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Aims The study of microbial inactivation rates in aquifer systems has most often been determined in aerobic and oxidized systems. This study examined the inactivation (i.e. loss of infectivity) of MS2, poliovirus type 1 (PV1) and Cryptosporidium parvum in an anaerobic and reduced groundwater system that has been identified as storage zones for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) facilities. Methods and Results Anaerobic and reduced (ORP < −250 mV) groundwater from an artesian well was diverted to an above-ground, flow-through mesocosm that contained diffusion chambers filled with MS2, PV1 or Cryptosporidium parvum. The respective infectivity assays were performed on microorganisms recovered from the diffusion chambers during 30- to 58-day experiments. The net reduction in infectivity was 5.73 log10 over 30 days for MS2, 5.00 log10 over 58 days for PV1 and 4.07 log10 over 37 days for C. parvum. The best fit inactivation model for PV1 was the log-linear model and the Weibull model for MS2 and C. parvum, with respective inactivation rates (95% confidence interval) of 0.19 (0.17–0.21) log10 day−1, 0.31 (0.19–0.89) log10 day−1 and 0.20 (0.14–0.37) log10 day−1. Conclusions The groundwater geochemical conditions in this aquifer enhanced the inactivation of MS2, PV1, and C. parvum at rates approximately 2.0–5.3-fold, 1.2–17.0-fold, and 4.5–5.6-fold greater, respectively, than those from published studies that used diffusion chambers in aerobic-to-anoxic groundwater systems, with positive redox potentials. Significance and Impact of the Study Geochemical conditions like those in the aquifer zone in this study can naturally and significantly reduce concentrations of microbial indicators and pathogens of human health concern in injected surface water. Appropriate storage times for injected surface water could complement above-ground engineered processes for microorganism removal and inactivation (e.g. filtration, disinfection) by naturally increasing overall microorganism log-inactivation rates of ASR facilities.

The water-level drawdown in pumping wells is the sum of two components: aquifer loss and well loss. The latter results from mostly turbulent and nonlaminar flow in and around the well. In a properly designed well, the well-loss component is usually much smaller than the aquifer loss. Analyzing step-drawdown tests of two deep (1,397 and 878 m) artesian wells drilled in a fractured carbonate aquifer in Israel, revealed exceptional proportions between the two drawdown components. Despite the high artesian flows and the fact that the two wells are properly constructed, most of the drawdown (96–99% and 82–90% of the total drawdown) is attributable to well loss. Accordingly, the well efficiencies are very low and decrease as flow increases. The anomalous values of the well-loss component are also reflected in the wells’ hydrographs; each opening and closing of the artesian flow results in an immediate jump in the head pressure. As far as is known, such unusual proportions have never been encountered in other water wells. The vertical flow velocities within the casing of both wells are very high, and the Reynolds numbers confirm turbulent flow. The combination of flow in fractures and high frictional head loss within the well pipes are the factors that enable this exceptionally high well loss and low efficiency in these high-discharge wells. The high frictional head loss, calculated by applying the Darcy-Weisbach equation, is the result of great well depths and turbulent rapid vertical flow up to the surface in a narrow and long casing.

Groups of spatially distributed wells interconnected by sections of pipelines (a common collector) supplying water to a clean water reservoir are used in water supply systems in order to provide drinking water to settlements. A group of wells together with a clean water reservoir is called a water intake facility of the water supply system. Further, water is supplied from the clean water reservoir to consumers in settlements by means of second stage pumping stations. In terms of each well the operating mode of the submersible pumping unit, i.e. the position of its operating point at a fixed moment in time, depends on the actual values ​​of many internal and external factors: dynamic water level in the well; the actual characteristics of the pumping unit; the position of the final control elements (drive speed, opening degree of the regulating valve); hydraulic resistances of pipeline sections of the water intake facility; the water level in the clean water reservoir; the number and operating modes of pumping units in other wells of the water intake facility. The paper describes a deterministic model of a water intake well. At the same time, the processes of water consumption are random processes, since they depend on many uncontrolled and unmanageable factors. The parameters of the technological equipment of the water intake facility are also random values, since they are estimated from experimental data of finite length. Therefore, a stochastic model of a water intake well is also proposed. A model of a quasi-stationary operation mode of a water intake facility, which is used to optimize the operation of a group of artesian wells operating on a common collector, is considered.

The Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat, India, is the largest salt desert in the world, which is usually filled with seawater ingression during high tide from the Arabian Sea. As a result, the soil gets saturated with saline water that has percolated down for several meters. Groundwater exploration in Rann area is a challenging task due to the prevailing hostile environment. For this purpose, multisensor satellite data have been used to delineate the palaeochannels in search of an alternate source of drinking water. In GRK, palaeochannels represent the zone of elevated fluvial sediments with respect to the surroundings. Evolutionary history of the palaeochannels indicates upliftment of GRK area during Allah Bund faulting. For assessing the groundwater potential of the palaeochannels, high-resolution electrical resistivity tomography (HERT) surveys have been carried out with the pole-dipole method. Electrical resistivity tomograms along 710 m traverses to a depth of 250 m in Dharmsala and Gainda area show higher-resistivity zones (medium to coarse sand with brackish water) below a thick low-resistivity layer (clay with saline water). A few exploratory drillings in the area confirm the existence of the palaeochannels, which act as a confined aquifer below 100 m depth. The artesian condition of the two drilled wells at Gainda and Khardoi along the northern boundary of GRK may be attributed to hydraulic gradient along the confined layers from the Tharparkar region in Pakistan. Thus, HERT is found to be a faster and more cost-effective geophysical survey technique for study of the deep aquifer.

Based on the results of multi-year regional geological and geophysical studies, oil exploration and hydrogeological research of the sea and ocean bottom, the submarine hydrogeological structures of the Sea of Okhotsk region including hydrogeological massifs, artesian and volcanogenic basins are characterized. The hydrogeological stratification of the geological cross-section is performed, according to which five Cenozoic aquifer systems are distinguished in the artesian basins. Specific features of the chemical composition of submarine groundwaters are characterized, whose mineralization decreases with depth from 27–30 /dm3 to 14–20 g/dm3. Gases (mainly methane) and thermal waters that form the ore bodies of metallic sulfides and nonore minerals are discharged into the sea bottom waters along tectonic fault zones.

