Analysing the effectiveness of groundwater regulation: a comparative study of Turkey and California

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Yasir Ak ◽  
David Benson ◽  
Karen Scott
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Groundwater Management ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Groundwater Abstraction ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Groundwater abstraction has increased significantly around the world in the last three decades, placing a strain on the sustainability of domestic and agricultural use plus negatively impacting the role groundwater plays in water storage in the absence of surface water. While the proportionality of surface water use has decreased as a result, groundwater has expanded its share of freshwater use. Groundwater management challenges are particularly acute in semi-arid zones due to low replenishment rates. Multiple regulatory innovations are consequently emerging in different countries to regulate groundwater usage but comparative analyses of their effectiveness are limited. In addressing this gap, our paper therefore compares the regulatory performance of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Turkey with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California, two semi-arid zones, as a basis for policy learning. Both legislative measures impose river basin planning to protect groundwater resources and should provide them with strong protection. In analysing the effectiveness of these measures, this paper firstly identifies the key regulatory requirements of each legislative framework regarding groundwater protection. Secondly, it compares the institutional arrangements for implementing them, using specific river basin case studies. Thirdly, it quantifies groundwater use trends in river basins to assess the effectiveness of the WFD and SGMA. Finally, it comparatively discusses outcomes to determine the factors influencing implementation effectiveness, in order to inform future regulatory design.</p>

Management and protection of groundwater resources in semi-arid zones: application of hydrochemical methodologies to Essaouira Synclinal Basin, Morocco

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Mohammed Bahir ◽  
Rachid El Moukhayar ◽  
Nasreddine Youbi ◽  
Hamid Chamchati ◽  
Najiba Chkir Ben Jemaa
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Semi Arid

The assessment of surface water resources for the semi-arid Yongding River Basin from 1956 to 2000 and the impact of land use change

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1123-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Zhongjing Wang ◽  
Toshio Koike ◽  
Hang Yin ◽  
Dawen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Surface Water Resources ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Yongding River

Easy to say, hard to do: integrated surface water and groundwater management in the Murray–Darling Basin

Water Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Ross
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Groundwater Management ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Integrated Water Management ◽  
Aquifer Storage ◽  
Surface Water And Groundwater ◽  
Murray Darling Basin

Integrated management of surface water and groundwater can provide efficient and flexible use of water through wet and dry periods, and address the impacts of water use on other users and the environment. It can also help adaptation to climate variation and uncertainty by means of supply diversification, storage and exchange. Integrated water management is affected by surface water and groundwater resources and their connections, water use, infrastructure, governance arrangements and interactions. Although the Murray–Darling Basin is considered to be a leading example of integrated water management, surface water and groundwater resources are generally managed separately. Key reasons for this separation include the historical priority given to surface water development, the relative neglect of groundwater management, shortfalls in information about connections between groundwater and surface water and their impacts, gaps and exemptions in surface water and groundwater use entitlements and rules, coordination problems, and limited stakeholder engagement. Integration of surface water and groundwater management can be improved by the establishment of more comprehensive water use entitlements and rules, with extended carry-over periods and legislated rules for aquifer storage and recovery. Collective surface water and groundwater management offers greater efficiency and better risk management than uncoordinated individual action. There are opportunities for more effective engagement of stakeholders in planning and implementation through decentralized catchment scale organizations.

scholarly journals Surface Water Quality of Intensive Farming Areas Within the Santa Lucia River Basin of Uruguay

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 117862211771544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Barreto ◽  
Santiago Dogliotti ◽  
Carlos Perdomo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
Agricultural Use

The Santa Lucia River basin provides drinking water to 60% of Uruguay population. The input of excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus both from point and nonpoint sources could impair surface water quality and prevent its use for human consumption. The objective of this work was to evaluate surface water quality in small catchments under agricultural use located within this river basin. To this end, 5 streams and 4 small polders were surveyed between September 2008 and December 2009. The median concentrations of total phosphorus and total nitrogen in the streams across all sites and periods were 770 and 1659 µg L−1, respectively, exceeding in the case of total phosphorus national and international thresholds. Furthermore, soluble phosphorous, the most readily available form to algae, represented 88.3% of total phosphorus. Concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen in polders were also high. The eutrophication process of this water bodies could be linked to the intensive agricultural land use in the area because the nutrient input from cities and industries was not relevant in these catchments.

Effects of wetland construction on nutrient, SOM and salt content in semi-arid zones degraded by intensive agricultural use

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Moreno-Mateos ◽  
Francisco A. Comín ◽  
César Pedrocchi ◽  
Rafael Rodríguez-Ochoa
Keyword(s):  
Salt Content ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Wetland Construction ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Semi Arid

Creating wetlands for the improvement of water quality and landscape restoration in semi-arid zones degraded by intensive agricultural use

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Moreno ◽  
César Pedrocchi ◽  
Francisco A. Comín ◽  
Mercedes García ◽  
Alvaro Cabezas
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Landscape Restoration ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Physical–chemical evaluation of groundwater quality in semi-arid areas: case study—Sabzevar plain, Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghasem Panahi ◽  
Mahya Hassanzadeh Eskafi ◽  
Hamidreza Rahimi ◽  
Alireza Faridhosseini ◽  
Xiaonan Tang
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Anions And Cations ◽  
Semi Arid

