Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering

Ecological vulnerability assessment and driving force analysis of small watersheds in Hilly Regions using sensitivity-resilience-pressure modeling

Jing-tao Shi, Ge Gao, Jun-jian Liu, Yu-ge Jiang, Bo Li, Xiao-yan Hao, Jun-chao Zhang, Zhao-yi Li, Huan Sun

2025, 13(3): 209-224. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280050

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Pingquan City, the origin of five rivers, serves as the core water conservation zone for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and exemplifies the characteristics of small watersheds in hilly areas. In recent years, excessive mining and intensified human activities have severely disrupted the local ecosystem, creating an urgent need for ecological vulnerability assessment to enhance water conservation functions. This study employed the sensitivity-resilience-pressure model, integrating various data sources, including regional background, hydro-meteorological data, field investigations, remote sensing analysis, and socio-economic data. The weights of the model indices were determined using an entropy weighting model that combines principal component analysis and the analytic hierarchy process. Using the ArcGIS platform, the spatial distribution and driving forces of ecological vulnerability in 2020 were analyzed, providing valuable insights for regional ecological restoration. The results indicated that the overall Ecological Vulnerability Index (EVI) was 0.389, signifying moderate ecological vulnerability, with significant variation between watersheds. The Daling River Basin had a high EVI, with ecological vulnerability primarily in levels IV and V, indicating high ecological pressure, whereas the Laoniu River Basin had a low EVI, reflecting minimal ecological pressure. Soil type was identified as the primary driving factor, followed by elevation, temperature, and soil erosion as secondary factors. It is recommended to focus on key regions and critical factors while conducting comprehensive monitoring and assessment to ensure the long-term success of ecological management efforts.

Mechanisms of irrigation water recharge in the Kongque River Irrigation District of Xinjiang, China

Bin Ran, Wan-yu Zhang, Zai-yong Zhang, Ze-yu Wu

2025, 13(3): 225-236. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280051

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Understanding the infiltration process and quantifying recharge are critical for effective water resources management, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, factors influencing on recharge process under different land use types in irrigation districts remain unclear. In this study, a Brilliant Blue FCF dye tracer experiment was conducted to investigate infiltration pathways under the cotton field, pear orchard, and bare land conditions in the Kongque Rive Irrigation District of Xinjiang, China. Recharge rates were estimated using the chloride mass balance method. The results show that the average preferential flow ratio was highest in the bare land (50.42%), followed by the cotton field (30.09%) and pear orchard (23.59%). Matrix flow was the dominant infiltration pathway in the pear orchard and cotton field. Irrigation method was a primary factor influencing recharge rates, with surface irrigation promoting deeper infiltration compared to drip irrigation. Under the drip irrigation mode, the recharge of cotton fields ranged from 23.47 mm/a to 59.16 mm/a. In comparison, the recharge of surface irrigation in pear orchards contributed between 154.30 mm/a and 401.65 mm/a. These findings provide valuable insights into soil water infiltration and recharge processes under typical land use conditions in the Kongque River Irrigation District, supporting improved irrigation management and sustainable water resource utilization.

Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project?

Ming Guo, Yun Yang, Qian-kun Luo, Ying-chun Li, Hai-chun Ma, Jia-zhong Qian

2025, 13(3): 237-249. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280052

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Constructing impermeable curtains to contain contaminant in aquifers is a costly and complex process that can impact the structure integrity of aquifer systems. Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project? This study evaluates the necessity of impermeable curtains for groundwater contaminant remediation projects. Specifically, it considers remediation efforts based on the Pump and Treat (PAT) technique under various hydrogeological conditions and contaminant properties, comparing the total remediation cost and effectiveness. To further investigate, a multi-objective simulation and optimization model, utilizing the Multi-Objective Fast Harmony Search (MOFHS) algorithm, was employed to identify optimal groundwater remediation system designs that without impermeable curtains. Both a two-dimensional (2-D) hypothetical example and a three-dimensional (3-D) field example were used to assess the necessity of constructing impermeable curtains. The 2-D hypothetical example demonstrated that the installation of impermeable curtain is justified only when the dispersivity (α_L) of the contaminant reaches 100 meters. In most cases, particularly at sites with porosity (n) under 0.3, alternative, more cost-effective, and efficient remediation strategies may be available, making impermeable barriers unnecessary. The optimization results of the 3-D field example further corroborate the conclusions derived from the 2-D hypothetical example. These findings provide valuable guidance for more scientifically informed, reasonable, and cost-effective groundwater contaminant remediation projects.