The artesian well of Monzoungoudo has been abandoned since 2005. The non-mastery of artesianism springing up at this water point constitutes a waste of the resource and has caused environmental damage. It is a question of an uncontrolled flow of the artesian well induced by the depressurization of the aquifer, resulting in a potential loss of capacity of neighbouring wells and continuous flow of the well at the mouth of its casing. In contact of the recovered water with the surrounding soil, it may generate local flooding, gullying, soil subsidence, the formation of sinkholes and cause damage to the infrastructures located nearby. In addition, the water from the artesian aquifer on the surface migrates to the Monzoun River, while transporting suspended particles or contaminants encountered on its path. The receiving environment of this water could then be affected by an input of turbid water or various contaminants. All these reasons justify the validity of this study, which proposes to address the technique of plugging the abandoned artesian wells of Monzoungoudo in order to stop or control the gushing water. Keywords: Abandons; Artesian well; Captive aquifer; Gushing; Monzoungoudo; Shutter.

Within the Ararat Valley (Armenia), a continuously growing water demand (for irrigation and fish farming) and a simultaneous decline in groundwater recharge (due to climate change) result in increasing stress on the local groundwater resources. This detrimental development is reflected by groundwater-level drops and an associated reduction of the area with artesian conditions in the valley centre. This situation calls for increasing efforts aimed at more sustainable water resources management. The aim of this baseline study was the collection of data that allows for study on the origin and age distribution of the Ararat Valley groundwater based on environmental tracers, namely stable (δ2H, δ18O) and radioactive (35S, 3H) isotopes, as well as physical-chemical indicators. The results show that the Ararat Valley receives modern recharge, despite its (semi-)arid climate. While subannual groundwater residence times could be disproved (35S), the detected 3H pattern suggests groundwater ages of several decades, with the oldest waters being recharged around 60 years ago. The differing groundwater ages are reflected by varying scatter of stable isotope and hydrochemical signatures. The presence of young groundwater (i.e., younger that the 1970s), some containing nitrate, indicates groundwater vulnerability and underscores the importance of increased efforts to achieve sustainable management of this natural resource. Since stable isotope signatures indicate the recharge areas to be located in the mountains surrounding the valley, these efforts must not be limited to the central part of the valley where most of the abstraction wells are located.

Invasive species are generally characterised by broad environmental tolerances that allow them to successfully inhabit multiple ecosystems. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are physiologically tolerant to a broad range of environmental conditions; however, it has been observed that they do not frequently reproduce in the Great Artesian Basin springs of central Queensland, Australia, despite inhabiting the surrounding environment. In the present study, we reared cane toad embryos and larvae in a range of water treatments including water sourced from artesian springs at Edgbaston Reserve, to determine if the challenging water chemistry of these environments limits cane toad development. We found that embryos and mid- to late-stage toad larvae were highly tolerant to spring water – there were no significant effects of water treatment on embryonic hatching success and development, and late-stage larvae exposed to spring water successfully metamorphosed. However, early-stage larvae were more sensitive and experienced a small increase in mortality when raised in alkaline water treatments compared with carbon-filtered tap water. Our findings suggest that cane toads can successfully develop in artesian spring water. However, field studies are needed to determine if the sensitivity of early-stage larvae to alkaline water limits their ability to successfully colonise these springs.

AIM : This study aimed to assess the radiation safety of surface water bodies used for recreational purposes and drinking water used by the population of the Voronezh Region (VR). MATERIALS AND METHODS : The fond materials of the Rospotrebnadzor Administration in VR in 2015–2019 were used. The following parameters were analyzed: total α and β activities and specific activity of radioactive substances in the water of open reservoirs ( 137 Сs, 210 Po, 226 Ra, and 228 Ra) and in the sources of drinking water ( 210 Po and 222 Rn). The annual effective dose was calculated on the basis of the probable consumption of drinking water from the centralized drinking water supply systems. The content of radionuclides in the water of open reservoirs was analyzed in three control points and in drinking water found in 2,036 water intake artesian wells of the centralized drinking water supply systems. Then, 100% of the sources were surveyed in terms of total α and β activities. The radiation safety of bottled drinking water from nine manufacturers was assessed on the basis of the data of the Federal State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance. Water in open reservoirs and drinking water, including water packaged in containers, were laboratory controlled on the basis of an accredited testing laboratory center (Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the VR) by using MKS-01A Multirad spectrometric installation (Akvilon, Russia). UMF-2000 α- and β-radiometers were utilized to measure small activities (NPP, Doza, Russia). RESULTS : According to the regional databases of Rospotrebnadzor Administration regarding water from open water bodies for the population (three monitoring points: Tikhaya Sosna, Sukhaya Khvorostan, and Usman rivers) in 2015–2019, values did not exceed the intervention limit that was registered in terms of the content of the controlled radioactive substances ( 210 Ро, 234 U, 222 Rn, and 137 Сs) and the total α and β activities. Water from artesian wells used for drinking and domestic purposes fully met the requirements of radiation safety. The average annual effective radiation doses (AAERD) of the population in the VO in 74 settlements within the zones of radioactive contamination due to the Chernobyl disaster ranged from 0.05 mSv/year to 0.12 mSv/year, which was significantly lower than the threshold value (1 mSv/year). The analyzed drinking water samples, water packaged in containers, and the samples produced in the region were in compliance with sanitary and epidemiological requirements, including those for 90 Sr and 137 Cs radionuclide contents. CONCLUSION : Radiation monitoring in the VR revealed that the content of technogenic radionuclides ( 137 Cs and 90 Sr) and other standardized parameters of radiation safety in water of open reservoirs and drinking water did not exceed the threshold values.

