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Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Study area: Iran. Study focus: Hamedan-Bahar plain is one of the important plains in the west of Iran, which is facing a shortage of water resources and excessive extraction of groundwater resources. The purpose of this article is to identify and evaluate the status of sustainability governance indicators using the knowledge of local experts, which can be an effective step towards the sustainable management of groundwater resources. In this paper, we apply Ostrom’s Social-Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) as a diagnostic tool with 52 indicators to assess the sustainability of groundwater resources. New hydrological insights for the region: Based on key informant interviews with local experts and stakeholders, we use the TOPSIS technique and the Shannon Entropy methodologies to weigh and rank indicators influencing sustainability. Findings revealed that the indicators within the category Resource Systems (RS) and Resource Units (RU) with values of 0.74, and 0.70, are the most stable contributing factors to local sustainability, respectively. In contrast, the Governance System (GS), Actor (A), and Interaction (I) first-tier variables were evaluated as less stable, along with Outcomes (O). This suggests that social factors and diverse outcomes may need further attention in the region to ensure management and policy development that can better enable sustainable outcomes. This analysis also demonstrates the usefulness of a comprehensive science-based framework for organizing, analyzing, and presenting a wide range of complex information to inform policymakers and planners.

Study region: Avella Mts., southern Italy. Study focus: The paper is focused on groundwater of Avella Mts. This aquifer has been experiencing an increasing human pressure due to periods of drought and growth in groundwater extraction. A novel hydrogeological conceptual model was developed, and groundwater recharge was estimated by two approaches. The study was carried out by an in-depth literature review and a GIS-based analysis of geological and piezometric data, ground-based meteorological and remotely sensed data. New hydrological insights for the region: The new hydrogeological conceptual model allowed to reconstruct the aquifer lithology, its deep geometry, and, for the first time, groundwater flow scheme. Five groundwater basins were recognized with distinct outlets and subsurface outflows, suggesting a new aquifer compartmentalization in-series groundwater basins. Some basal springs are fed by autonomous basins with smaller extension, while other springs have dried up completely. The groundwater recharge varies from 7.30 to 6.90 m3/s as estimated by Turc formula and MODIS data, respectively; the values are comparable among them, confirming mutually the validity of approaches used. The comparison with previous studies highlights variations and changes for both the hydrogeological conceptual model and water balance, linked to natural and anthropogenic factors. The results obtained represent a way for supporting sustainable management of groundwater, waterwork systems security and groundwater-dependent ecosystems protection of a large sector of Campania region.

Groundwater management is a complex task that includes a multitude of actors. It is even more complicated in water scarce countries with less well-established formal water governance structures. In these settings, local government officers have been recognised for their essential role in groundwater management. Often, their role is described as problematic, with officers being under-resourced, under-motivated and, at times, corrupt. In this paper we zoom in on these street-level bureaucrats in Azraq, one of the most depleted groundwater basins in Jordan. Based on inputs from officers, farmers, and sector experts, we collate and analyse information on how the settings in which local officers work influence their day-to-day implementation of policies. We observe that officers in Azraq are heavily influenced by the context in which they operate. This context is characterised by the physical scarcity of groundwater, the formal policy setting, and the presence of the shadow state. The context shapes local officers’ relationships with farmers, their own personal beliefs and subjectivities, and their capacity and resources. As a result, their divergent actions arguably become the groundwater management policy. Based on these findings, we argue that a deeper understanding is needed of the underlying factors and drivers that shape local groundwater management if we are to arrive at better groundwater policy for a more sustainable future

Groundwater is the primary source of water for domestic and irrigation purposes in the peninsular region of the Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts of Bihar. Though this region is bounded by perennial rivers on three sides, the groundwater level is decreasing gradually because of over exploitation and misuse. In this study, spatial and temporal analyses of rainfall and groundwater levels for pre- and post-monsoon seasons from 1996 to 2020 have been carried out using GIS tools, graphical plots, and statistical methods of pattern recognition. The spatial analysis of rainfall shows less rainfall in the western region of the study area, whereas it shows heavy rainfall in the region near the Vikramshila Bridge. The temporal analysis of rainfall shows decreasing trend in the whole study area and the rate of decrease was 25.05 mm/year during 1996–2020. The results of the pre-monsoon groundwater levels analysis show decreasing trend in the majority of wells, and the rate of decrease varies from 0.005 to 0.102 m/year. By contrast, the post-monsoon groundwater levels showed an increasing trend varying from 0.005 to 0.083 m/year at wells located near the River Ganga, except at Maheshkhunt. Thus, there is a need for proper groundwater management for a sustainable future. HIGHLIGHTS The study investigated the change in the patterns of rainfall and groundwater levels in a peninsular region formed by four rivers.; The study used GIS tools and graphical and statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis.; The results showed a declining trend in rainfall and groundwater levels and their variation in space.; Based on this study, the authorities can initiate steps for groundwater management.;

Sustainable groundwater management is crucial for ensuring the long-term availability of water resources and supporting socio-economic activities. As water demands increase and hydrological systems become more complex, accurately identifying groundwater potential zones is essential for effective resource planning and utilization. However, the in-situ data availability is often very limited, particularly on a regional scale. To solve this problem, this study aimed to delineate groundwater potential zones in Aceh Besar Regency using remote sensing and a GIS-based AHP (analytical hierarchy process). Several factors were used to determine groundwater potential zones, including lithology, land use/land cover, slope, lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, and soil type. Each factor was weighted based on an extensive literature review and knowledge-driven decision-making techniques. The results indicated that 26.35% of the area was classified as having low groundwater potential, whereas 53.86% was classified as moderate. Areas that have high to very high groundwater potential cover 16.76% to 3.04% of the Aceh Besar territory. The high groundwater potential zones were mostly located in alluvial and clastic sediments lithology, gentle slopes, and had high annual rainfall. Meanwhile, areas with igneous and metamorphic lithology as well as steep slopes, had moderate to low groundwater potential. Validation was carried out by collecting the high-yield existing production wells and calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with relatively good accuracy (74.5%). This research has effectively described the spatial distribution of groundwater potential, contributing to sustainable groundwater management and enabling informed decision-making for sustainable groundwater practices.

