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Information on water balance components such as evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge are crucial for water management. Due to differences in physical conditions, but also due to limited budgets, there is not one universal best practice, but a wide range of different methods with specific advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we propose an approach to quantify actual evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge and water inflow, i.e. precipitation and irrigation, that considers the specific conditions of irrigated agriculture in warm, arid environments. This approach does not require direct measurements of precipitation or irrigation quantities and is therefore suitable for sites with an uncertain data basis. For this purpose, we combine soil moisture and energy balance monitoring, remote sensing data analysis and numerical modelling using Hydrus. Energy balance data and routine weather data serve to estimate ET0. Surface reflectance data from satellite images (Sentinel‐2) are used to derive leaf area indices, which help to partition ET0 into energy limited evaporation and transpiration. Subsequently, first approximations of water inflow are derived based on observed soil moisture changes. These inflow estimates are used in a series of forward simulations that produce initial estimates of drainage and ETact, which in turn help improve the estimate of water inflow. Finally, the improved inflow estimates are incorporated into the model and then a parameter optimization is performed using the observed soil moisture as the reference figure. Forward simulations with calibrated soil parameters result in final estimates for ETact and groundwater recharge. The presented method is applied to an agricultural test site with a crop rotation of cotton and wheat in Punjab, Pakistan. The final model results, with an RMSE of 2.2% in volumetric water content, suggest a cumulative ETact and groundwater recharge of 769 and 297 mm over a period of 281 days, respectively. The t

Wenn es überhaupt etwas Gutes an der „Corona-Pandemie“ gibt, dann ist es die mehrheitliche Einsicht, dass in Krisen wissenschaftliche Erkenntnis und daraus entwickelte Konzepte, Technologien und Prognosen letztlich die einzig belastbare Lösungsstrategie darstellt. In einigen Aspekten wirkt diese Krise derzeit sogar als Katalysator, um Technologien, Regeln und Verhaltensweisen zum längst fälligen Durchbruch zu verhelfen. Wer hat nicht in den vergangenen Wochen bei den nun vollkommen üblichen Video-Treffen darüber nachgedacht, wieviel Zeit man „früher“ auf Dienstreisen mit hohen Kosten- und Umweltauswirkungen verbrachte, weil diese digitalen Treffen „damals“ bestenfalls als schlechte Ersatzlösungen galten. Ebenso verwundert es fast, mit welcher Geschwindigkeit und Konsequenz Unterstützungsprogramme und dazugehörige Verordnungen und Gesetze beschlossen werden können, über die früher Jahre, möglicherweise ohne Beschlussfassung, intensiv und kontrovers diskutiert worden wäre.

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) can be conducted via wells or by spreading the water on a surface (e.g, during basin infiltration). While the former has the advantage of minimal area demand and the possibility of dual-use for groundwater abstraction, the latter usually has smaller construction costs and offers additional treatment to the water during infiltration via the vadose zone. Vadose Zone Wells (VZWs) combine many of these advantages, but as their hydraulics are more complex, infiltration rates and the degradation processes in the subsurface are more difficult to determine. Furthermore, they are prone to clogging and redevelopment has not been documented in the literature. Therefor, low-quality waters - with high content of suspended solids or dissolved contaminants/nutrients - are rarely infiltrated via VZWs. In this study, I will (1) evaluate the hydraulic advantage, VZWs can have over other vadose zone infiltration systems in a synthetical modeling study, (2) assess the spatial variability of key parameters for aerobic degradation below a VZW in a small-scale experiment, (3) determine the relationship between clogging dynamics and a well’s diameter and setup (gravel pack) in an experimental study and (4) demonstrate that the backflush of a VZW is possible - in contrast to the literature’s suggestions. All in all, VZWs appear to offer potential even for low-quality waters, and a further investigation for economical operation seems worthwhile., Managed Aquifer Recharge' ('MAR' = 'Künstliche Grundwasseranreicherung') kann mit Brunnen oder über flächenhafte Versickerung erfolgen (z.B. durch Infiltrationsbecken). Während Brunnen wenig Platz benötigen und neben der Infiltration auch für die Grundwasserentnahme genutzt werden können, sind Becken meist günstiger in Errichtung und Erhaltung und die Versickerung durch die ungesättigte Zone kann die Wasserqualität erheblich verbessern. 'Vadose Zone Wells' ('VZWs' ≈ 'Ungesättigte Schluckbrunnen') verbinden einige dieser Vorteile, allerdings sind Infiltrations- und Abbauprozess aufgrund der ungleich komplizierteren Hydraulik schwer vorherzusagen. Darüber hinaus sind sie anfällig für Kolmation/Clogging und über ihre Regenerierung ist nach jetzigem Stande nichts bekannt. Im Allgemeinen werden deshalb Wässer mit niedriger Qualität - hohe Trübung und/oder Schad- und Nährstoffgehalte - selten durch VZWs versickert. In dieser Studie, werde ich (1) in einer synthetischen Modellstudie die hydraulichen Vorteile aufzeigen, die VZWs gegenüber anderen Versickerungsformen haben, (2) die räumlichen Unterschiede von Schlüsselparametern für den aeroben Abbau unter einem VZW in einem Laborexperiment untersuchen, (3) die Verbindung zwischen Kolmationsdynamik sowie Brunnendurchmesser und -aufbau (insb. der Kiesschüttung) herausarbeiten und (4) demonstrieren, dass eine Rückspülung von VZWs möglich ist - anders als es die Literatur nahelegt. Insgesamt, bieten VZWs ein hohes Potential - auch für Wasser niedriger Qualität, die allerdings noch durch weitere Untersuchungen bzgl. Kosten/Nutzen und Nachhaltigkeit bestätigt werden müssen.