Introduction: Hydrogeological zoning is based on the structural and hydrogeological principle which determines the distinctive character of the formation of groundwater in various hydrogeological structures. Methodology and study subject: The identification of hydrogeological structures is based on tectonic structures which determine the character of the hydrogeological section, hydrodynamic features of hydrogeological units, and the conditions for underwater occurrence and formation. The area of the southern part of the Central Federal District and its representative part within M-37 sheet (Voronezh) is part of the East European complex artesian basin (hydrogeological structure of I order), which (in the observed area) includes fragments of three hydrogeological structures of the II order (Moscow, Dnieper-Donetsk, and Volga-Hopersk artesian basins with fragments of structures of the III order (Dnieper and Donetsk-Don artesian basins)). The boundaries and areas of hydrogeological structures of the second and third order were specified within the hydrogeological mapping with a scale of 1:1,000,000 of M-37 sheet (Voronezh). To solve the problem, a hydrogeological zoning scheme was created, which was based on the structural map of the surface of the crystalline basement. Results and Discussion: The article presents a detailed description of the hydrogeological structures of the II and III order and their place in tectonic structures, as well as the position of the boundaries according to the updated data. Conclusions: The authors provide an improved scheme aimed at specifying the boundaries of hydrogeological structures of the II and III orders. The improvements are strictly based on the principles of hydrogeological zoning and the analysis of hydrodynamic conditions of the area. They are recommended for further use.

The purpose of the work is to study the effect of organic matter on the formation of ion-salt and gas composition of nitrogen-methane and methane thermal water occurring in the sedimentary rocks of deep horizons of artesian basins. The object of research is the Tunka intermountain artesian basin of the Baikal rift zone and the Tungor gas and oil field of the Okhotsk-Sakhalin basin, in the deep horizons of which soda (inversion) low- and high-mineralized groundwater is common. The study combines the results of the traditional study of the composition of natural solutions and the quantitative research of physical and chemical interactions in the “water – rock” system conducted using the Selector software package according to the degree of the hydrogeochemical process, which was set by the value of the rock/water ratio. Chemically pure water and rocks of medium chemical composition were used in interaction. With the use of physicochemical modeling the formation of thermal water composition in sedimentary rocks depending on the interaction degree between water and rock and the amount of organic matter was unravelled. As a result, it was determined that the organic matter present in the rock has the dominant influence on the intensity of the hydrogeochemical process determining the amount of mineralization, the ratio of components, and the amount of methane, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide produced. The correspondent compositions of the model and natural solutions showed the possibility to form low- and high-mineralized sodium bicarbonate groundwater of different gas-saturation degree in the conditions of deep horizons of sedimentary basins due to the internal reserves of the “water – rock” system not involving any components from external sources.

The purpose of the work is to carry out integrated isotope-geochemical studies of the mineral waters of the Belokurikha deposit. The methods of titrimetry, ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) have been used in the laboratory investigation of the chemical composition of waters. The isotope composition of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon in dissolved carbon dioxide has been studied with the help of the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer FinniganTM MAT 253 equipped with the attachments for sample preparation H/Device (to analyze the δD ratio) and GasBench II (to analyze δ18O and δ13СDIC ratios). There are two aquifers at the deposit. The first nonartesian aquifer comprises loose sediments of the Quaternary age. The second artesian aquifer includes the granites of the upper Paleozoic age with the different fracture degree: from monolith to loosened. Three groups of waters are distinguished on the basis of geochemical coefficients: fracture-vein waters bedded in weathered granites; groundwaters of the zone of rare earth mineralization and background composition; surface waters of the Belokurikha river. The isotope data on oxygen and hydrogen provide evidence that the production aquifers of the Belokurikha field are fed through the infiltration of meteoric waters, with the feeding shift to winter precipitation. The paper provides the first data of the integrated isotope-hydrogeochemical studies of nitric-siliceous low-radon thermal waters of the Belokurikha deposit. The composition of these waters is HCO3-SO4 Na and SO4-HCO3 Na with the total dissolved salts value ranging from 198 to 257 mg/dm3. The waters are characterized by alkaline pH of 8.6–9.6, silicon content ranging from 19.8 to 24.6 mg/dm3, and they are referred to the fracture-vein waters of the Upper Paleozoic granites. 222Rn activity is up to 359 Bq/dm3. The ratios of δD (from -126.9 to -102.7 ‰) and δ18O (from -17.5 to -14.2 ‰) in the studied waters indicate their atmospheric origin. The values of δ13СDIC vary from -9.7 to -25.6 ‰ and point to the biogenic origin of carbon.

Despite its location in the “Arid Diagonal” of South America, the Valle de Iglesia contains a number of artesian springs, the most important of which are the Baños Pismanta thermal springs, which release water at ~ 45 °C. Despite the scarcity of water resources in the Valle de Iglesia, there have been few attempts to study these springs in any detail. In this study, > 50 springs are described, each characterised by small volcano-like mud structures up to 15 m tall. Hydrogeological and hydrochemical analyses of the groundwater system in the Valle de Iglesia were performed to improve our understanding of the subsurface water flow and of the connections between the subsurface water and the associated systems of faults and springs. Site measurements were made, and the concentrations of the main ions and trace elements were also determined by laboratory analysis of water samples. The samples obtained from the spring were rich in Na–HCO3–SO4 and Na–SO4–HCO3, but the surface water samples from the Agua Negra River were rich in Ca–SO4–HCO3. The temperature of the springs was in the range 20–45 °C. Both the temperatures and the ionic ratios are compatible with the presence of a deep hydraulic circulation system. The oxidation of sulphide minerals nearby the magmatic rocks and volcanic edifices causes the mobilisation of arsenic, which accumulates in the groundwater due to the low annual rainfall. The concentrations of arsenic in the spring water samples were therefore higher than the current limit set by the World Health Organisation, meaning that the water is not suitable for human consumption.