The article is an introduction to the latest issue of Water International, a journal that focuses on water resources. The issue includes articles on various topics, such as water governance in islands, the science-policy interface, water stress and socioeconomic factors, irrigation, groundwater use for urban water supply, and legal protection for rivers in Chile. The articles cover a range of perspectives and provide insights into different aspects of water management and sustainability. The editors encourage readers to explore these articles and look forward to future issues. [Extracted from the article]

Groundwater recharge zone identification is vital for managing water resources, particularly in semi-arid and dry climates. Accurate and quantifiable assessment is necessary for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, and it is possible to carry this method out using modern techniques and technical standards. To identify likely groundwater locations in the Diyala River Catchment, Iraq, which serves as an example study basin, the current research examines a new methodology that employs a geographic information system, and an Analytical Hierarchy Process connected with remote sensing data. The technique of ArcGIS was employed to generate spatially distributed thematic layers of rainfall, lithology, slope, drainage density, land use/land cover, relief and soil. The raster data from these layers were then converted and categorized. The weights assigned to thematic strata depended on their significance relative to groundwater occurrence. A pairwise judgement matrix for the Analytical Hierarchy Process was used, with the categorized ranking, to assess the standardized weights of the layers under consideration. The layers for the formation of groundwater zones have then been placed using the overlay-weighted summation approach. Three regions, which are classed as excellent, good and moderate, have been identified on the resulting groundwater potential zones map, representing roughly 29, 69 and 2% of the basin’s total area, respectively. The study’s conclusions indicate that, in such a climate, the adopted strategy would produce favourable results to promote the organizing of opinions and the sustainable use of groundwater resources.

The southern Gabès aquifer in southeastern Tunisia faces significant stress due to unsustainable groundwater extraction. This study employs a SEAWAT model to evaluate groundwater losses, salinization mechanisms, and the interaction between the confined aquifer and the Mediterranean Sea. The model, incorporating well pumping rates, regional freshwater inflows from the Matmata Mountain Range, and the Mediterranean Sea boundary, demonstrated high accuracy in simulating hydraulic heads. Findings reveal that regional inflow is only half of the current pumping rate, indicating unsustainable groundwater use. The study also assessed salinity dynamics by modeling the Mediterranean Sea as a constant head and salinity boundary. Results suggest limited exchange between the aquifer and the sea, challenging previous assumptions. While the immediate risks of salinization are low, continued over-extraction could compromise the aquifer’s long-term sustainability. This research highlights the need for stricter local groundwater management, offers insights into regional coastal aquifer interactions, and contributes to global discussions on managing stressed aquifer systems.

In the last decades, climate change has led to increasingly frequent drought events within the Mediterranean area, creating an urgent need of a more sustainable management of groundwater resources exploited for drinking and agricultural purposes. One of the most challenging issues is to provide reliable simulations and forecasts of karst spring discharges, whose reduced information, as well as the hydrological processes involving their feeding aquifers, is often a big issue for water service managers and researchers. In order to plan a sustainable water resource exploitation that could face future shortages, the groundwater availability should be assessed by continuously monitoring spring discharge during the hydrological year, using collected data to better understand the past behaviour and, possibly, forecast the future one in case of severe droughts. The aim of this paper is to understand the factors that govern different spring discharge patterns according to rainfall inputs and to present a model, based on artificial neural network (ANN) data training and cross-correlation analyses, to evaluate the discharge of some karst spring in the Umbria region (Central Italy). The model used is a fully connected neural network (FCNN) and has been used both for filling gaps in the spring discharge time series and for simulating the response of six springs to rainfall seasonal patterns from a 20-year continuous daily record, collected and provided by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) of the Umbria region.

Using geochemical and pumping test data from 80 groundwater wells, the chemical, hydrologic, and hydraulic properties of the fractured Eocene carbonate aquifer located west of the Al-Minya district, the Western Desert, Egypt, have been characterized and determined to guarantee sustainable management of groundwater resources under large-scale desert reclamation projects. The hydrochemical data show that groundwater from the fractured Eocene carbonate aquifer has a high concentration of Na+ and Cl− and varies in salinity from 2176 to 2912 mg/L (brackish water). Water–rock interaction and ion exchange processes are the most dominant processes controlling groundwater composition. The carbonate aquifer exists under confined to semi-confined conditions, and the depth to groundwater increases eastward. From the potentiometric head data, deep-seated faults are the suggested pathways for gas-rich water ascending from the deep Nubian aquifer system into the overlying shallow carbonate aquifer. This mechanism enhances the dissolution and karstification of carbonate rocks, especially in the vicinity of faulted sites, and is supported by the significant loss of mud circulation during well drilling operations. The average estimated hydraulic parameters, based on the analysis of step-drawdown, long-duration pumping and recovery tests, indicate that the Eocene carbonate aquifer has a wide range of transmissivity (T) that is between 336.39 and 389,309.28 m2/d (average: 18,405.21 m2/d), hydraulic conductivity (K) between 1.31 and 1420.84 m/d (average: 70.29 m/d), and specific capacity (Sc) between 44.4 and 17,376.24 m2/d (average: 45.24 m2/d). On the other hand, the performance characteristics of drilled wells show that well efficiency ranges between 0.47 and 97.08%, and well losses range between 2.92 and 99.53%. In addition to variations in carbonate aquifer thickness and clay/shale content, the existence of strong karstification features, i.e., fissures, fractures or caverns, and solution cavities, in the Eocene carbonate aquifer are responsible for variability in the K and T values. The observed high well losses might be related to turbulent flow within and adjacent to the wells drilled in conductive fracture zones. The current approach can be further used to enhance local aquifer models and improve strategies for identifying the most productive zones in similar aquifer systems.

