Effects of Decaying Hydraulic Conductivity on the Groundwater Flow Processes in a Managed Aquifer Recharge Area in an Alluvial Fan

Groundwater artificial recharge and medium characteristics represent the major factors in controlling the groundwater flow processes in managed aquifer recharge areas. According to the depositional features of alluvial fans, an analogous homogeneous phreatic sand tank aquifer and the corresponding inhomogeneous scale numerical models were established to investigate the groundwater flow under the combined influence of artificial recharge (human activities) and decaying hydraulic conductivity (medium characteristics). In this study, groundwater flow through a managed aquifer recharge area in an alluvial fan was analyzed under the conditions of decaying hydraulic conductivity (K) with depth or length from apex to apron. The results showed that groundwater flow processes induced by artificial recharge were significantly controlled by the increasing decay exponents of K. The decaying K with depth or length in alluvial fan areas expanded the degree of influence of artificial recharge on groundwater flow. With the increase of decay exponents, the flow directions gradually changed from a horizontal to vertical direction. Groundwater age and spatial variability could also be increased by the increasing decay exponents. The residence time distributions (RTDs) of ambient groundwater and artificially recharged water exhibited logarithmic, exponential, and power law behavior. Penetration depth and travel times of ambient groundwater flow could be affected by artificial recharge and decay exponents. Furthermore, with the increase of decay exponents, the thickness of the artificially recharged water lens and travel times of artificially recharged water were increased. These findings have important implications for the performance of managed aquifer recharge in alluvial fan areas as well as the importance of considering the gradual decrease of K with depth and length.

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Planning MAR Schemes Using Physical Models: Comparison of Laboratory and Field Experiments

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app9183652 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (18) ◽

pp. 3652

Author(s):

Jana Sallwey ◽

Felix Barquero ◽

Thomas Fichtner ◽

Catalin Stefan

Keyword(s):

Vadose Zone ◽

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Physical Models ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Operational Parameters ◽

Flow Processes ◽

Models Comparison ◽

Other Regarding

Infiltration experiments in the context of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) are often conducted to assess the processes influencing the operation of full-scale MAR schemes. For this, physical models such as laboratory experiments and, less often, field experiments are used to determine process specifics or operational parameters. Due to several assumptions, scale-related limitations, and differing boundary conditions, the upscaling of results from the physical models is not straightforward. Investigations often lead to over- or underestimations of flow processes that constrain the translation of results to field-like conditions. To understand the restrictions and potential of different physical models for MAR assessment, surface infiltration experiments in different scales and dimensions, which maintained the same operational parameters, were conducted. The results from the different setups were compared against each other regarding the reproduction water flow in the vadose zone and the influence of parameters such as soil type and climate. Results show that mostly qualitative statements can be made, whereas quantitative analysis through laboratory experiments is limited.

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Managed aquifer recharge in the Marecchia alluvial fan (Rimini - Italy), start of the test and first results

Acque Sotterranee-Italian Journal of Groundwater ◽

10.7343/as-083-14-0110 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paolo Severi ◽

Luciana Bonzi ◽

Venusia Ferrari ◽

Immacolata Pellegrino

Keyword(s):

Water Level ◽

Groundwater Level ◽

Bird Species ◽

Monitoring Network ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Alluvial Fan ◽

Continuous Measure ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Data Logger ◽

Southeastern Part

Among the actions designed to manage the water crisis that have taken place in the summers of recent years in the southeastern part of the Emilia-Romagna Region, it has recently launched a trial of managed aquifer recharge in the alluvial fan of the Marecchia river (Rimini), where annually are withdrawn about 28 million m3 of water, 19 of witch for drinking water use. This test consists in conveying into quarry lake, located in the recharge area of the alluvial fan, an additional volume of water through a channel. The increase in the volume of water in the lake, should result in a rapid increase in the availability of water in the aquifers. To verify the recharge efficacy a special monitoring network consisting of 20 measuring points, 5 of which are specially drilled, it has been implemented. In 9 of these points a data logger for the continuous measure of level, temperature and electric conductivity at 20°C, it has been installed. A data logger has also been positioned in the channel from which the water flows into the lake. For about a month groundwater level was monitored prior to the recharge experiment. On 25 February 2014 managed aquifer recharge began and the volume of water flowing through the canal to lake until April 30, 2014, was approximately 600,000 m3. In this period it was possible to observe that the intervention produces the expected effects, thus inducing an increase in the groundwater level which is maximum near the lake and decreases away from it. The rise in the water level of the lake has been rapid and substantial. Within the area of the lake have settled some protected bird species in need of a precise environmental balance for nesting; an excessive increase of the lake level could put at risk of flooding some nests present. The objective of the following phases of the study will be to calibrate an adequate water level of the lake, to the purposes of managed aquifer recharge and to maintain the existing ecosystem. At the moment, it was decided to stop the flow of water into the lake and then to re-set it at a lower flow rate. In the test area also falls a well field that is not currently used. It will be interesting to check in the future, in the event of a major withdrawal, the influence on the progress of the flow lines in conjunction with the managed aquifer recharge.