Artesian springs support important wetland ecosystems comprising highly specialised, endemic animal and plant species. Understanding the hydrogeological processes that sustain springs is critical to their management and characterisation of the connected groundwater system. This paper focuses on the springs of the Eulo and Bourke supergroups in the south-central part of the Great Artesian Basin in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. These springs have been heavily impacted by aquifer drawdown, as a result of uncontrolled discharge of artesian water from pastoral bores. This study uses a stratigraphic model of the aquifer and aquitard sediments, a model of the potentiometric surface, existing information on the coverage of basement and surface structures, and a comprehensive field survey of all known springs to identify the association of springs with the edge of the geological basin, basement outcrop, basement highs, surface and deep basement faults, and a thinned aquitard. Many springs in the Eulo Supergroup are associated with basement highs and many springs are associated with deep faults, suggesting that reactivation of these faults may be an important cause of spring discharge. Springs in the Bourke Supergroup previously thought to be outcrop springs (gravity-fed), by virtue of their surface characteristics, are more likely to be artesian springs based on the interpretation of basement geology, surface faults and water chemistry, which align most closely to the Hooray Sandstone, the artesian aquifer underlying the springs.

Subsurface scattering losses associated with very high frequency (VHF) subwavelength heterogeneities are crucial for assessing the total radar signal attenuation in fractured and heterogeneous environments such as carbonate formations, which represent one of the most predominant aquifer types in hyperarid areas. Yet, the resulting signal losses are largely unquantified due to the difficulties in constraining their sources, amplitude, and frequency dependence on the VHF spectrum, hence, compromising the ability to perform large-scale characterization of shallow aquifers using radar probing in these areas. To address this deficiency, we present an experimental model quantifying volumetric scattering losses in heterogeneous carbonate formations accounting for wavelength-sized structural elements and subwavelength-sized heterogeneities ranging from 1 mm to 2 cm for the VHF radar signals. In particular, we use an analytical model that estimates the overall scattering effects produced by the interaction of an electromagnetic plane wave with randomly distributed vugs scatterers. We then compare our analysis with field radar measurements collected in the karst limestone aquiferous formation in the Qatar Peninsula at 80 MHz (10-dB bandwidth (BW): 30–150 MHz). Our results estimate that the total losses in karstic environments range between ~0.6 and 1.4 dB/m, of which 20%–65% is due to volume scattering. Furthermore, we find that despite being usually underestimated, subwavelength volumetric scattering accounts for a considerable portion (~40%) of the overall radar attenuation: between ~0.045 and 0.35 dB/m. The results of our analysis can constrain the degree of karstification associated with vertical artesian movements in fossil aquifer systems in hyperarid environments.

The paper aims to investigate hydrodynamic treatment processes of raw (artesian) groundwater to be used for household needs and drinking. The main advantage of hydrodynamic raw water treatment is that a single device, a so-called hydrodynamic vibration generator, is enough to perform the most important processing (deferrization, manganese removal, aeration) without any additional reactants. A hydrodynamic vibration generator contributes to accelerating mass exchange processes without using additional chemical reactants, solely by means of the kinetic energy inherent in the raw water flow undergoing treatment, which is generated when the hydrodynamic properties of the flow itself change dramatically. The generator by itself does not purify water; it processes raw water so as to derive insoluble products by recombining the forms in which the substances to be removed are found in the water, that is, by transforming dissolved manganese and iron compounds into insoluble compounds and decreasing carbon dioxide content in the water so as to precipitate insoluble calcium compounds. The resulting insoluble compounds are easy to remove via further processing in a ceramic membrane filtration system. Hydrodynamic vibration generator efficiency depends on many factors, which means that, when implementing hydrodynamic raw water treatment in real life, obtaining fundamental laws governing the treatment processes as functions of respective parametric characteristics is a necessary stage so as to ensure maximum efficiency. Our experiment confirmed that a phenomenon known as sonoluminescence occurs in raw water subjected to hydrodynamic treatment. We propose a monitoring technology indirectly confirming the efficiency of the hydrodynamic raw water treatment implemented, which is based on recording the sonoluminescence phenomenon via an acoustic technique

The analysis of geothermal resources on the territory of Ukraine, which are contained in four large artesian basins, where it is possible to extract geothermal waters for their use in energy, agriculture, industry and housing and communal services. Based on the analysis of the actual data of the existing well fund, it is established that aquifers are located at depths from 400 m to 7000 m. The most common formation temperatures in Ukraine are from 50 to 90 ° С. For most of the Ukrainian reservoir aquifers, which contain thermal waters, with a certain degree of probability, the following filtration scheme can be adopted: the productive horizon is infinite along the strike, homogeneous, anisotropic with averaged filtration and thermophysical parameters, pressure head and isolated from above and below by waterproof layers. To calculate the thermal potential within the geothermal field, operated in the absence of re-injection of the spent natural heat carrier, it is sufficient to solve only the hydrodynamic problem of the heat carrier filtration, since there are no inflows of heat or cold in the reservoir. The most environmentally safe way to extract geothermal resources is geothermal circulation systems (GCS), which ensure the injection of spent geothermal coolant into the permeable underground thermal water collector. The thermal potential of hydrogeothermal deposits is calculated in a volumetric way, which consists of the heat contained in the reservoir geothermal water, in the solid skeleton of the productive horizon, as well as the heat coming from the surrounding permeable layer of the mountain massif. The magnitude of heat inflow from the mountain massif is the greatest difficulty in taking into account the thermal potential of the geothermal field. Based on the known analytical solution of the problem of heat transfer during the movement of liquid in the underground permeable layers, an equation is obtained that determines the operating time of the GCS at a constant temperature. Based on this equation, it is shown that the influence of the rock mass on the time of operation of the GCS until the temperature at the outlet of the GCS is for typical parameters of the GCS is not less than 5%. Based on these calculations, it is proved that the influence of heat inflows from the rock mass in the calculations of the thermal potential of water-bearing strata can be neglected. Ref. 8.

The authors present in this paper an experimental study for the problem of an agricultural soil subjected to an up ward potential gradient. The present study deals with an existing tile drainage system assisted by pole drains of the same diameter. A Hele-Shaw model is designed and constructed to investigate the drainage characteristics of the proposed drainage system. About three hundreds runs were carried out using an oil with a certain Viscosity. The effect of various parameters on the discharges of both tile and mole drains are calculated and plotted in dimensionless forms. It was found that the mole drains play an important role for the design of the combined tile and mole drainage system from the economical point of view.