The recharge of karst aquifers is significant for the effective management of groundwater resources, and its estimation should be tailored to accommodate their specific hydrogeological characteristics. This study provides a two-step methodological approach for the determination of karst aquifer recharge. Initially, mean annual recharge rates were estimated in the karst system of Ziria (Southern Greece) utilizing the APLIS and modified APLIS methods in order to decipher which was the most suitable version for recharge assessments. The results indicated similar mean recharge rate values at 42.7% and 41.4%, respectively, but significant differences in the spatial distribution. The modified methodology emerged as a more accurate and realistic approach, mainly due to the incorporation of permeability assessments. The final phase of the methodological approach involved the application of modified APLIS in two additional karst hydrosystems, Planitero and Xiromero, while a quantitative cross-comparison of the recharge rates was obtained for a deeper understanding of the factors controlling the groundwater recharge process. In Ziria, recharge rates exhibit a relatively uniform distribution throughout the area, with a median value of 46.7%. Conversely, in Planitero, High recharge rates (60–80%) occupy 56.8% of the surface, while in Xiromero, Moderate recharge rates (40–60%) dominate, representing 53.4% of the land coverage. These variations underscore the spatial heterogeneity of recharge within the karst systems, highlighting the importance of considering local geological and hydrological conditions in its assessments. The methodological approach of this study is flexible and can be adapted to different karst sites for the determination of recharge regimes, contributing to the alleviation of the groundwater depletion issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater management in the Jinan Spring basin is hampered by its complex topography, overexploitation, and excessive urbanisation. This has led to springs drying up during dry seasons and a decrease in discharge in recent years. GIS and the AHP were employed to delineate groundwater potential zones using eight thematic layers: slope, geology, lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI), rainfall, soil, drainage density, and land use/land cover (LULC). The model's accuracy was assessed by comparing the findings to basin groundwater observation well data. We found that 74% of the observations matched the projected zoning. Further validation utilising the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve gave an AUC of 0.736. According to the study, 67.31% of the land has a good GWPZ, 5.60% has a very good one, 27.07% is medium, and 0.03% is low. Heavy rains throughout the rainy season raise water levels. Dry weather lowers water levels. This study's conclusions will protect groundwater from climate change. Integrating hydrogeological data, GIS, remote sensing, and AHP approaches maximises data use, improves groundwater potential zone delineation, and promotes sustainable groundwater resource management decision making. This integrated method can help land use planners, hydrologists, and policymakers find optimal locations for water supply projects, establish groundwater management techniques, and reduce groundwater risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater vulnerability has gained widespread attention, particularly in Chiang Mai Province, one of Thailand's fastest-growing cities, which is experiencing rapid development in both economic and social sectors. The expansion of urban communities and the industrial, tourism, and agriculture sectors has resulted in the overutilization of available resources, notably water resources. This overuse, coupled with the adoption of modern technology to boost productivity and meet market demands, has led to an increased reliance on groundwater to supplement surface water sources, providing benefits across all sectors. However, the economic and social growth plays a pivotal role in shaping the diversity of land use, encompassing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. These activities, in turn, directly contribute to environmental pollution, particularly in terms of the risk of groundwater contamination in Chiang Mai Province. This study aims to predict the future vulnerabilities of groundwater resources under an ensemble of climate change scenarios and changes in land-use patterns. Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand is one of the fastest-growing cities and therefore is experiencing rapid urbanization, as well as land-use pattern changes, which was important for the case study. The new DRASTIC model, namely the DRASTIC-LP model, combined with GIS-based techniques and overlay techniques, was used to generate the map of groundwater resource vulnerabilities. A point pollution source (P)-related land-use pattern (L) that represents contamination impacts was considered an additional new DRASTIC parameter. The study's findings reveal the high reliability and maximum effectiveness of the new DRASTIC-LP model in assessing groundwater vulnerability and contamination-risk areas under a climate change scenario (by MIROC-ESM-CHEM model under RCP.8.5 scenario) and land-use pattern changes (by CA_Markov Chian Model) for both the current year (2020) and the next 50-year period (2021–2070). Furthermore, the new DRASTIC-LP model is employed to trace the movement of pollutants from high- to very high-risk areas based on the groundwater vulnerability and contamination-risk maps. The results highlight that waste disposal dumping sites pose a more critical distribution and movement of pollutants when compared to industrial sites. Additionally, unconsolidated aquifers and cracked consolidated rock aquifers show a potentially higher occurrence of pollutant distribution and movement when compared to consolidated aquifers. Consequently, the study's outcomes are applied to formulate guidelines for the management and control of groundwater resource contamination. These guidelines serve as valuable tools for decision makers, aiding in pollution prevention and the effective management of contamination risks in groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of a novel approach on the levels of SWI (saltwater intrusion) and NO3− (nitrate) contamination. Some numerical simulations were conducted utilizing a coupled model that incorporates variably saturation and density, as well as convection diffusion reaction within a sandy coastal aquifer. We verified the reliability of the model for SWI based on comparison lab experiments and for chemical reactions based on a comparison of previous in situ observations. Cutoff walls and subsurface dams cannot simultaneously control SWI and reduce NO3− contamination. A novel approach that combines subsurface dams and permeable CH2O (organic carbon) walls (PC-Wall) is proposed. Subsurface dams are utilized to prevent SWI, while PC-Walls are employed to mitigate NO3− pollution. Results demonstrate that the construction of a PC-Wall with a concentration of 1.0 mM facilitated a transition from nitrification (Ni)-dominated to denitrification (Dn)-dominated. An increase in CH2O concentration to 1.0 mM caused a significant 1942.5 % rise in mDn (the mass of NO3− removed through Dn). Increment of the distance between the PC-Wall and the ocean from 35 to 45 m could result in a 103.7 % mDn increase and reduce mN (the compound mass of NO3− remaining in the aquifer) by 11.7 %. The study offers a detailed comprehension of the intricate hydrodynamics of SWI and NO3− pollution. In addition, it provides design guidance for engineering to mitigate contamination by NO3− and controlling SWI, thus fostering the management of groundwater quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wadi dahab delta is in a dry, arid coastal zone within Egypt's south Sinai Peninsula's eastern portion. The primary water source is the Quaternary coastal alluvial aquifer. The groundwater salinity varies from 890 to 8213 mg/L, with a mean value of 3417 mg/L. The dissolved major ions have been used to calculate the seawater mixing index (SWMI) using a linear equation that discriminates the groundwater mostly affected by water–rock interaction (SWMI 1 >) and other samples mixed with Seawater (SWMI < 1). The isotopic composition of groundwater for specifically chosen groundwater samples ranges from −0.645‰ to +5.212‰ for δ18O and from − 9.582‰ to + 22.778‰ for δ2H, where the seawater represented by a Red Sea water sample (δ18O + 1.64‰ − δ2H + 9.80‰) and reject brine water are considerably enriched the isotopic groundwater values. The geochemical NETPATH model constrained by the dissolved significant ions, isotopes, and the rock aquifer forming minerals as phases indicate the mixing percent with the seawater ranges