Contamination of groundwater with pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) increased over the last decades. Potential pathways of PhACs to groundwater include techniques such as irrigation, managed aquifer recharge, or bank filtration as well as natural processes such as losing streams of PhACs-loaded source waters. Usually, these systems are characterized by redox-active zones, where microorganisms grow and become immobilized by the formation of biofilms, structures that colonize the pore space and decrease the infiltration capacities, a phenomenon known as bioclogging. The goal of this work is to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of soil biofilms on hydraulic conductivity reduction and the fate of PhACs in the subsurface. For this purpose, we selected three PhACs with different physicochemical properties (carbamazepine, diclofenac, and metoprolol) and performed batch and column experiments using a natural soil, as it is and with the organic matter removed, under different biological conditions. We observed enhanced sorption and biodegradation for all PhACs in the system with higher biological activity. Bioclogging was more prevalent in the absence of organic matter. Our results differ from works using artificial porous media and thus reveal the importance of utilizing natural soils with organic matter in studies designed to assess the role of soil biofilms in bioclogging and the fate of PhACs in soils., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are toxic disinfection by-products, formed in the reaction of chlorine with organic matter. This work aimed to study THM formation during a unique case study of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with chlorinated desalinated seawater. THM formation was tested in the field, along a 3.0 m deep vadose zone gallery. Two small-scale experiments were conducted in the site, with untreated and with bromide spiked desalinated seawater. These were accompanied by a large-scale, ~1-month long operational MAR event. In the small-scale experiments, THM concentrations were shown to increase with bromide concentrations, with increasing dominance of the brominated species. Nevertheless, concentrations remained within the single µg/L range, which is an order of magnitude lower than drinking water regulations. Such low THM concentrations were also determined in the large-scale event. In both cases, THM formation occurred in the ponding water, without significant formation or degradation in the upper 3.0 m of the vadose zone. This study shows that MAR with chlorinated (<0.5 mg/L) desalinated seawater through sandy infiltration basins does not pose a threat to drinking water quality at this site.

Contamination of groundwater with pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) increased over the last decades. Potential pathways of PhACs to groundwater include techniques such as irrigation, managed aquifer recharge, or bank filtration as well as natural processes such as losing streams of PhACs-loaded source waters. Usually, these systems are characterized by redox-active zones, where microorganisms grow and become immobilized by the formation of biofilms, structures that colonize the pore space and decrease the infiltration capacities, a phenomenon known as bioclogging. The goal of this work is to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of soil biofilms on hydraulic conductivity reduction and the fate of PhACs in the subsurface. For this purpose, we selected three PhACs with different physicochemical properties (carbamazepine, diclofenac, and metoprolol) and performed batch and column experiments using a natural soil, as it is and with the organic matter removed, under different biological conditions. We observed enhanced sorption and biodegradation for all PhACs in the system with higher biological activity. Bioclogging was more prevalent in the absence of organic matter. Our results differ from works using artificial porous media and thus reveal the importance of utilizing natural soils with organic matter in studies designed to assess the role of soil biofilms in bioclogging and the fate of PhACs in soils.