AbstractGroundwater is one of the most important water sources in arid and semi-arid areas. With the increasing world population and the water demand for agriculture and urban use, the need for water resources has increased, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, where groundwater resources play a significant role. To prevent the pollution of groundwater resources, various studies for their preservation and maintenance should be carried out, including a detailed plan for proper management of water resources and establishing a balance between water quality and how to use them. It becomes important to understand the spatial change of the quality of groundwater resources. In this study, Sabzevar plain, a typical region of semi-arid climate in Iran, was selected as a case study to assess the groundwater quality of the region, using data from 24 observation wells between 2015 and 2019. Using Arc GIS software, a map of groundwater quality parameters in the study area was prepared for quality assessment and comparison with existing international standards. The results showed that (except pH and HCO3−) the concentration of Sodium, Magnesium, and other anions and cations is higher than the corresponding WHO standard limit, suggesting that the study area is unsuitable for drinking and agricultural use. According to the Wilcox chart, 87.5% of the samples are in the C4S4 class while 8.33% are in the C4S3 class, showing the groundwater unsuitable for agricultural use due to its high salinity and alkalinity. Piper diagrams show that more than 50% of the samples are non-carbonate alkalis, indicating a very high salinity in the area. According to the pie chart, chlorine ion and sodium ion are the dominant anions and cations in the Sabzevar plain, respectively. The Schuler diagram shows that none of the samples examined were in a good class for drinking. Therefore, considering the importance of water for agricultural activities in the study area, it is recommended to have agricultural management solutions to prevent groundwater mixing with freshwater resources.

A multi-method approach to quantify groundwater/surface water-interactions in the semi-arid Hailiutu River basin, northwest China

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Yang ◽  
Yangxiao Zhou ◽  
Jochen Wenninger ◽  
Stefan Uhlenbrook
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Effect of Sinkholes on Groundwater Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Karst Area in Abarkooh, Iran

Environments ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Božo Soldo ◽  
Siamak Mahmoudi Sivand ◽  
Ardalan Afrasiabian ◽  
Bojan Đurin
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Original Procedure ◽  
Semi Arid

Despite protection measurements and their natural position, groundwater resources are very vulnerable due to natural and anthropogenic impacts. This is especially emphasized in karst arid and semi-arid zones, due to increased requirements for water. Paper deals with the impacts of the sinkholes on groundwater quality on Abarkooh city in Iran. There are 28 sinkholes located in Abarkooh plain. The aims of the paper are to specify the characteristics and causes of sinkholes occurrence, as well as to specify the vulnerable areas and future development of sinkholes and their effect on the groundwater resources. Next step is defining of the original procedure for protection of groundwater resources in characteristic areas, as karst arid and semi-arid areas are. By taking into the account geological, hydrogeological and meteorological data, and finally through hydrogeochemical and geophysical analysis, final conclusions and recommendations for the protection of the groundwater resources are obtained. This has significant importance for water supply of the Abarkooh city in Iran. It should be noted that the mentioned methodology for the protection of groundwater resources could be applied in other arid and semi-arid areas.

scholarly journals Groundwater and connected ecosystems: an overview of groundwater body status assessment in Croatia

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Željka Brkić ◽  
Mladen Kuhta ◽  
Ozren Larva ◽  
Sanja Gottstein
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Series Data ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Groundwater Abstraction ◽  
Hydrogeological Characteristics ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Croatia, as a Member State of the European Union, has to shape its water policy in accordance with the European Union Water Framework Directive. One of the tasks is to determine whether groundwater are susceptible to anthropogenic changes that would result in a significant surface water status reduction as well as terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that directly depend on the groundwater. Methods Quality and quantity data on groundwater and surface water, as well as ecosystems data were collected from multiple sources. Data were analyzed for the selection groundwater associated aquatic and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Chemical time series data were analyzed and compared with the national guideline limits set by the Croatian water quality standard. The impact of the groundwater abstraction on the groundwater-dependent ecosystem was considered by analyzing the aquifer hydrogeological characteristics, as well as location of the pumping site in relation of the ecosystem, the pumping rate and groundwater level or discharge. Results In karst areas of Croatia, groundwater-dependent aquatic ecosystems are predominant; while in the Pannonian area of Croatia, typically, there are groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems. The status of groundwater bodies was defined as good. The analyzed chemical parameters are at acceptable concentration levels. Groundwater abstraction does not adversely affect most ecosystems. However, many springs that are captured for the water supply dry up in the summer. Given that this is also a common phenomenon at springs not captured, it has to be expected that such environments will be inhabited by organisms that have already adjusted to these conditions. Many different bioindicators have been found to indicate a good chemical and quantitative state of groundwater. Conclusions To increase the degree of reliability, research monitoring has been proposed. The monitoring should reduce knowledge gaps including an increase of knowledge of the status of the ecosystems, the definition boundary conditions and threshold values of a good quantitative and qualitative status for individual ecosystems. In future prospects, unavoidable focus has to be climate change that may compromise the availability of groundwater resources.

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