. The Piper diagram reveals complex hydrochemical types, primarily HCO₃·SO₄-Ca and SO₄·Cl-Ca. Isotopic analysis (δ²H, δ¹⁸O) confirms atmospheric precipitation as the principal recharge source, with pore water showing evaporative enrichment due to shallow depths. The Gibbs diagram and ion ratios demonstrate that hydrochemistry is primarily controlled by silicate and carbonate weathering (especially calcite dissolution), active cation exchange, and anthropogenic influences. EWQI assessment (avg. 156.2) indicates generally “good” overall quality but significant spatial variability. Pore water exhibits the highest exceedance rates (50% > Class III), driven by nitrate pollution from intensive vegetable cultivation in eastern areas (Xiyangzhuang–Liangzhuang) and sulfate contamination from gypsum mining (Guojialou–Nanxiyao). Karst water (26.7% > Class III) shows localized pollution belts (Huafeng–Dongzhuang) linked to coal mining and industrial discharges. Compared to basin-wide studies suggesting good quality in mid-upper reaches, this intensive mid-reach sampling identifies critical localized pollution zones within an overall low-EWQI background. The findings highlight the necessity for aquifer-specific and land-use-targeted groundwater protection strategies in this hydrogeologically complex region. Full article

Groundwater resources in the Kou sub-basin of southwestern Burkina Faso play a critical role in supporting domestic water supply, agriculture, and industry in and around Bobo-Dioulasso, the second-largest city in Burkina Faso. This study synthesizes over three decades of research on groundwater vulnerability, recharge mechanisms, hydrochemistry, and residence time across the region’s sedimentary aquifers. The Kou basin hosts a complex stratified system of confined and unconfined aquifers, where hydrochemical analyses reveal predominantly Ca–Mg–HCO₃ facies, alongside local nitrate (0–860 mg/L), iron (0–2 mg/L) and potassium (<6.5 mg/L–190 mg/L) contamination. Vulnerability assessments—using parametric (DRASTIC, GOD, APSU) and numerical (MODFLOW/MT3D) models—consistently indicate moderate to high vulnerability, especially in alluvial and urban/peri-urban areas. Isotopic results show a deep recharge for a residence time greater than 50 years with deep groundwater dating from 25,000 to 42,000 years. Isotopic data confirm a vertically stratified system, with deep aquifers holding fossil water and shallow units showing recent recharge. Recharge estimates vary significantly (0–354 mm/year) depending on methodology, reflecting uncertainties in climatic, geological, and anthropogenic parameters. This review highlights major methodological limitations, including inconsistent data quality, limited spatial coverage, and insufficient integration of socio-economic drivers. To ensure long-term sustainability, future work must prioritize high-resolution hydrogeological mapping, multi-method recharge modeling, dynamic vulnerability assessments, and strengthened groundwater governance. This synthesis provides a critical foundation for improving water resource management in one of Burkina Faso’s most strategic aquifer systems. Full article

Groundwater is a critical drinking water source in arid regions globally, where reliance on groundwater is highest. However, disparities in groundwater availability, access, and quality pose challenges to water security. This case study employs geostatistical tools, multivariate regression, and clustering analysis to examine the intersection of groundwater level changes (availability), socioeconomic and regulatory factors (access), and nitrate and arsenic contamination (quality) across 1881 groundwater-supplied drinking water service areas in Arizona. Groundwater availability declined over 20-year and 10-year periods, particularly outside designated management areas, with mean annual decline rates ranging from −15.97 to −0.003 m/year. In contrast, increases (0.003 to 13.41 m/year) were concentrated in urban and managed areas. Karst aquifers show long-term resilience but short-term vulnerability. Non-designated areas exhibit mixed effects, reflecting variable management effectiveness. Disparities in groundwater access emerge along various socioeconomic and regulatory lines. Communities with higher Black populations are twice as likely (OR = 2.01, p < 0.001) to experience groundwater declines, while Hispanic/Latino communities have lower depletion risks (OR = 0.92, p < 0.001). Tribal oversight significantly reduces groundwater decline risk (OR = 0.62, p < 0.001), whereas state–primacy areas show mixed effects. Higher female populations correlate with increased groundwater declines, while older populations (65+) experience greater stability. Married-family households and institutional housing are associated with greater declines. Migrant worker housing shows protective effects in long-term models. Rising groundwater levels are associated with higher nitrate and arsenic detection, reinforcing recharge-driven contaminant mobilization. Nitrate exceedance (OR = 1.05) responds more to short-term groundwater changes, while arsenic exceedance persists over longer timescales (OR = 1.01–1.05), reflecting their distinct hydrogeochemical behaviors. Community water systems show higher pollutant detection rates than domestic well areas, suggesting monitoring and infrastructure differences influence contamination patterns. Tribal primacy areas experience lower groundwater declines but show mixed effects on water quality, with reduced nitrate exceedance probabilities; yet they show variable arsenic contamination patterns, suggesting that governance influences availability and contamination dynamics. These findings advance groundwater sustainability research by quantifying disparities across multiple timescales and socio-hydrogeological drivers of groundwater vulnerability. The results underscore the need for expanded managed aquifer recharge, targeted regulatory interventions, and strengthened Tribal water governance to reduce inequities in availability, access, and contamination risk to support equitable and sustainable groundwater management. Full article