The objective of this study is to assess the quality of the artesian borehole water consumed by the population of the village of Dogbo Ahomey in order to prevent pathologies on the populations. Methodology and Results: The household surveys were supplemented by a campaign to analyze the water samples in the laboratory. The samples were analyzed according to the standardized methods of the American Public Health Association (APHAAWWA-WPCF, 1994). A total of twenty (20) physico-chemical parameters and four (04) microbiological parameters were used to assess the quality of the different water samples. The results of the physico-chemical analysis showed that the water samples studied present values that are below the standards recommended by the WHO and by the Beninese standards for the quality of drinking water (Standards, 2001). From a microbiological analysis point of view, of the four samples studied, two show strong pollution by germs. This could be a significant health risk for households who take water from these sources to meet their needs.

Introduction. Drinking water includes a multitude of natural elements, with a strong connection between them, which through the dynamics of their modification in many cases influence the health of the population. Material and methods. The quality of drinking water from the Prut river ecosystem was studied (water from aqueducts fed from the river, water from artesian wells, water from adjacent wells), health status of the population from riparian localities (Lipcani, Ungheni and Cahul). The correlations between these two indicators and the risk of population disease caused by water quality were calculated. Hygienic, epidemiological, sanitary-chemical and statistical methods of investigation were used. Results. Following the study, the existence of small and medium correlative dependencies between the water quality indices from the aqueduct fed from the Prut River and the prevalence of the main groups of nosology of morbidity was highlighted. High direct correlative dependencies of health indices on water quality in artesian wells and wells were quantified. The values of the risk of genito-urinary, osteo-articular, digestive system, blood diseases/anemia, etc. were determined. Conclusions. Finally, there was a causal relationship between the factors investigated and the health of the population, highlighting the risk of developing nosological forms.

Localities at the intersection of bioclimatic zones can produce interesting bird-community assemblages. Edgbaston Reserve, in central-western Queensland, known for the high biodiversity of its artesian springs complex, sits within the intersection of the Torresian, Bassian and Eyrean bioclimatic zones and straddles the intersection of two bioregions on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range. Here we present bird records accumulated through standardised surveys and opportunistic observations. A total of 143 species of birds was detected on Edgbaston Reserve. From these data we report on notable species recorded and the significance of the avifauna community found on this Reserve. In addition to Edgbaston conserving artesian-spring habitat and threatened aquatic species, we highlight the importance of this Reserve for the preservation of woodland and arid birds.

Successive microbes in solar salt ponds are essential since it is well correlated with the quality of salt produced. This research aimed to analyse the microbial diversity of the solar salt ponds in Indonesia, which use high-density polyethylene in the ponds. There are two systems, that is, an integrated open system (In-system) and a closed system (Tt-system). The In-system uses seawater while the Tt-system uses seawater from the saline artesian well. Results showed that the In-system had richer microbes than the Tt-system. Both systems shared similar halophilic microbes profile. Ponds with low salinity (3-4 Be) had very low archaea, that is, 0·2 and 0·7% for the In-system and Tt-system respectively and were dominantly inhabited by phylum Proteobacteria. In the pond with high salinity, that is, 25 Be, both systems were dominated by the phylum Euryarchaeota, family Halobacteriaceae, and genera Halorubrum was dominantly found in In25 ponds and Tt25 ponds. Even though the two systems use the same parent seawater, that is, the Java Sea and share similar microbial composition at the phylum level, we found the dominance identified microbes in both systems were different.

Water supply of large cities is carried out, as a rule, from open reservoirs - lakes, reservoirs, large rivers, ie from sources with significant water reserves. In this case, the water supply scheme includes: pumping stations of the first rise, which take water directly from the water; water treatment system (purification); pumping stations of the second and third rise, pumping clean water over long distances and supplying it to settlements [1]. If the settlement is located in an area where there are no large open water sources, or the geographical location of the settlement allows the use of groundwater, in which case artesian wells are used as a source of water supply. Usually small settlements are supplied with water from artesian wells. Artesian wells are widely used for water supply of villages, industrial water supply, for irrigation (irrigation systems), in the mining industry, to reduce the level of groundwater. The advantage of using artesian wells to supply the population with drinking water is that the water is extracted from great depths and purified using natural filters [2]. Thus, the cost of water treatment is significantly reduced. The disadvantage of using artesian wells is usually low productivity of the well, the strong dependence of water volumes in the well on climatic and weather conditions, depletion of the well as a result of large-scale construction or extraction of natural minerals such as shale gas [3].

The lithological-facies factor is considered with the aim of studying the natural and geological conditions in which hydrogen sulfide waters are formed in gas and oil fields in the artesian basins of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The distribution of hydrogen sulfide waters is closely related to the areas of joint development of halogen rocks and oil and gas complexes. Since the term “paragenesis” refers to the joint finding of minerals or chemical elements genetically related, this map is a map of the paragenesis of hydrogen sulfide waters with evaporites and oil and gas complexes. In the absence of one of the necessary conditions (sulfates or petroleum organics), hydrogen sulfide waters of high concentration are not formed. Hydrogen sulfide waters in the identified anticlinal structures are formed due to the presence of insignificant gas and oil deposits, which are not of industrial importance

Halophytic vegetation is typical for the west of the Caspian lowland. It is confined to solonetzes and solonchaks, occupying a fairly large area in the region. The phytocenotic diversity of halophytic vegetation depends on environmental factors such as the total amount of salts in the soils, as well as on soil moisture. According to literature sources and our research, halophyte communities in the region belong to 21 formations, of which 9 are widely distributed (Artemisieta pauciflorae, Artemisieta santonicae, Camphorosmeta monspeliacae, Leymeta ramosi, Halocnemeta strobilacei, Salsoleta dendroidis, Salicornieta perennantis, Suaedeta salsae, and Petrosimonieta oppositifoliae). Communities of 12 formations are rare (Anabaseta salsae, Halimioneta verruciferae, Kochieta prostratae, Limonieta suffruticosi, Salsoleta laricinae, Frankenieta hirsutae, Petrosimonieta triandrae, Petrosimonieta brachiatae, Climacoptereta crassae, Spirobassieta hirsutae, Salsoleta sodae, and Puccinellieta distantis). Some of these formations are located on the western or northwestern border of their areas. Solonetzes dominate in the steppe zone. Euhalophytes dwarf semishrubs Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia santonica, and Camphorosma monspeliaca and rhizome cereals Leymus ramosus communities are associated with them. Solonchaks are not as common; they are marked with the following communities: Salicornia perennans, Spirobassia hirsuta, Suaeda salsa, and Petrosimonia oppositifolia. In the desert zone, solonetzes occupy small areas only in the north. Solonchaks dominate, in which communities of hyperhalophyte dwarf semishrubs (Halocnemum strobilaceum and Salsola dendroides) and annual halophytes (Salicornia perennans, Suaeda salsa, and Petrosimonia oppositifolia) occur. Halophyte communities are characteristic of fallows and pastures on light chestnut saline soils, along irrigation channels, in pipelines, and around artesian wells.