from 9% to 97% of seawater from 91% to 3% of original recharge water. According to the SEAWAT 3-D flow models, seawater has penetrated the Northeastern Dahab delta aquifer, with the intrusion zone extending 1500 m inland. The salt dissolution, upwelling of saline water, recharge from the upstream mountain block, and seawater encroachment are the primary aspects contributing to the deterioration of groundwater quality. These findings may have significance for effective groundwater withdrawal management in arid locations worldwide with similar hydrogeological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Choushui River groundwater basin (CRGB) in Yunlin County, Taiwan, is a significant groundwater source for the western part of the region. However, increasing groundwater demand and human activities have triggered a potential crisis due to overexploitation. Therefore, groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) maps are crucial for mapping groundwater resources and water resource management. This study employs the normalized index–overlay method and fuzzy extended analytical hierarchy process (FE-AHP) to map GWPZs cost-effectively. The methodology objectively incorporates weightings from various thematic layers by normalizing and correlating parameters with observed groundwater availability (GA). Site-specific observations, including aquifer thickness, depth to the groundwater level, and porosity, inform GA calculations. Seven comprehensive layers derived from remote sensing (RS) data are processed to obtain weightings and ratings for the groundwater potential index (GWPI) in the CRGB. Selected parameters are categorized into hydrological processes, human interventions, geological, and surface profiles. Hydrological processes include precipitation, modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), and drainage density. Human interventions consist of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and normalized difference building index (NDBI). Surface profiles encompass the terrain ruggedness index (TRI) and slope, enhancing the study's multi-criteria approach. The observed GA validates the GWPZ accuracy, classifying zones into five categories. According to the GWPI of FE-AHP, about 59.56% of the CRGB area can be categorized as "moderate" to "very good" potential groundwater recharge zones. Pearson's correlation coefficient between GWPI and GA, based on FE-AHP, outperforms the conventional AHP. This RS-based approach efficiently evaluates GA in aquifers with limited wells, highlighting crucial zones in CRGB's proximal-fan and southeastern mid-fan for informed groundwater management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common-pool resource theory suggests that the direct participation of local natural resource users in the management of common-pool resources can lead to effective management regimes. Nevertheless, the drivers of participation in common-pool resource management, including policy decision processes, and the effects of participation on stakeholder attitudes and policy preferences are relatively understudied. Here, we combine the social-ecological system (SES) framework with the political science concept of political efficacy to examine both contextual and personal drivers of farmer participation in California, USA’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), as well as the effect of participation on support for policy mechanisms from the SGMA. We surveyed a total of 553 farmers in three counties across the California Central Valley and Central Coast. Overall, we find that < 50% of the farmers surveyed have participated in any SGMA-related events, with attending a meeting being the most common (45%), and testifying before a board being the least common (6%). Participation in any type of SGMA policy event was associated with multiple characteristics of the groundwater SES context, including the resource system (farm size) and actor attributes (farm bureau membership and receiving information about the policy), that likely combine to indicate a higher level of social, financial, and built capital. Higher participation was also associated with higher internal efficacy ratings, i.e., an individual’s self-assessment of their ability to understand and participate in the political process. Higher levels of internal efficacy were also correlated with support for both incentive- and regulatory-based policy mechanisms, as well as the perception that groundwater impacts are occurring now or soon, and exclusive reliance on groundwater. These results demonstrate that political competence and experience with policy processes and programs are not only associated with participation in current policy issues, which is widely recognized in existing research, but are also associated with policy mechanisms, in particular, with potentially more costly regulatory-based mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of groundwater quality for drinking and industrial usage is critically important for the conservation and sustainable management of groundwater resources. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the drinking and industrial groundwater quality status of five blocks of Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India, falling along international boundary of India–Pakistan thus serving as transboundary aquifers, by investigating spatial distribution of drinking and industrial groundwater quality indices using GIS approach. To study the drinking water quality, Groundwater quality index (GWQI) method was applied. The spatial distribution map of GWQI showed that the groundwater quality was poor in the Dera Baba Nanak block as compared to the other blocks. Further, corrosion and scaling indices namely Langelier saturation index (LSI), Aggressive index (AI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), Puckorius index (PI) and Larson-Skold index (LS) were calculated with the help of water quality parameters of all the samples. LSI, AI and RSI indicated the scaling tendency of sampled groundwater while, the other two indices, PI and LS suggested the corrosive behaviour of majority of the sampled groundwater. The findings of GWQI and industrial indices indicated that the groundwater quality was by and large not suitable for drinking and industrial usage in some areas. Therefore, regular and appropriate monitoring of groundwater quality is suggested in the study area and particularly in the regions where groundwater quality issues are reported so as to sustainably manage the groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demands for groundwater management in industrial and environmental engineering, the research and application of air sparging remediation technology have become crucial for enhancing multiphase flow control. Particularly under complex geological conditions with temperature gradients, understanding and predicting the behavior of multiphase flows are essential for improving the efficiency and safety of remediation technology. Currently, most studies focus on the analysis of multiphase flows under static conditions, with fewer assessments on the impact of dynamically changing temperatures and pressures, thus limiting the accuracy and reliability of models in practical applications. Addressing this research gap, this study proposes a fully transient temperature-pressure field coupled model, along with a corresponding iterative solution algorithm, to accurately simulate the dynamic characteristics of underground multiphase flows under varying temperature gradients. The progress of this research extends our understanding of the mechanisms of multiphase flow in air sparging, supporting technological innovation and environmental protection efforts in related fields. It also offers new solutions for resource development and pollutant management under complex geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many coastal areas in Morocco, groundwater (GW) constitutes an important water supply for human activities. Intensive pumping makes GW highly susceptible to contamination, affecting its quality and then human health. This work aims to assess and improve the application of environmental isotopes in exploring the connections between GW recharge and discharge, as well as to identify the direction, age, and speed of GW flow, in the coastal aquifer system of the Akermoud plain. A total of 23 boreholes and wells were sampled during two sampling campaigns in 2017 and 2018, including 11 samples from the shallow aquifer and 12 samples from the deep aquifer. A set of chemical and isotopic tracers (δ18O, δ2H, 3H, δ13C, 14C, and 3He) is used to track water and solute from input to output of the investigated system. Stable isotopes distinguish recharge at different altitudes for the shallow and deep aquifers. Both aquifers reveal consistently low values of 3H (between 0.3 and 0.9 tritium units) and from 28% to 64% of modern carbon for six boreholes. According to 14C correction models, GW has ages ranging from 3300 to 11,000 years before present. GW flows from SSE to NNW and discharge along the Atlantic coast of Akermoud plain with a velocity ranging from 0.41 to 1.8 m/year. Practitioner Points: The use of environmental tracers helps determine the origin of salinity and identify the recharge area.Investigating the MRT of groundwater resources is essential, especially in arid regions.Evaluating the efficiency of isotopic tracing is crucial in assessing the risk of groundwater contamination.The findings provide insights for stakeholders to promote more sustainable groundwater management in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the groundwater resources of Arak plain have been under severe stress, so in some areas, due to the drying up of wells, the depth of wells has increased to access water. In some areas, the groundwater depth is high, which will lead to the salinization of those lands in the future. Regional modeling was used to organize and measure the response of the groundwater resources of Arak plain against the implementation of different management and implementation scenarios. This study aims to investigate the effective factors in the groundwater depth to provide a regional model with multiple linear regression (MLR) methods for Arak plain aquifer. For this purpose, the average groundwater potential maps (GPMs) in the Arak plain, as a dependent variable, and the transmissivity of the aquifer formations, groundwater exploitation values, altitude, average precipitation of the region, the amount of evaporation, and the distance from water resources are considered independent variables and regression analysis is done in SPSS software media. It was done to present a linear model. In the next stage, the presented model was evaluated by applying it to places where its statistics and information were not used to present the model, and finally, by applying this model in the GIS environment, the GPMs for the region were created. The study was prepared. Also, an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to simulate the depth of underground water. The performance of the ANN was measured through parameters such as root-mean-square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient between real and desired outputs (R). The results of both methods indicate that factors such as the transmissivity of aquifer formations, GPMs drawdown, topography (the height of the well site on the level of the watershed), the groundwater exploitation values at the maximum operating radius of the well, and the distance from water resources are the main factors of GPMs drawdown. But the effectiveness of ANN in estimating GPMs drawdown is higher than the MLR method. The implemented methodology could be generalized to other watersheds with water scarcity problems for groundwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater management is a complex task that includes a multitude of actors. It is even more complicated in water scarce countries with less well-established formal water governance structures. In these settings, local government officers have been recognised for their essential role in groundwater management. Often, their role is described as problematic, with officers being under-resourced, under-motivated and, at times, corrupt. In this paper we zoom in on these street-level bureaucrats in Azraq, one of the most depleted groundwater basins in Jordan. Based on inputs from officers, farmers, and sector experts, we collate and analyse information on how the settings in which local officers work influence their day-to-day implementation of policies. We observe that officers in Azraq are heavily influenced by the context in which they operate. This context is characterised by the physical scarcity of groundwater, the formal policy setting, and the presence of the shadow state. The context shapes local officers' relationships with farmers, their own personal beliefs and subjectivities, and their capacity and resources. As a result, their divergent actions arguably become the groundwater management policy. Based on these findings, we argue that a deeper understanding is needed of the underlying factors and drivers that shape local groundwater management if we are to arrive at better groundwater policy for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in Okerenkoko Gbaramatu Kingdom, South-South Region, Nigeria using standard methods. The results obtained in the study indicates that over 70% of the groundwater under investigation fell in the category of C3S1 and C4S1 in the USSL salinity diagram implying high to very high salinity. The concentration of Lead (Pb) in all the samples collected exceeded the recommended value of 0.01 mg/L set by the World Health Organization and the Standard Organization of Nigeria respectively. Groundwater from the study area can only serve as irrigation purpose for salt tolerant crops like the sweet potato, grain-sorghum, sugar beet, cotton and carrot. The production of these crops on the vast arable fallow land will contribute significantly to food security and economic advancement of the study area and the global community at large. Conversely, the groundwater cannot be consumed unless treatment is administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven settlement caused by excessive exploitation of groundwater will seriously affect the smooth operation of high-speed railways. This study takes the Jinwei high-speed railway as an example to explore the development characteristics and distribution of groundwater and land subsidence along the railway under the influence of groundwater exploitation. Based on the comprehensive analysis of hydrogeological conditions and soil characteristics, a three-dimensional coupling model of groundwater seepage and land subsidence was established. The groundwater flow field and land subsidence along the railway under different mining schemes were quantified, and the prevention and control scheme to ensure the smooth operation of the high-speed railway was determined. The results show that the coupling model verified by groundwater and subsidence monitoring data can better simulate the development process of land subsidence. The subsidence center along the railway line is located between DK315 ∼ DK327, with a predicted maximum subsidence rate of 16.36 mm/a. The second most serious area is located between DK295 ∼ DK309, with a maximum subsidence rate of 12.21 mm/a. The maximum ban on mining along the railway is extended to 350 m at the section DK295 ∼ DK309, and to 450 m at the section DK315 ∼ DK325, which can minimize the impact of land subsidence on the high-speed railway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinearity nature of land subsidence and limited observations cause premature convergence in typical data assimilation methods, leading to both underestimation and miscalculation of uncertainty in model parameters and prediction. This study focuses on a promising approach, the combination of evolutionary-based data assimilation (EDA) and ensemble model output statistics (EMOS), to investigate its performance in land subsidence modeling using EDA with a smoothing approach for parameter uncertainty quantification and EMOS for predictive uncertainty quantification. The methodology was tested on a one-dimensional subsidence model in Kawajima (Japan). The results confirmed the EDA's robust capability: Model diversity was maintained even after 1000 assimilation cycles on the same dataset, and the obtained parameter distributions were consistent with the soil types. The ensemble predictions were converted to Gaussian predictions with EMOS using past observations statistically. The Gaussian predictions outperformed the ensemble predictions in predictive performance because EMOS compensated for the over/under-dispersive prediction spread and the short-term bias, a potential weakness for the smoothing approach. This case study demonstrates that combining EDA and EMOS contributes to groundwater management for land subsidence control, considering both the model parameter uncertainty and the predictive uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayesian inversions followed by estimations of rare event probabilities are often needed to analyze groundwater hazards. Instead of focusing on the posterior distribution of model parameters, the main interest lies then in the distribution of a specific quantity of interest contingent upon these parameters. To address the associated methodological challenges, we introduce a two‐stage Sequential Monte Carlo approach. In the first stage, it generates particles that approximate the posterior distribution; in the second stage, it employs subset sampling techniques