Web-based tool for analyzing the seawater-freshwater interface using analytical solutions and SEAWAT code comparison

Asaad M. Armanuos, Mohamed Selmy, Hewida Omara, Bakenaz A. Zeidan, Sobhy R. Emara

2025, 13(3): 250-267. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280053

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Saltwater Intrusion (SI) poses a significant environmental threat to freshwater resources in coastal aquifers globally. The primary objective of this research is to illustrate the variations in the saltwater-freshwater interface using several established analytical solutions, integrated within a user-friendly web-based tool. Three case studies, including a hypothetical unconfined coastal aquifer, an experimental coastal aquifer, and a real-world coastal aquifer in Gaza, were applied to examine the interface dynamics using the developed tool, built with JavaScript. To simulate variable-density flow within the Gaza coastal aquifer, the public domain code SEAWAT was employed. The resulting lengths of seawater intrusion, as simulated by SEAWAT and the observed toe length, were compared with those obtained from the web-based analytical solutions under both constant head and constant flux boundary conditions. This comparison demonstrated a strong correlation between the experimental results, SEAWAT model outputs, and analytical solutions. This research provides valuable insights into SI in coastal aquifers, with a specific focus on the impact of Sea Level Rise (SLR) on the shifting position of the seawater intrusion toe. The outcomes are presented through an accessible web-based interface, thereby promoting broader dissemination and practical application of the research outcomes.

Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Marsa Bahiraie, Seiyed Mossa Hosseini, Bahareh Hossein-Panahi

2025, 13(3): 268-285. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280054

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Water scarcity in Khuzestan Province, Iran, has attracted growing concerns despite the region's abundant water resources. The province predominantly relies on surface water, prompting an assessment of groundwater's potential to supplement water supplies during surface water shortages. This study assesses the province's groundwater availability and quality under increased exploitation conditions. Between 2008 and 2018, data on groundwater quantity and quality were collected from 204 exploration wells and 70 piezometric wells across 19 aquifers. The analysis revealed that 53% of aquifers in the eastern and northeastern regions experienced declining groundwater levels. Hydrochemical assessments indicated low concentrations of major ions in the northeastern, while high levels were observed from the central region towards the southeast. These variations were attributed to agricultural and industrial activities, seawater intrusion, and the influences of evaporation and geological factors. The dominant hydrochemical facies identified were of the Ca-Cl type. Water quality classification showed that 48% of groundwater samples fell within the C4S4-C4S1 category, primarily in the western, central, and southern regions, while 27% were classified as C3S2, C3S1, and 25% as C2S1, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. The Irrigation WWater Quality (IWQ) index indicated that many samples were suitable for irrigation. Additionally, the analysis potable groundwater was primarily found in the northern, northeastern, and eastern aquifers, with quality declining toward the south. The study highlights that certain aquifers in the northern and eastern regions offer greater potential for sustainable groundwater exploitation during water shortages. These findings provide valuable insights for on how to implement effective land and water management strategies to mitigate future water crises.