Groundwater is a vital drinking water source, especially in arid regions, sustaining both urban and rural populations. Its quality is influenced by natural (hydrogeological) and human-driven (demographic, policy) factors, which may pose significant public health risks, especially for communities relying on unregulated water supplies. This study addresses critical gaps by examining groundwater vulnerability and contamination disparities, emphasizing their implications for public health and equitable resource management. It analyzes the impact of socio-hydrogeological factors on arsenic and nitrate levels in groundwater-supplied systems in Arizona, U.S. Methods include spatial analysis, ANOVA, multivariate regression, and cluster analysis. Significant disparities in arsenic and nitrate contamination, including exceedances of regulatory limits, were observed across supply types, aquifer characteristics, jurisdictional oversights, and groundwater management areas. Domestic wells and community water systems showed distinct contamination risks. Groundwater vulnerability was influenced by geological differences (karst vs. alluvial aquifers) and regulatory oversight, with Tribal and State systems facing unique challenges and resource needs. Socioeconomic disparities were evident, with minority communities, institutional facilities, rural areas, and specific housing types disproportionately exposed to higher contaminant levels. These findings unveil the intersection of race, socioeconomic status, and public health risks, offering an adaptable framework for addressing similar groundwater challenges in arid and semi-arid regions globally. This study is innovative in its focus on policy distinctions between private and regulated wells, karst and alluvial aquifers, and State and Tribal jurisdictions. It emphasizes the need for targeted vulnerability assessments and remediation strategies that integrate geological, hydrological, and regulatory factors to address risk disparities in vulnerable communities. These environmental inequities underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations and strategic resource allocation to support marginalized communities. The study recommends enhancing monitoring protocols, prioritizing resource distribution, and implementing targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable and sustainable access to safe drinking water in arid regions. Full article

We analyze the variation in groundwater budget by modeling an aquifer in a semi-arid region in southern Italy, using different good pumping scenarios. This aquifer is overexploited due to the agricultural vocation of the area. We propose an integrated method to assess the distribution of hydrogeological parameters and the recharge rates. The hydrogeological parametrization is performed through a hydrostratigraphic approach using the geostatistical tool. Recharge rates are computed through a soil water balance application, using different monitoring stations over the area for the whole period of interest. Integrating the results of this analysis with pumping scenarios based on the water irrigation requirement of the main crops in the area, different water budgets are estimated. The results show how different pumping scenarios affect the availability of water resources and thus underline the importance of management. This integrated hydrogeological model can be applied to other areas with similar hydrogeological characteristics, and it can be considered a valuable tool for evaluating sustainable groundwater management strategies, considering land use practices and socio-economic factors. Full article