to assess the probability of the rare event of interest. By considering two hydrogeological problems of increasing complexity, we showcase the efficiency and accuracy of the resulting PostRisk‐SMC method for rare event probability estimation related to groundwater hazards. We compare the performance of the PostRisk‐SMC method with a traditional Monte Carlo approach that relies on Markov chain Monte Carlo samples. We showcase that our estimates align with those of the traditional method, but the coefficients of variation are notably lower for the same computational budget when targeting more rare events. Furthermore, we highlight that the PostRisk‐SMC method allows estimating rare event probabilities approaching one in a billion using less than one hundred thousand forward simulations. Even if the presented examples are related to groundwater hazards, the methodology is well‐suited for addressing a wide range of topics in the geosciences and beyond. Plain Language Summary: Risk assessment assumes a crucial role in groundwater management. An illustrative example involves the potential contamination of an aquifer, a process influenced by the hydraulic properties of the subsurface. Our focus lies in hazard analysis, where we only have limited or indirect information about these hydraulic properties. In the context of rare event estimation, the central goal is not the estimation of the model parameters, but assessing the probability of a hazard occurrence contingent upon these parameters. When tackling rare events, it is necessary to rely on specialized methodologies to ensure accurate estimation of occurrence probabilities. We explore Sequential Monte Carlo methods integrated with a technique known as subset sampling for this task. In this approach, we iteratively produce posterior samples and shift them toward the critical region with respect to the hazard under consideration. For two hydrogeological examples, the approach demonstrates high accuracy in estimating the probabilities of rare events, even when their occurrence rate approaches one in a billion. Key Points: We introduce a two‐stage Sequential Monte Carlo method generating a particle approximation of rare events under a posterior distributionBy considering two hydrogeological problems, we showcase the efficiency and accuracy of the method in analyzing groundwater hazardsThe presented Sequential Monte Carlo methodology is applicable to many other problems within the geosciences and beyond [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer pumping tests represent a standard method for estimating hydraulic characteristics, with practitioners often focusing on late period drawdown data because these are less affected by within‐ and near‐borehole effects (e.g., borehole‐storage and skin effects). Alternatively, groundwater responses to natural forcing (e.g., barometric pressure and earth tides) provide a passive method for estimating aquifer parameters at a low cost. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared parameters calculated from different periods within a pumping test with those from passive methods. Herein, we compare the aquifer transmissivity estimated using both active and passive methods in two wells located in the Beetaloo Region of Northern Australia. The active method estimates aquifer transmissivity during three periods (i.e., the early, middle, and late periods) of an aquifer pumping test, while the passive method employs groundwater responses to barometric‐pressure and earth‐tide fluctuations. We find that the range of best‐fit aquifer transmissivity is 1.18 × 10−5–1.79 × 10−5 m2/s and 1.73 × 10−5–2.14 × 10−5 m2/s for OW1 and OW2, respectively. The transmissivity estimated from the barometric pressure response method is the largest. The aquifer transmissivity using barometric pressure responses are consistent with early‐ and middle‐period estimates. This suggests that barometric pressure responses are more sensitive to within‐ and near‐borehole effects. The scales of the tidal response method are smaller than those of the pumping test method. Plain Language Summary: The accurate estimation of the hydraulic properties of aquifers is important for effective groundwater management. Both active (aquifer pumping tests) and passive (natural forcing such as barometric‐pressure and earth‐tide fluctuations) methods are used to estimate aquifer hydraulic properties. However, the aquifer parameters estimated from aquifer pumping tests are variable as borehole effects (e.g., borehole storage and skin effects) dissipate as the cone‐of‐depression expands over time. This leads to dynamic changes in parameters during the early, middle, and late periods of an active pumping test. By comparing the aquifer transmissivity from these different periods with those estimated from passive (tidal/barometric pressure) responses and combining with scale effect, we find that barometric pressure responses are consistent with early and middle periods (corresponding to within‐ and near‐borehole effects). The scales of the tidal response method are smaller than those of the pumping test method. Key Points: We estimate aquifer transmissivity using groundwater responses to natural disturbances (earth tides, barometric pressure fluctuations)From early to late period pumping, transmissivity changes slightly and decreases while storage coefficient changes in magnitude and increaseThe result of atmospheric response located in early to middle‐period pumping while AQTESOLV method is within late‐period pumping [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Groundwater depletion has recently become an issue of great concern, primarily due to its adverse impacts on urban sustainability. In the present study, sustainable groundwater recharge potential zones are identified using multi-criteria decision analysis for Jaipur in North-Western region of India. Jaipur is an important and populated metropolitan city located in the northwestern region of India. The city has drawn attention for the past decade as a water-stressed area owing to multiple climatic and anthropogenic factors. The study employs an approach to identify sustainable recharge potential zones, employing Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) along with Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). Weights are assigned to nine critical parameters, encompassing, projected rainfall, aquifer characteristics, lineament density, drainage density, soil type, slope and land-use projections. Notably, the focus on projected rainfall and land-use parameters adds a sustainable dimension to our investigation. The identified optimal Groundwater Recharge Potential Zone (GWRPZ) is further refined by superimposing stream order map, facilitating precise recharge well location. This technique proves invaluable for pinpointing optimal spots for groundwater recharge wells. The collaboration of AHP-OWA enriches the work, offering a nuanced understanding of groundwater dynamics and significantly improving decision making robustness. Thirteen specific locations have been identified as ideal sites for implementing groundwater recharge wells based on our findings. The study empowers policymakers and practitioners with a strategic tool. Implementing recharge wells in identified GWRPZ can replenish aquifers effectively. The study provides a tangible roadmap for effective and sustainable groundwater management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the different quantitative and qualitative issues of groundwater resources, which are caused by population growth and development, the implementation of comprehensive plans and taking management measures in order to protect and restore groundwater resources are highly recommended. In this regard, the evaluations of various management measures are necessary because based on the results, it is possible to make appropriate decisions about how to control water consumption as the main part of future policies. Hashtgerd study area is located in Alborz province in Iran and requires appropriate decisions regarding how to control the intensive groundwater resources depletion and quality reduction. An average storage deficit of 4.08 million cubic meters per year was realized during 2012–2016 and water quality decreased. The present study has investigated the quantitative and qualitative changes of groundwater resources using MODFLOW and MT3DMS in response to different management schemes. Different management schemes based on a national plan called "the aquifer restoration plan" were applied for the 20-year horizon (2016–2036). It was found that by blocking unlicensed agricultural wells and modifying the licenses for licensed agricultural wells in the entire aquifer area, the storage would increase by an average of 7.23 million cubic meters per year, and nitrate and sulfate concentrations would decrease by 0.06 and 1.14 mg/l per year, respectively. Artificial recharge of the aquifer with treated wastewater was found to have a great impact on reducing pollutants and improving the water quality, though it had no desirable effect on the groundwater level. In this case, nitrate and sulfate concentrations decrease by 0.53 and 2.24 mg/l per year, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer characterization is essential for groundwater sustainability in the Niger Delta region. The unconsolidated aquifers of the region are sandy and porous, and have the potential to allow the passage of contaminants to the groundwater resource. The first-order geo-electric parameters of the subsurface, procured by injection of a direct current into the ground were applied to evaluate the aquifer vulnerability in the region. The Schlumberger architecture was engaged to acquire vertical electrical sounding (VES) data at different points and processed using Interpex 1D™. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) using a multi-electrode Wenner-α array was also applied across the study area and constrained with existing borehole data to establish the accuracy of the VES results. The VES result revealed the occurrence of 5 to 6 geo-electric strata across the region. The rock types identified from the VES result and ERI pseudo-section were mostly sandstone intercalated with shale and clayey sand at some points. The result also revealed that the depth to water-bearing formation within the area is relatively shallow with aquifer depth values ranging from 7.7 to 103 m and thickness of the aquifer varies from 4.7 to 149.7 m, while the aquifer resistivity values ranged from 470.84 to 2697.7 Ωm. The aquifer protective coverage (APC) assessment revealed that the study area has weak and poor protective covers, while the geo-electric layer susceptibility indexing (GLSI) shows that the area is characterized by low and moderate vulnerability status. The GOD index measurement across the area also revealed that the area has low and average vulnerability status at different points. GOD represents an acronym for three hydrogeological factors, and they are confinement of the aquifer (G), overlying lithology of the aquifer (O), and depth to the aquifer (D). The poor and weak protective covers which gave rise to the low and average vulnerability are indicators that the aquifers within the region are prone to contamination from surface sources. This research is vital for groundwater management and contamination assessment in sandy aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater pollution is one of the main challenges in our society, especially in semi-arid Mediterranean regions. This issue becomes especially critical in predominantly agricultural areas that lack comprehensive knowledge about the characteristics and functioning of their aquifer system. Vulnerability to groundwater pollution is defined as the sensitivity of the aquifer to being adversely affected by an imposed pollution load. For the Guadalupe aquifer, various indicators including water level depth, level variation, aquifer properties, soil composition, topography, impact on the vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity were evaluated to establish spatial vulnerability categories ranging from very low to very high. Two pollution vulnerability scenarios (wet and dry) were studied. The results were compared with the analysis of nitrate concentration and distribution (2001, 2020, and 2021) from samples collected in the field. In the Calafia area, which predominantly relies on viticulture, the primary recharge inputs were identified in areas with a high vulnerability to pollution. Surprisingly, these vulnerable areas exhibited lower nitrate concentrations. This scenario underscores the need for effective management measures to safeguard aquifers in agricultural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of World Water Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The groundwater environment in low-lying coastal regions is significantly impacted by global sea-level fluctuation. In Laizhou Bay, three large-scale transgressions have occurred since the late Pleistocene, resulting in the transformation of ancient seawater into brine. This brine has become a major contributor to groundwater salinity in the area. This study establishes a correlation between groundwater occurrence and paleoclimate changes in Laizhou Bay using borehole sediment data. The source and mechanism of groundwater salinity are analyzed based on sediment pore water characteristics and hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. The study reveals that the stratigraphic structures in the area consist of four layers: a Holocene transgressive layer, a continental confining bed from the late Pleistocene, a Cangzhou transgressive layer from the late Pleistocene, and a fluvial aquifer from the middle Pleistocene. All aquifers in the study area have been infiltrated by modern seawater, with the uppermost Holocene aquifer influenced by evaporation and leaching processes, the central late Pleistocene aquifer remaining relatively stable, and the lower middle Pleistocene aquifer affected by subsurface low salinity runoff and exhibiting an increasing trend with depth. Given the presence of numerous hydrogeological environments globally that are similar to the study area, the obtained mechanisms of groundwater salinization in this study will provide theoretical support for groundwater management in similar regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For effective management of groundwater, especially in regions with significant anthropogenic and agricultural activities, it is essential to estimate groundwater vulnerability. In this study, we have employed the DRASTIC groundwater vulnerability assessment model to understand the planning and preservation requirements of valuable groundwater resources in the coastal state of Odisha in India. Furthermore, a total of seven different thematic layers were chosen to estimate the groundwater vulnerability using the DRASTIC, AHP–DRASTIC, and entropy–DRASTIC models and the results were compared. The DRASTIC model suffers due to the inherent subjectivity of the weights used in this model, whereas the entropy weights are free from such subjective biases. The entropy–DRASTIC model shows five types of vulnerability zones, e.g., very high (8.59%), high (24.67%), moderate (27.01%), low (23.76%), and very low (15.98%) vulnerability zones. The very high-risk zones are primarily located in the northeastern, eastern, and central parts of the study area. The vulnerability maps have been validated with the available bore well data. The model validation ROC curves indicate satisfactory results with the AUC values of 0.628, 0.619, and 0.59 for the entropy–DRASTIC, AHP–DRASTIC, and the DRASTIC methods, respectively. The results indicate that the entropy–DRASTIC model shows better performance than other methods for estimating groundwater vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While extant research has predominantly focused on elucidating the mechanisms of fluorine (F−) enrichment in groundwater within the North China Plain, the occurrence and formation mechanisms of high-F− groundwater in Xiong'an New Area remain unexplored. Consequently, 365 groundwater samples (172 from shallow groundwater, 193 from deep groundwater) were collected from Xiong'an New Area. Hydrochemical analysis, geochemical modeling, and statistical analysis were used to explore the occurrence and formation mechanisms of high-F− groundwater. The results reveal that the highest F− concentrations in shallow and deep groundwater were up to 3.22 mg/L and 1.79 mg/L, respectively. High-F− groundwater was primarily located at the eastern part of the study area. The distribution area of high-F− shallow groundwater was much greater than that of deep groundwater. F-bearing minerals dissolution and ion exchange were the principal formation mechanisms of high-F− groundwater in both shallow and deep aquifers. Moreover, competitive adsorption, evaporation, and the impacts of Ca2+ and Mg2+ dissolution equilibrium on F-bearing dissolution were crucial to the formation of high-F− groundwater in shallow aquifers. Desorption in an alkaline environment, evaporites dissolution and salt effects were vital to the formation of high-F− groundwater in deep aquifers. These findings can contribute to the support of local groundwater security and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater plays a major role in addressing the worldwide problem of water scarcity and food security. With a growing population and increasing urbanization, there is a rising demand for groundwater to meet agricultural and domestic water needs. A variety of advanced approaches are necessary to sustain groundwater