This review presented a detailed re-assessment of the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Tropical Anambra Basin. It identified and discussed the major geological formations and their groundwater potentials. The geological examination showed that the Ajali Formation is confined in places forming an artesian condition; the potentials of this aquifer decline in the western basin due to a decrease in thickness. The sandstone associates of the Nsukka Formation are aquiferous and have produced high-pressure artesian boreholes along the Oji River. The Imo Shale is characterized by permeability stability all over much of the intermediate unit. The Bende-Ameki aquifer has a lesser amount of groundwater when equated to other formations; the geologic characteristics do not produce favorable hydrogeological conditions for groundwater occurrence. The stratigraphical and structural framework suggested the presence of an efficient throughflow in the basin. Based on physical and chemical parameters of water quality, the basin holds water of acceptable quality. While there are considerable investigations on the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry, studies are short of analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater, water quality index, heavy metals pollution index as well as total hazard quotient. Suitability of groundwater based on agricultural water quality indices (e.g. SAR) is also salient. Therefore, future studies should address these owing to increasing dependence on groundwater.

Parallel with the research of Bacillariophyta flora in the well with shadoof on the area of Semberija was researched Bacillariophyta flora of other freshwater systems that are located in the near or distant environment from the researched wells, such as Drenovaĉa swamp, Sava river, Jelaz canal, artesian wells and ephemeral swamps. It is very interesting to compare Bacillariophyta flora that inhabits wells and Bacillariophyta flora of Drenovaĉa swamp that is only a dozen meters away from the researched well of Lazić Mijo, a local in the village Velino Selo.All identified Bacillariophyta in researched well belong to aerophile, which indicates on certain ecology of the well, that is a specific life conditions that are present in wells as anthropogenic creations. Contrary to the well flora, Bacillariophyta flora of Drenovaĉa swamp is composed party of algae belonging to benthos. In Lazić Mijo well were identified 33Bacillariophyta, all aerophile, while in Drenovaĉa swamp were identified 57 Bacillariophyta, from which only 18 are aerophile and others belong to benthos.Considering that Bacillariophyta is a component of aeroplankton, and that via air currents can be transmitted over long distances, it is assumed that similarly aerophile Bacillariophyta were transmitted on mosses associations on the well wall, manifested their adaptive attributes in such biotopes, and by that became autochthonous flora of the well. Large qualitative differences in Bacillariophyta flora in wells with shadoof and in Bacillariophyta flora of Drenovaĉa swamp also indicate on autochthony of Bacillariophyta flora of the well, which means that species were not transmitted from the neighborhood.

The aim of this study is to investigate the coupling effects of re-excavation and hydraulic uplift on base instability of pit-in-pit (PIP) braced excavations. The numerical model of PIP braced excavation in Shanghai soft clay overlying a confined aquifer was established by upper-bound finite element limit analysis (UBFELA) method. The effects of the sensitive design parameters (i.e., the artesian pressure, thickness and undrained shear strength of the aquitard and excavation width of inner pit) on failure mechanisms and upper-bound safety factor (FS) against hydraulic uplift were analyzed. The results show that the value of FS increases with an increase in the thickness and undrained shear strength of the aquitard, but decreases with increasing the artesian pressure and excavation width of inner pit. The failure modes can be typically classified into three categories: circular slip surface in outer pit (M1), hydraulic uplift combined with circular slip surface in entire PIP system (M2), and basal hydraulic uplift in inner pit (M3); then the corresponding critical artesian pressure is determined. Finally, the average value of critical artesian pressure used to distinguish the three types of failure modes is recommended as the design value against hydraulic uplift in the PIP system, and validity is verified by the comparison with the current design methods. The proposed stability design by UBFELA contributes to ensure the serviceability and performance of PIP system.

The water shortage in the arid desert area of northwest China has seriously restricted the healthy, balanced and sustainable development of the national economy. In the arid desert area of northwest China, the total budget of the full artesian water diversion project of 300billion square meters per year is less than 3trillion yuan, and the construction period is less than 10years. Hope the central government, Ministry of Water Resources, ministry of agriculture, ministry of water and power. And other major national economy and people's livelihood related departments and many experts and scholars, people with lofty ideals to pay high attention in a timely manner.

It is known that changes in geochemical fields may be due to the formation and development of earthquake foci. Hydrogeochemical fields at observation sites can be disturbed by underground shocks of sufficient energy, which occur at specific epicentral distances. Our study aimed to reveal these relationships by analysing the concentrations of helium and radon in groundwaters of Southern Pribaikalie, the area around Lake Baikal in Russia. Water samples were taken daily at 10 a.m. from artesian well No. 3 in Zeleny Mys, Irkutsk region. After water sparging, radon concentrations were measured by beta-detection Camera-01 and INGEM-1 (magnetic discharge indicator of helium) to determine helium concentrations. We analysed the concentration values in connection with 22 seismic events that occurred from 2010 to 2016 at the hydrogeochemical observation site (energy classes K of 10.4–14.5; epicentral distances of 40–750 km; conditional energy of K’>6). Based on the radon and helium concentration diagrams, specific regularities were established in the concentration variations before the earthquakes. Generally, concentration variations (increasing/decreasing) in excess of 1.5–2.0 standard deviations preceded earthquakes. This article presents the study results and discusses variations in the radon and helium concentrations, which are due to the seismic process and can be considered as a short-term precursor of earthquakes.