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Method of Relating Grain Size Distribution to Hydraulic Conductivity in Dune Sands to Assist in Assessing Managed Aquifer Recharge Projects: Wadi Khulays Dune Field, Western Saudi Arabia

Water ◽

10.3390/w7116411 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 6411-6426 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Oliver Lopez ◽

Khan Jadoon ◽

Thomas Missimer

Keyword(s):

Grain Size ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Grain Size Distribution ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Dune Field ◽

Dune Sands

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Impact of carbon and nitrogen on bioclogging in a sand grain managed aquifer recharge (MAR)

Environmental Engineering Research ◽

10.4491/eer.2019.373 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 841-846

Author(s):

Heonseop Eom ◽

Sami Flimban ◽

Anup Gurung ◽

Heejun Suk ◽

Yongcheol Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Water Resource Management ◽

Water Shortage ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Management Tool ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Overall Performance ◽

The Impact

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR), an intentional storage of excess water to an aquifer, is becoming a promising water resource management tool to cope with the worldwide water shortage. Bioclogging is a commonly encountered operational issue that lowers hydraulic conductivity and overall performance in MAR. The current study investigates the impact of carbon and nitrogen in recharge water on bioclogging in MAR. For this investigation, continuous-flow columns packed with sand grains were operated with influents having 0 (C1), 5 (C2), and 100 mg/L (C3) of glucose with or without introduction of nitrate. Hydraulic conductivity was analyzed to evaluate bioclogging in the systems. In C1 and C2, hydraulic conductivity was not significantly changed overall. However, hydraulic conductivity in C3 was decreased by 28.5% after three weeks of operation, which appears to be attributed to generation of fermentation bacteria. Introduction of nitrogen to C3 led to a further decrease in hydraulic conductivity by 25.7% compared to before it was added, most likely due to stimulation of denitrifying bacteria. These findings indicate that high carbon contents and introduction of additional nitrogen in recharge water cause serious bioclogging in MAR, suggesting the necessity for controlling quality of recharge water.

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Modeling of groundwater flow velocity and aquifer recharge in a Cenozoic multi-aquifer system – a case study from Eastern Brandenburg (Germany)

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21667 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Silvio Janetz ◽

Christoph Jahnke ◽

Frank Wendland ◽

Hans-Jürgen Voigt

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Flow ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Turnover Time ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Deep Groundwater ◽

Near Surface ◽

Aquifer System ◽

Deep Aquifers ◽

Regional Flow ◽

Flow Processes

In recent years, deep aquifers (> 50 m below ground level) have become increasingly interesting for the supply of drinking and irrigation water or geothermal use. Understanding the regional flow processes between near-surface and deep aquifer systems is an important criterion for the sustainable management of deep groundwater resources. However, hydrogeological conditions, regional flow rates and aquifer recharge in deep aquifers are largely unknown in many cases. The aims of the present study are therefore to determine (i) groundwater flow velocities in a Cenozoic multi-aquifer system, and (ii) proportion of aquifer recharge into the individual Cenozoic aquifers and timescales to completely replace water in the Cenozoic aquifers (turnover time). &#160;The numerical study was carried out in three adjacent groundwater catchment areas in the region of Eastern Brandenburg. In a first step, a hydrogeological 3D model of the entire Cenozoic aquifer system (85 km &#215; 73 km and down to a depth of 0.5 km) was developed, which comprises up to 12 unconsolidated sandy aquifers and 10 confining units (glacial tills, silts and clays). In a second step, a steady-state flow modelling was performed including calibration using natural hydraulic head data from both regional main and deep aquifers.The modeling results show that the average groundwater flow velocities decrease from 20-50 m/a in the near-surface Pleistocene main aquifers to 1-2 m/a in the deep Oligocene aquifers. At the same time, the aquifer recharge in the aquifer system decreases substantially with increasing depth. Depending on the catchment geology, the Pleistocene main aquifers are recharged by 65-70 % of infiltration water, while the aquifer recharge of the deep Oligocene aquifers is only 4.5-9.5 %. The calculations of turnover time indicate that the time periods to completely flush the deep aquifers are very long (approx. between 90 and 4600 years). The results thus allow a first quantification of the flow processes between near-surface and deep aquifers as well as the identification of flow paths to develop a utilization concept for deep groundwater resources in the region of Eastern Brandenburg.

