Seidl, C., Wheeler, S. A., & Page, D. (2024). Understanding the global success criteria for managed aquifer recharge schemes. Journal of Hydrology, 628, 130469.
Abstract: Water availability and quality issues will only gain importance in the future, with climate change impacts putting increasing pressure on global water resources. Dealing with these challenges requires drawing on all available water management tools, including Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR). Although MAR has seen increasing global implementation during the last half a century, it is still often overlooked as a management tool. While technical, bio-physical, and hydrogeological aspects of MAR are well researched, this cannot be said for socio-economic and other governance factors. Where information is available, this study seeks to understand the conditions necessary for MAR success. We apply fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis on 313 world MAR applications, and also model separately for high- and low-middle-income countries. Results show that sophisticated hydrogeological site understanding and scheme operation is paramount for MAR success, as is utilizing natural water sources for high value end uses. Successful high-income country MAR schemes tend to be large and utilize natural water sources and sophisticated water injection and treatment methods to augment potable water supply; while successful low-middle-income country schemes are not large, older than 20 years, and use gravity infiltration methods and (limited) no water treatment. These findings will help inform the future suitability of MAR application design and its likely success within various contexts.
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Marteleto, T. de P., Abreu, A. E. S. de, Barbosa, M. B., Yoshinaga-Pereira, S., Bertolo, R. A., & Enzweiler, J. (2024). Groundwater apparent ages and isotopic composition in Crystalline, Diabase and Tubarão aquifers contact area in Campinas, Southeastern Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 135, 104783.
Abstract: This study refines the hydrogeological conceptual model of an area with three interconnected aquifers, namely the Crystalline Aquifer System (CAS – igneous and metamorphic rocks), which is in contact with the Tubarão Aquifer System (TAS – sedimentary rocks) and the Diabase Aquifer System (DAS – diabase rocks). The detailed investigation involved geophysical logging and hydraulic and hydrodynamic characterization with straddle packers in a local tubular well, in which groundwater presents high uranium concentrations. Hydrogeochemical and isotope (δ2H, δ18O, 3H, δ13C, 14C) analysis in this well and in other three neighboring wells, with lower U concentrations, showed that ancient and modern waters (3H from <0.8 to 1.12 TU, 14C from 69.43 to 78.72 pMC) mix within the aquifer. During groundwater pumping, vertical fractures in the diabase aquifer possibly induce water mixing and recharge of the deeper levels of the aquifers from shallow layers. The high [U] are related to ancient waters from a confined aquifer hosted in CAS that reaches the wells through hydraulically active fractures located deeper than 159 m depth. Groundwater apparent ages do not increase systematically with depth, revealing a complex circulation model for CAS. The results obtained from the other wells, which are all located on drainage lineaments, reveal that one extracts modern water from DAS and TAS, another one extracts modern and ancient water from DAS and CAS, and the third extracts only ancient water from CAS, confirming the complexity of the local hydrogeology. Regarding regional groundwater management, the study revealed the need to characterize the sources of groundwater in each well, in order to protect modern waters from anthropogenic contamination and to protect ancient groundwater from overexploitation, as CAS hosts groundwaters recharged thousands of years ago or more.
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Pisa, P. F., Nehren, U., Sebesvari, Z., Rai, S., & Wong, I. (2024). Chapter 17 – Nature-based solutions to reduce risks and build resilience in mountain regions. In S. Schneiderbauer, P. F. Pisa, J. F. Shroder, & J. Szarzynski (Eds.), Safeguarding Mountain Social-Ecological Systems (pp. 115–126). Elsevier.
Abstract: Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as effective environmental-management measures to address societal challenges such as climate change, water and food security, and disaster risk reduction, thus contributing to human well-being and protecting biodiversity. In addition to being particularly susceptible to these challenges, mountain areas are prone to multihazard conditions, due to their steep topography and particular climatic conditions. NbS can contribute greatly to the sustainable development of mountain ecosystems. This chapter presents examples of NbS in mountain areas around the globe that demonstrate how this approach contributes to achieving sustainable development.
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Pham, H. C., & Alila, Y. (2024). Science of forests and floods: The quantum leap forward needed, literally and metaphorically. Science of The Total Environment, 912, 169646.
Abstract: A century of research has generated considerable disagreement on the effect of forests on floods. Here we call for a causal inference framework to advance the science and management of the effect of any forest or its removal on flood severity and frequency. The causes of floods are multiple and chancy and, hence, can only be investigated via a probabilistic approach. We use the stochastic hydrology literature to infer a blueprint framework which could guide future research on the understanding and prediction of the effects of forests on floods in environments where rain is the dominant form of precipitation. Drawing parallels from other disciplines, we show that the introduction of probability in forest hydrology could stimulate a gestalt switch in the science of forests and floods. In light of increasing flood risk caused by climate change, this probabilistic framework can help policymakers develop robust forest and water management plans based on a defensible and clear understanding of floods.
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Netzer, L., Kurtzman, D., Ben-Hur, M., Livshitz, Y., Katzir, R., & Nachshon, U. (2024). Novel approach to roof rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge in an urban environment: Dry and wet infiltration wells comparison. Water Research, 252, 121183.
Abstract: In urban environments there is a severe reduction of infiltration and groundwater recharge due to the existence of large impervious areas. During rain events, large volumes of water that could have recharged groundwater and surface water bodies are diverted into the municipal drainage system and lost from the freshwater storage. Moreover, extreme rain events impose high peak flows and large runoff volumes, which increase the risk of urban floods. Recent studies have suggested the use of rainwater harvesting for groundwater recharge, as a plausible solution for these challenges in dense urban environments. While the benefits of this approach are well understood, research on its practical, engineering, and hydrological aspects is relatively limited. The objective of the present study was to examine the use of infiltration wells for groundwater recharge with harvested rainwater collected from building rooftops under Mediterranean climate conditions. Two types of wells with similar hydraulic and technical properties were examined: a well that reaches the groundwater (wet well); and a well that discharges the harvested water into the unsaturated zone (dry well). Infiltration capacities of the wells were compared in controlled experiments conducted during summer months, and in operational recharge of harvested rainwater, during winter. Both dry and wet wells were found to be suitable for purposes of groundwater recharge with rooftop-harvested rainwater. Infiltration capacity of the wet well was about seven times greater than the infiltration capacity of the dry well. While the infiltration capacity of the wet well was constant throughout the entire length of the study (∼10 m3/h/m), the dry well infiltration capacity improved during winter (from 0.5 m3/h/m to 1.5 m3/h/m), a result of development of the dry well with time. Considering Tel-Aviv, Israel, as a case study for a dense modern city in a Mediterranean climate, it is demonstrated herein that the use of infiltration wells may reduce urban drainage by ∼40 %.
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