Artesian wells remain strategically important sources of drinking water for the Kyiv megacity, especially in the vicinity of radioactively contaminated areas of the Chornobyl exclusion zone. The contribution of groundwater to the total volume of drinking water was indicated. The water from 144 artesian wells was investigated in terms of total alpha activity: 67 of them were drilled up to the Cenomanian aquifer of the Upper Cretaceous, 77 - up to the Bajocian aquifer of the Middle Jurassic. Studies have found that the total alpha activity in 39 wells exceeds the regulatory limit, with 37 of the 39 wells supplying water from the Bajocian aquifer. The average total alpha activity of the Cenomanian water is 0.033 ± 0.003 Bq/dm3, the most active water of this aquifer is produced in the Obolon area where the average value equals 0.045 ± 0.004 Bq/dm3. The average total alpha activity of the Bajocian water is 0.115 ± 0.012 Bq/dm3, the most active water of this aquifer is produced in the Obolon and Troyeshchyna areas where the average values equal 0.097 ± 0.010 Bq/dm3 and 0.188 ± 0.018 Bq/dm3, respectively. Therefore, in average, the Bajoian water is 3.5 times more active than the Cenomanian one: the average activity reaches 0.115 ± 0.012 Bq/dm3 against 0.033 ± 0.003 Bq/dm3. GIS mapping of the total content of α-emitters in the groundwater of both aquifers was created. The dynamics of the gross alpha activity of artesian water from both aquifers was monitored for the Obolon area. It was determined that when consuming the Bajocian water, two times more alpha-emitters enter the human body than from the Cenomanian water. The processing of the results through the spline interpolation with the Spatial Analyst Tools module ArcGIS 10.1 made it possible to analyze this trend for the megacity area: geological and tectonic factors such as block movement of the foundation, unequal incision of ancient watercourses into the pre-Bajocian surface and the erosion of sediments had always had the greatest influence on the enhanced alpha activity of the Bajocian water.

The paper is about a Hellenistic ceramic complex of the western area of the ancient city of Tanais. The new material from the excavation trench XXV is shown in comparison with the handmade ware of other districts of the city that was examined by T. M. Arsenieva. Comparison of these materials with the ceramic complex of synchronous layers of the ancient centers of the Northern Black Sea region (collections from cities of the European Bosporus (Kitei, Artesian, etc.), settlements and hill-forts of the Western Crimea (“Chaika”, Kulchuk, etc.) and Lower Bug River region will help to distinguish specific features of the handmade ceramic complex from Tanais and the peculiarities of the ethnic structure of the population of the city.

The karst hydrogeology systems of the Watuputih Hills region of Central Java, Indonesia, have many springs with varying discharge and are composed of formations with complex geological structures. This work characterized the karst hydrogeology by studying 50 hydrogeological features (caves, springs and wells) and by analyzing the chemical-physical properties of groundwater in the field (pH, temperature, EC, HCO3−, 222Rn) and the major ions and stable isotopes of the groundwater samples in the laboratory, along with the stable isotope content of rainwater sampled over 1 year. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the water samples identified three hydrochemical groups: groundwater flowing through carbonate rocks (groups C2 and C3), through quartz sandstones and volcanic rocks (group C4), and through carbonate rocks and the siliciclastic rocks (quartz sandstones) underneath them (group C1). Springs with large discharge, typified as artesian fault-guided springs, were categorized into group C1. These springs are Sumbersemen, Brubulan Tahunan, and Brubulan Pesucen, with mean discharges of 1,516, 165, and 95 L/s, respectively. Based on the results of the stable isotope analysis, the d-excess calculation and the 222Rn concentrations, groups C2, C3, and C4 associate with shallow groundwater systems that dominantly flow through pores, whereas group C1 associates with a deep groundwater system controlled by geological structure. The geological structure also determines the groundwater flow in the cave streams. The shallow groundwater system is sourced by local rainwater, while the deep groundwater system displays a relationship with the groundwater in the northern hills at an elevation >375 m above sea level.

The use of water from mine dewatering has become increasingly important issue in northern China. Much of this water is discharged to the environment, which wastes a valuable resource and pollutes the ecosystem. To help address this, a feasibility analysis was carried on using deep Ordovician limestone water from dewatering at the Xinglongzhuang coal mine. First, a safe hydraulic pressure was estimated using the conventional water inrush coefficient method. Then, based on the results of a water release test (drilled into an artesian aquifer), a model representing the geology and hydrology of the study area was subsequently established and calibrated to existing conditions and water release test results, using the numerical simulation program FEFLOW. Finally, according to a contract signed between the mine and a local industrial water consumer, two cases of dewatering were discussed using the model to maintain a balance between mining safety and supplying water for nearby industrial operations. During the calibration and prediction analysis, the permeable faults were identified as the most important factor in water management and a key factor for balancing the aforementioned needs.

Vertical leakage (discharge to upper aquifers) is an important but poorly constrained component of water balance in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Australia. It ranges from negligible discharge where the GAB is overlain by aquitards, to high discharge where artesian water feeds the shallow unconfined aquifer (thereby raising the water table) causing elevated surface soil moisture and extensive surface salinisation. Adequately representing the temporal and spatial variability of vertical leakage is difficult due to the large scale over which the discharge occurs. An innovative method is presented that integrates a supervised classification of high-discharge zones using time-series Landsat data with landform mapping information to improve classification results. ‘Wetness persistence’ and ‘salt persistence’ classes, determined from the time series data, are related to groundwater discharge processes through a discharge framework that allows scaling up of field-based discharge estimates. The results show that using multi-image classification integrated with landform data will significantly reduce uncertainty by reducing false positives. No significant temporal trends were found in a time series assessment, with results featuring high variability, most likely due to image normalisation issues. The lack of a clear temporal signal suggests that an assumption of steady-state discharge is valid for estimating annual fluxes of vertical leakage. Supervised classification and landform outputs provide updated knowledge on GAB vertical leakage rates by providing useful lower and upper bounds of discharge rates respectively. Additionally, groundwater-dependent ecosystem classification, covering the full extent of the basin margins, is a new source of information resulting from the work.