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Shallow groundwater flow and inverted fresh/saline-water interface in a hypersaline endorheic basin (Great Basin, USA)

Hydrogeology Journal ◽

10.1007/s10040-020-02209-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 2877-2902

Author(s):

Alan L. Mayo ◽

David G. Tingey ◽

Kevin A. Rey ◽

Tony D. Winkel ◽

John H. McBride ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Groundwater Flow ◽

Great Basin ◽

Saline Water ◽

Salinity Gradient ◽

Hydraulic Head ◽

Alluvial Fan ◽

Lake Bonneville ◽

Pressure Ridge ◽

Endorheic Basin

AbstractPilot Valley is an 828-km2 arid-region endorheic basin in western USA. Bounding mountain ranges rise as much as 1,900 m above the nearly flat 379-km2 playa floor. Up to 3.8 m of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville mud and thin oolitic sand layers form the surface layer of the basin floor. Groundwater conditions were evaluated using data from shallow monitoring wells and borings, springs, infiltrometer measurements, slug and dilution tests, geophysical transects, and precision elevation surveys. Alluvial fan groundwater discharges at fan/playa interface springs and underflows to the shallow basin sediments along the western side of the basin; the groundwater only underflows along the eastern side. Precision surveying established a Lake Bonneville shore-line break in slope as the cause of the spring discharges. Tectonic tilting causes groundwater to flow from east to west and to the topographic low. Monthly measured and pressure transducer data established seasonal pressure responses and upward groundwater gradients. All basin groundwater is lost to evapotranspiration at the topographic low, where a thin salt pan has developed. Groundwater evolves from fresh to hypersaline near the alluvial fan/playa interface where there is an inverted salinity gradient and a groundwater pressure ridge. The pressure ridge and inverted salinity interface are due to: (1) osmotic pressure established between the oolitic sand of high hydraulic conductivity and the overlying low-hydraulic-conductivity lake mud at the fan/playa interface, and (2) the collision between fresh groundwater flow driven by a steep hydraulic head and hypersaline groundwater flow driven by a nearly flat hydraulic head.

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Geophysical Characterization of Hydraulic Properties around a Managed Aquifer Recharge System over the Llobregat River Alluvial Aquifer (Barcelona Metropolitan Area)

Water ◽

10.3390/w12123455 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 3455

Author(s):

Alex Sendrós ◽

Mahjoub Himi ◽

Raúl Lovera ◽

Lluís Rivero ◽

Ruben Garcia-Artigas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metropolitan Area ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Artificial Recharge ◽

Surface Water Quality ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Alluvial Aquifer ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Double Ring ◽

Infiltration Tests ◽

Llobregat River

Managed aquifer recharge using surface or regenerated water plays an important role in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area in increasing storage volume to help operators cope with the runoff variability and unexpected changes in surface water quality that are aggravated by climate change. The specific aim of the research was to develop a non-invasive methodology to improve the planning and design of surface-type artificial recharge infrastructures. To this end, we propose an approach combining direct and indirect exploration techniques such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), frequency domain electromagnetics and data from double-ring infiltration tests, trial pits, research boreholes and piezometers. The ERT method has provided much more complete and representative information in a zone where the recharge project works below design infiltration rates. The geometry of the hydrogeological units and the aquifer-aquiclude contact are accurately defined through the models derived from the interpretation of ERT cross-sections in the alluvial aquifer setting. Consequently, prior to the construction of recharge basins, it is highly recommended to conduct the proposed approach in order to identify the highest permeability areas, which are, therefore, the most suitable for aquifer artificial recharge.

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Geohydraulic conditions and post-treatment at riverbank filtration sites in Eastern Europe

Baltica ◽

10.5200/baltica.2020.1.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 97-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roksana Kruć ◽

Krzysztof Dragon ◽

Józef Górski ◽

Zsuzsanna Nagy-Kovács ◽

Thomas Grischek

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Eastern Europe ◽

Discharge Capacity ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Riverbank Filtration ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Treatment Data ◽

Water Companies ◽

Global Inventory

Managed aquifer recharge is gaining in importance worldwide. As there is not much information on bank filtration (BF) sites in Eastern Europe, a survey of geohydraulic conditions and post-treatment schemes carried out. Such information will make it possible to assess hydraulic conditions in the region and the commonly required post-treatment. Data were collected from publications, archival documentations, maps as well as through direct communication with administrators of relevant water companies. As a result, a summary of the data from 71 BF or BF/artificial recharge (AR) well fields in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia was prepared. Data on the source of water, location, capacity, aquifer thickness and hydraulic conductivity, and treatment methods were collected. Thirteen of the studied 71 RBF well fields are combined with AR. The most common type of BF in Eastern Europe is riverbank filtration (RBF) with wells located along a river. 56% of the analyzed sites are located along larger rivers such as the Danube, Drava, Nemunas, Neris, Odra, Volga, Warta and the Wisła. The smallest BF site has a discharge capacity of only 38 m3/day, the largest BF site 210,000 m3/day, while the smallest and the largest combined BF/AR site has a discharge capacity of 5,500 m3/day and 150,000 m3/day, respectively. The average values of aquifer thickness and hydraulic conductivity are 21 m and 2.7*10-3 m/s, respectively, at BF sites and 16 m and 5.7*10-4 m/s, respectively, at BF/AR sites. The most common post-treatment steps include aeration-filtration – disinfection, UV, ozone and activated carbon being used at many sites as well. The collected data can prove helpful in designing and modernizing BF sites, comparing and establishing direct contacts with water companies facing similar conditions. The outcome of this study is the built-up BF database for Eastern Europe, which can supplement the Global Inventory of Managed Aquifer Recharge Schemes (IGRAC 2017)

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