Located in northern Western Australia, the Pilbara is the highest productivity region for iron ore and other metal mining in Australia. As elsewhere, mine closure guidelines typically require post-closure landforms to be safe, stable, non-polluting and sustainable here in the long-term. I reviewed the primary literature, including international, national and state government guidelines and regional case studies for mine closure and related socio-environmental topics, to understand the key risks and management strategies needed to achieve these broad expectations for below water table (BWT) mining. Many BWT open cut mining projects will result in pit lakes in this region, many of which will be very large and will degrade in water quality with increasing salinisation over time. As an arid region, risks are dominated by alterations to hydrology and hydrogeology of largely unmodified natural waterways and freshwater aquifers. Although remote, social risks may also present, especially in terms of impacts to groundwater values. This remoteness also decreases the potential for realising practicable development of post-mining land uses for pit lakes. Explicitly considered risk-based decisions should determine closure outcomes for BWT voids, and when pit backfill to prevent pit lake formation will be warranted. However, maintaining an open pit lake or backfilling a void should also be considered against the balance of potential risks and opportunities. Full article

Leakages from damaged or deteriorated buried pipes in urban water distribution networks may cause significant socio-economic and environmental impacts, such as depletion of water resources and sinkhole events. Sinkholes are often caused by internal erosion and fluidization of the soil surrounding leaking pipes, with the formation of soil cavities that may eventually collapse. This in turn causes road disruption and building foundation damage, with possible victims. While the loss of precious water resources is a well-known problem, less attention has been paid to anthropogenic sinkhole events generated by leakages in water distribution systems. With a view to improving urban smart resilience and sustainability of urban areas, this study introduces an innovative framework to localize leakages based on a Machine learning model (for the training and evaluation of candidate sets of pressure sensors) and a Genetic algorithm (for the optimal sensor set positioning) with the goal of detecting and mitigating potential hydrogeological urban disruption due to water leakage in the most sensitive/critical locations. The application of the methodology on a synthetic case study from literature and a real-world case scenario shows that the methodology also contributes to reducing the depletion of water resources. Full article

Cultures in Mediterranean climate zones (MCZs) around the world have long been reliant on groundwater and springs as freshwater sources. While their ecology and cultural sustainability are recognized as critically important, inter-relationships between springs and culture in MCZs have received less attention. Here we augmented a global literature review with case studies in MCZ cultural landscapes to examine the diversity and intensity of cultural and socio-economic relationships on spring ecohydrogeology. MCZs are often oriented on western and southern coasts in tectonically active landscapes which control aquifer structure, the prevalence of westerly winds, and aridity, and generally expose associated habitats and cultures to harsh afternoon sunlight. Cultural appreciation and appropriation of springs ranges widely, from their use as subsistence water supplies to their roles in profound traditions such as Greco-Roman nymphalea as well as Asian and Abrahamic spiritual cleansing and baptism. The abandonment of traditional ways of life, such as rural livestock production, for urban ones has shifted impacts on aquifers from local to regional groundwater exploitation. The commoditization of water resources for regional agricultural, industrial (e.g., mining, water bottling, geothermal resorts), and urban uses is placing ever-increasing unsustainable demands on aquifers and spring ecosystems. When the regional economic value of springs approaches or exceeds local cultural values, these irreplaceable aquatic ecosystems are often degraded, over-looked, and lost. Sustainable stewardship of springs and the aquifers that support them is a poorly recognized but central conservation challenge for modern Mediterranean societies as they face impending impacts of global climate change. Solutions to this crisis require education, societal dialogue, and improved policy and implementation. Full article

One of the crucial challenges of our time is climate change. The consequences of rising sea levels and drought greatly impact water resources, potentially worsening seawater intrusion. Characterizing coastal aquifers is an essential step in devising strategies to address these phenomena. Seawater intrusion poses a critical socio-economic and environmental issue in the coastal plain of Muravera, southeastern Sardinia (Italy). This coastal plain is an important agricultural area in Sardinia, and the health of the crops is compromised by the increasing salinization of shallow groundwater. To enhance our understanding of the hydrogeological conceptual model, which is essential for a sustainable resource management system, hydrogeological investigations were conducted and complemented by the chemical and multi-isotopic analyses of groundwater. The main objectives of this study were to identify groundwater recharge areas, understand salinization mechanisms and trace the evolution of water chemistry. Within this framework, a monthly survey monitoring piezometric level and electrical conductivity was carried out for one year. This survey was integrated with chemical and isotope analyses, including δ¹⁸O_H2O and δ²H_H2O, δ¹¹B, δ¹⁸O_SO4, δ³⁴S_SO4, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. Hydrochemistry analysis results revealed the occurrence of seawater–freshwater mixing, extending up to 4 km inland. H₂O isotope analysis confirmed the mixing processes and indicated the meteoric origin of recharge waters for both shallow and semi-confined aquifers. The strontium isotopes ratio facilitated the identification of four main groundwater flow paths, confirmed by the SIAR model. The results of this combined hydrogeological–geochemical–isotopic survey provide essential elements for the future implementation of an integrated and sustainable management system. These findings enable interventions to slow the process of seawater intrusion and meet the economic needs for the development of local communities. Full article