Although there has been an increase in the number of researches involving humanitarian logistics, few studies address slow disasters, such as drought. Although this phenomenon is one of the worst types of disaster in terms of casualties, water distribution to those affected by the drought still lacks academic development, and few studies guide local public managers regarding the efficient use of available resources, guaranteeing a high service level to the population. This paper presents a procedure for the implementation of transport and routing of water delivery. By this procedure, we can evaluate the strategy of complementary use of the water supply of drilled artesian wells. It also provides a contextualized routing tool for the practices and policies of motorized water distribution, commonly found in scenarios of water shortages. The algorithms have been implemented considering the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP), providing a friendly-user tool that helps choosing water sources to be activated and in the definition of the routes between these and the points supply. Results have been validated in the Brazilian Semi - arid region, showing improvement in the current logistical performance of drought coping, in advantageous scales of operation in terms of costs and efficiency.

Introduction. Artesian well drilling, water testing, obtaining all the necessary permits, as well as designing, equipping, and final organization of work, including hiring the necessary staff, is often time-consuming and complex, and so it was for the leaders of the Free Royal City of Novi Sad in establishing the future Novi Sad ?Jodna banja? (Iodine Spa). Spa House Rules. The paper gives an overview of the Rimanoczy Spa House Rules, which served as a model for creating similar house rules and shaping the work in the future spa. The success of the Novi Sad City Artesian Spa in the late 19th and early 20th century was attributed to visionaries, architects, city leaders, doctors, as well as numerous employees, who invested their knowledge and abilities to the people?s needs in order to improve the wellbeing and health of the Spa guests.

Introduction. In 1897, the city government of the Free Royal City of Novi Sad proposed exploration for drinking water for adequate water supply in the city. Iodine Spa Novi Sad. An artesian well showed to have healing properties, which was a prerequisite for the development of the future spa that grew into the famous Iodine Spa Novi Sad. The Art Nouveau building of the Novi Sad City Spa was completed in 1910. In 1909, the city authorities issued a public notice to procure the necessary equipment and furnishing. In the turbulent years that followed, the City Iodine Spa has changed its name, exterior and interior appearance, as well as its equipment and furnishings, but kept its profile as an institution that fits the needs of every individual who may seek and find professional help under its auspices.

Dalhousie Springs is the largest spring complex in the western Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Australia. Aridland springs like Dalhousie provide the only aquatic habitats in regions lacking surface water and are globally threatened by unsustainable groundwater development. Groundwater use in the more densely populated eastern GAB historically was higher than that in the western GAB, where groundwater is primarily used for ranching; however, economically important mineral and energy industries have increased groundwater use. Throughout the western GAB, groundwater development has reduced spring discharge and artesian head. Of concern are potential impacts on spring discharge from future pumping; thus, an understanding of groundwater sources to springs is needed to develop effective groundwater management strategies that maintain spring flow. The generally accepted hydrogeologic model suggests Dalhousie Springs discharge is entirely composed of Jurassic-Cretaceous aquifer contributions; however, this study improves understanding of Dalhousie Springs by integrating new hydrogeologic and hydrochemical data with historic, previously unpublished petroleum exploration well-test data. A thermal model is used to estimate potential aquifer source depths of 270–802 m. 87Sr/86Sr > 0.715 suggests water–rock interaction with radiogenic basement and the importance of faults for vertical fluid transfer across multiple aquifers. Results show that Dalhousie Springs discharge is sourced by the previously unreported Permian Crown Point Formation and the Jurassic-Cretaceous aquifer. Mitigating effects of future groundwater development on Dalhousie Springs requires managing groundwater from Jurassic-Cretaceous and Permian aquifers to preserve near-spring potentiometric surfaces. Expanded multiple-environmental-tracer monitoring could be used to further refine groundwater sources to Dalhousie Springs.

The presence of natural hydrocarbon seepage in the surface (soil–water) system can provide strong evidence (pathfinder) of an active petroleum system, as well as critical information on source, maturity and migration pathways. The South Portuguese Zone (SPZ) is located in the southernmost sector of the pre-Mesozoic Iberian Variscan Chain, which is composed of Carboniferous interbedded shales and greywackes, commonly displaying low-grade metamorphism. For this study, the sampling area was selected based on geological features such as alignments, faults, thrust zones, and major fold structures. Twenty-seven soil samples and 31 water samples from artesian wells, boreholes and springs were collected using specific headspace containers (Isojar®). From the geological prospecting point of view, the presence of thermogenic hydrocarbon gases in SPZ formations is clear and evident. They are present in both soil and water in significantly high levels, especially in the fault/fracture zones, with light hydrocarbon (C1–C5) values reaching more than 1500 mg/L in soil samples. Anomalous presence of some gasoline-range hydrocarbons (such as toluene) was also detected. The integration with total organic carbon, vitrinite reflectance, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and GC-IRMS data from Paleozoic rocks suggests the presence of a senile unconventional petroleum system.

Understanding groundwater use, both current and historical, is important for understanding the hydrogeology of groundwater systems, and for water planning. The Queensland portion of Australia’s Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is managed under the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017. Methods were developed to estimate current and historical abstractions from the different hydrostratigraphic units of the basin. In the first stage, source aquifers were assigned to ~96,000 bores within the Queensland GAB footprint. Of these, 31,503 bores were assigned directly to the GAB, with other bores sourcing groundwater from units above or below the GAB. In the second stage, current groundwater use for all bores and historic groundwater-use trends were estimated, covering the 115-year period between 1900 and 2015. These estimates took account of periods of inactivity at the bore, the aquifer condition (sub-artesian, artesian), and the nature of discharge (controlled or uncontrolled). The process used publicly available datasets. This paper presents an overview of the methodology and how the estimates were used to support water planning. The current groundwater use from the GAB in Queensland was estimated to be 322 GL/year, which is lower than previous estimates, partly because of improved estimation techniques, the bore capping and piping programs that have been in progress since 1989, and the naturally reducing discharge rates from uncontrolled artesian bores.