management. This study investigated the age and origin of groundwater, as well as its relationship with anthropogenic and climatic factors. Stable isotopes were used, namely oxygen-18 (18O) and deuterium (2H) for the estimation of groundwater origin and radioactive isotopes of Tritium (3H) for the estimation of its age. The investigation of stable isotopes revealed that the aquifer is predominantly influenced by river water, with a minor contribution from rainwater. Furthermore, the analysis of radioactive isotopes revealed that the groundwater age ranges from 5 to 50 years old in most areas. Older groundwater is predominantly found in urban areas, while younger groundwater is present in agricultural and woodland regions. However, the presence of "old" water in the upper groundwater layers in urban areas is attributed to over-abstraction and limited natural recharge. The primary climatic factor that governs the age and origin of groundwater is rainfall upstream of the study area, which directly contributes to the river flows. The rainfall is high in the east but, due to urbanization, recharge is decreased. Consequently, old and river recharge groundwater is found in this area. These observations underscore the unsustainable and alarming use of groundwater in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism on Gili Air, a small coral island in Indonesia, has increased significantly. Groundwater is the primary water source on the island. This study aims to estimate the sustainability of groundwater use on this small coral island. It conducts an initial assessment of the freshwater lens system using cost-effective methods to evaluate the available freshwater volume and sustainability of water withdrawals related to tourism. The results and methods can be transferred to other low-lying islands. The results show that Gili Air has a well-developed freshwater lens, estimated to contain 2 million cubic meters of water, with an annual recharge rate four times higher than the water demand of the island's inhabitants. However, our findings suggest that the rapid increase in tourism resulted in unsustainable water withdrawals between 2016 and 2019. Without proper groundwater monitoring and management, this could lead to seawater intrusion into the aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is a critical natural resource with significant implications for a region's socioeconomic, ecological, and environmental sustainability. This study was conducted in the Quetta region, where groundwater serves as the primary water source. The objective was to identify groundwater potential zones using remote sensing and GIS. Various thematic maps, including drainage density, slope, soil, lineament density, land use/land cover, and rainfall maps, were created. These maps were overlaid using the weighted overlay method through the Spatial Analysis tool in ArcGIS. During the weighted overlay analysis, each parameter in the thematic maps was ranked, and weights were assigned based on their influence: drainage density (10%), slope (10%), soil (40%), lineament density (5%), land use/land cover (25%), and rainfall (10%). The resulting map categorizes groundwater potential zones into low (4.659%), moderate (39.999%), and high (55.34%). This outcome provides valuable insights for regional water resource planning, contributing to the sustainable management of groundwater resources in Quetta. Furthermore, these approaches and findings hold significance for assessing groundwater potential in other drought-prone arid regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortage of water and the depletion of groundwater reserves are serious challenges in Pakistan. As a result, solutions including groundwater recharge and other forms of sustainable groundwater management are being considered. Water quality, aquifer characteristics, and the feasibility of refilling were just a few of the hydrogeological factors that were carefully examined in this study. Well-construction methods were also dissected for this study. All aspects of the well's construction were considered. The study's findings highlight the importance of selecting a proper location for replenishing groundwater wells. In addition, different recharge strategies, including basins for infiltration and injection wells, were evaluated to find the most appropriate method for the site. It also investigated how the replenishment of groundwater wells could affect the ecosystem. Mitigation measures, such as proper sealing of the well casing and monitoring of water quality parameters, were recommended to minimize potential risks and ensure the sustainability of the recharge operation. Taxila, a Hilly area of Pakistan, poses unique challenges for groundwater management and sustainability. The water table is lower as compared to other areas. In response to diminishing groundwater resources and increasing water stress, this research project aimed to design and install two groundwater recharging wells in the Taxila area. The study's primary objectives were to assess the effectiveness of these wells in recharging groundwater, evaluate their environmental impact, and provide insights into their potential for sustainable water resource management in hilly regions. The research involved comprehensive site selection, hydrogeological investigations, and the design and construction of two recharge wells. Detailed monitoring and data collection were carried out before, during, and after the installation of these wells to evaluate their impact on groundwater levels and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, groundwater is the most important resource on our planet. However, due to population growth, urbanisation, and climate change, this resource is often overexploited or contaminated. In this context, carbonate aquifers provide drinking water to approximately 25% of the global population. Due to aquifers heterogeneities and anisotropic fracture systems, they can be affected by potential contamination and their optimal exploitation represents a challenge aspect. In this particular scenario, carbonate mountain aquifers encompass valuable groundwater resources due to their high recharge rates and excellent water quality; therefore, the understanding of their hydrogeological characteristics are vital for aquifers protection and water management. A valid solution to explore water movement within such aquifers and to quantify the groundwater amount can be offered using artificial tracers. At the same time, the geomechanical surveys can deep the knowledge on fracture density and orientation, providing valuable insights about fracture connection and conductivity. This study combines the advantages of six artificial tracer tests performed in four deep wells (260-500 m b.g.l.) and a geomechanical survey used, among other, to estimate hydraulic conductivity of a mountainous carbonate aquifer located in Central Italy. The results obtained by different methods highlighted the presence of multiple layers with higher conductivity values, able to sustain the groundwater flow without significant piezometric level drawdown during water pumping operations. This approach provides an effective support to the water management company operating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Comment tells the story of how California's 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) has been applied in Owens Valley. Owens Valley, called Payahuunadü by the Native Paiute and Shoshone people, is the source of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system that exports both surface water and groundwater to Los Angeles. Los Angeles's involvement in the region led to SGMA's half-exemption of Owens Valley Groundwater Basin where all portions of the groundwater basin underlying Los Angeles-owned land is exempt from the Act. This Comment explores how this half-exemption was included in SGMA, describes what it means for local groundwater governance, and details California's Department of Water Resources' shifting approach to Owens Valley that most recently weakened SGMA's protections for the region. This Comment makes direct recommendations to state and local agencies with the goal of better leveraging SGMA to protect Owens Valley Groundwater Basin. SGMA's explicit protections for the "entire basin" mandate a comprehensive approach to protecting not just Owens Valley, but also the other half-exempt California groundwater basins. This Comment specifically points to how state and local agencies can use SGMA to save the irreplaceable high desert wetlands at Fish Slough in Owens Valley from urgent ecological crisis. The Comment ends by advocating for a changed application of SGMA in Owens Valley to better uplift the Owens Valley Paiute and Shoshone Tribes' participation in the Act's implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]