Nowadays, changes in precipitation patterns together with the increasing water demand impose a sustainable management where the budget between water availability and demand is positively closed. A parsimonious hydrogeological modelling approach coupled with a soil water balance is developed and applied in order to quantify the hydrological and hydrogeological dynamics in a semi-arid region of the Mediterranean basin. In particular, the present work focuses on the hydrogeological dynamics of the catchment areas of Siedi, Foggia di Rau, Pigonati, and the Palmarini channels located in the Brindisi Plain, Southern Italy. In the last decades, in the Brindisi Plain the anthropization processes as well as the industrial and agricultural development have generated an intensive exploitation of both shallow and deep groundwater resources as well as their qualitative deterioration. A dry hydrologic year (2019–2020) caused a recharge deficit, resulting in a lowering of the groundwater level of the shallow aquifer compared to the expected seasonal value. The results evidence a sensitive natural system, where the variability of the rainfall regime combined with water withdrawal leads to a system that is very vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as the presence of erratic rainfall patterns affecting aquifer recharge. This study represents the first approach to couple a soil moisture balance model and groundwater flow model to assess the impact of changes in rainfall patterns on groundwater recharge for the Brindisi Plain aquifer. The developed integrated hydrogeological model can be applied to other sites with similar hydrogeological features and represents an important tool in order to evaluate the effectiveness of cost-effective sustainable actions for the management of the groundwater resources with respect to land-use practices and socio-economic aspects. Full article

The shallow groundwater of the quaternary system in the Baoshan basin, Yunnan Province is seriously polluted, threatening human health and restricting local socio-economic development; therefore, it is necessary to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanisms of the shallow groundwater of the quaternary system in the Baoshan basin. This study used EVS 2022 to establish a 3D visual geological model of the quaternary system in the basin and divided the shallow groundwater aquifers of the quaternary system into three groundwater systems, sampling 22, 9, and 4 groups in each groundwater system, respectively. Mathematical statistics, Piper’s trilinear diagram, Gibbs plots, the Gaillardet model, the ion ratio method, groundwater saturation, and the PCA-APCS-MLR model were used to analyze the groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and genesis of the study area. The results show the following: (1) The types of groundwater chemicals are mainly HCO₃-Ca-Mg type and HCO₃-Ca, the causes of the water chemical characteristics are mainly influenced by water–rock interaction and alternate cation adsorption, and the rock types with which the groundwater exchanges substances are carbonate rocks and silicate rocks. (2) The Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, and NH₃-N contents in groundwater systems I and II exceed the standard, which is the human activity area, and groundwater pollution is mainly affected by human activities. (3) Four main categories of factors were obtained according to the PCA-APCS-MLR model, namely dissolution filtration, migration and enrichment factors, geological and human activity factors, and environmental factors and pollution factors; the cumulative contribution of variance was 77.84%, and the groundwater chemical characteristics were jointly influenced by hydrogeological conditions and human activities. The results of this study provide a basis for groundwater protection and management in the Baoshan basin, where groundwater system I is the key area for pollution and should be strengthened for control. Full article

Water scarcity is a problem in Brazil’s northern semi-arid domain. Montes Claros is the most populated Minas Gerais city in this context, and its socio-economic problems are related to water consumption and management. Aiming to help assess these problems, this study presents a new hydrogeological characterization. The 3D geological model was developed using drilling data from 125 public wells, field campaigns and satellite images for hydrogeological interpretation. The area has two main different aquifer systems underlying the Vieira River Watershed. The first is a karstic fissured aquifer, located in the Lagoa do Jacaré limestone Formation. The second is fissured aquifer systems in metapelites from the Serra da Santa Helena and Serra da Saudade Formations, which are characterized by low hydraulic transmissivity and locally higher specific capacity zones related to their structural features or carbonate intercalations. Monitoring data from new manual and automatic methods carried out in 16 selected points highlight that variations are related to (1) hydrogeological domains, (2) oscillations related to interference from neighboring wells, and (3) seasonal variation and irregular pluviometry in the region. This is important information that can help update our hydrogeological knowledge, provide information on surface and groundwater flow dynamics, and improve water resource management, with the aim of ensuring sustainability in exploitation. Full article