Dynamic evolution characteristics and influencing mechanisms of groundwater in the Zoige Plateau

Yong Liu, An-bang Huang, Hao Liu, Bo Peng, Xin Zhang, Qinqin HUANG

2025, 13(3): 286-300. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280055

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The Zoige Plateau, situated on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, exhibits complex groundwater dynamics influenced by alpine hydrological processes and climatic variability. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater in the Zoige alpine basin from 2002 to 2024 using an integrated approach that combines in-situ monitoring, GRACE satellite observations, and GLDAS model outputs. Using the Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) method alongside conventional statistical techniques, we identified both seasonal fluctuations and long-term depletion trends. Groundwater levels exhibited clear wet–dry season contrasts and a cumulative decline of up to 2.3 m in grassland flatlands, corresponding to a long-term depletion rate of 0.4 cm/a as indicated by GRACE-derived groundwater storage. The most significant declines occurred in grassland zones, driven by wetland degradation and elevated evapotranspiration, while mountain regions showed slower losses (~0.1 cm/a) primarily supported by sustained snowmelt recharge. Through the integration of multi-source datasets, this study highlights the spatial heterogeneity and key drivers of groundwater variation, providing a robust framework for sustainable groundwater management under climatic and anthropogenic pressures in alpine wetland systems.

Origin and risk assessment of natural radioactivity in groundwater from the Eastern Gonghe Basin, Tibetan Plateau

Zhao-xuan Niu, Zhi-hui Deng, Xue Niu, Dong-fang Chen, Gui-lin Zhu, Wen-hao Xu, Lin-you Zhang, Qing-da Feng

2025, 13(3): 301-311. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280056

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This study systematically investigates natural radioactivity in groundwater from the densely populated eastern Gonghe Basin in Qinghai Province, aiming to reveal its spatial distribution, origins, and potential health risks. The characteristics of gross-α and gross-β activities, as well as the concentrations of nuclide including ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ²²⁶Ra, have been investigated in groundwater samples from 12 groups encompassing various types such as hot springs and artesian wells across different aquifer systems. Correlation analysis and dose estimation models were applied to preliminary estimate the radiation exposure to local residents and to explore the genesis and hazards of natural radioactivity in groundwater. Results indicate that overall groundwater radioactivity in the Gonghe Basin remains within acceptable limits, with mean gross-α and gross-β activity concentrations of 0.32 Bq/L and 0.27 Bq/L, respectively. Approximately 83.33% of samples comply with relevant national standards. However, two fault-controlled high-temperature spring samples exhibited gross-α activity exceeding regulatory limits, with one also showing elevated gross-β activity surpassing China's Class III groundwater quality standards for radioactivity. Furthermore, single-radionuclide α radioactivity from ²³⁰Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Po, and ²³²Th exceeded regulatory thresholds in some samples, suggesting potential long-term health risks. While most samples complied with effective dose limits, four showed ²¹⁰Po α radioactivity exceedances within controllable risk ranges. The findings suggest that groundwater radioactivity in the region is primarily controlled by geological structures, lithology, and hydrothermal conditions, with fault zones and high-temperature environments serving as key factors in radionuclide enrichment. This research provides scientific foundation for the sustainable development of geothermal resources and the prevention of radioactive water contamination. Continuous monitoring of high-radioactivity hot springs and prudent resource utilization are recommended.

A review of factors affecting the performance and impact of managed aquifer recharge projects: Insights from arid regions

Ali Al-Maktoumi

2025, 13(3): 312-340. doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280057

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Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a strategic approach to artificially replenishing groundwater supplies and has become an integral component of global water resource management. The number of MAR projects has steadily increased in recent decades, yet many have failed to achieved their intended outcomes, underscoring the complexity of project implementation. This review is dedicated to examine existing research and reports on MAR performance and impacts, aiming to establish objective criteria for gauging the success and identify key factors influencing the effectiveness of MAR project. Five critical performance factors have been identified as major determinants of MAR performance: aquifer transmissivity, vertical permeability, availability of recharge water, recharge water quality, and aquifer thickness, geometry and boundary conditions. These factors are directly related to project success and significantly shape MAR outcomes. In addition, this review explores research-based strategies to improve MAR success, including cutting-edge methodologies, technological innovations, and integrated management approaches to address key challenges. The ultimate goal is to foster more efficient, effective, and sustainable MAR practices, thereby enhancing the resilience and sustainability of water resource management.

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2025 Vol. 13, No. 3

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