Monitoring structural stability in urban areas and infrastructure networks is emerging as one of the dominant socio-economic issues for population security. The problem is accentuated by the age of the infrastructure because of increasing risks due to material deterioration and loss of load capacity. In this case, SAR satellite data are crucial to identify and assess the deteriorating conditions of civil infrastructures. The large amount of data available from SAR satellite sensors leads to the exploitation and development of new GIS-based procedures for rapid responses and decision making. In recent decades, the DInSAR technique has been used efficiently for the monitoring of structures, providing measurement points located on structures with millimeter precision. Our study has analyzed the behavior of structures in settlements, attempting to discuss the interactions of soil and structures, and examining the behavior of different types of structures, such as roads and buildings. The method used is based on long-term SAR interferometry data and a semi-automatic procedure to measure the displacement (mm/year) of structures, through a GIS-based application performed in the “Implemented MOnitoring DIsplacement” I.MODI platform. The analysis provides extensive information on long-term spatial and temporal continuity of up to 25 years of record, using satellite SAR multi-sensors from ERS, Envisat, and COSMO-SkyMed. The interpretation uses time series spatial analysis, supported by orthophotos, and layers of the DBTR (regional topographic database), Digital Surface model (DSM), and hydrogeological map to show anomalous areas with a high displacement rate and to observe the correlation of settlements in the sediments. With the satellite information and Geographic Information System (GIS), we were able to observe relevant parameters, such as the velocity of advance in the direction of the slope (deformation profiles), the cumulative displacement, and the trend changes in structures. The results illustrate an innovative procedure that allows the management of DInSAR data to facilitate the effective management of structures in which a monitoring protocol was developed at different spatial scales, integrating the information into a GIS. Full article

Water safety and water governance are critical concerns, as water is a vital and finite resource that is essential for ecological processes, human survival, and economic and social development, requiring collaborative and coordinated work of all related actors. The subject literature is scattered and fragmented, making it difficult to identify the key contributions and understand the current state of research; however, these considerations are an increasing preoccupation. To address this issue, a scientometric analysis was conducted in this work to identify the main contributions in the field. The methodology of the research was divided into two sections: the first section presents a scientometric mapping, including an analysis of scientific production by country, journal, and author. The second section identified the main theoretical contributions through the use of the Tree of Science metaphor. The main subfields identified include social governance structures and capacities, drinking water management, and socio-hydrogeology and collaborative governance. This research provides valuable insights for decision makers to develop and promote effective strategies to improve water safety and participatory efforts. Full article

Groundwater plays a vital role in human consumption and irrigation in many parts of Bolivia; yet, the absence of policies to regulate its extraction and protect groundwater recharge areas has led to a decline in water tables and threatened food security. Some municipal initiatives have been implemented to develop regulations, but the lack of reliable hydrogeological data (such as aquifer geometry, groundwater level data, location of potential groundwater recharge zones, and flow dynamics) hinders their effective implementation. The case study presented herein focuses on a municipal policy in Tiraque, Bolivia, aimed at protecting groundwater recharge zones, in addition to the need for a reliable methodology for their technical identification. The EARLI approach (an acronym for “Enhanced Algorithm for Recharge based on the Rainfall and Land cover Inclusion”) is suggested as a participatory-simplified multi-criteria decision method to address the absence of hydrogeological data. This approach was adjusted to the basin’s specific conditions, including local vegetation communities and their influence on infiltration, and was applied as a pilot study in the Virvini micro-basin. The EARLI model emphasizes the spatial distribution of rainfall as an input indicator for potential recharge in addition to the biophysical characteristics of the catchment area. The methodology successfully mapped the degree of groundwater recharge potential and was validated by traditional hydrogeological models, field infiltration measurements, and the local community’s application of the tool. Therefore, the results of this study provide the necessary technical bases for groundwater-integrated management in Tiraque. Full article