The dilemma of choosing appropriate groundwater recharge estimation methods in Ethiopia: A systematic review of the existing methods

IF 4.9 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Groundwater for Sustainable Development Pub Date : 2024-10-15 DOI:10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101358

Atsbha Brhane Gebru , Tesfamichael Gebreyohannes , Gebrerufael Hailu Kahsay , Berhane Grum

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Abstract

Knowledge of groundwater recharge is a prerequisite for sustainable management of water resources. However, in Ethiopia, recharge estimation methodology remains haphazard regarding selection and application of various methods. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review commonly applied groundwater recharge estimation methods in Ethiopia, identify and analyze the main challenges and limitations that affect the reliability of recharge estimates, and suggest insights for future research. For this purpose, a systematic literature review is conducted focusing on Ethiopia and similar regions. About 87.8% of the reviewed studies have applied only one recharge estimation method. The selection of recharge estimation methods is mainly dependent on the availability of data regardless of their appropriateness to the actual field conditions and the inherent limitations of the methods. Comparatively, the WetSpass, SWAT, water table fluctuation (WTF), and chloride mass balance (CMB) techniques are frequently applied methods in a decreasing order of 20, 18, 13, and 12% respectively. Insufficient areal coverage of rainfall data, inaccurate estimates of evapotranspiration, low performance to simulate peak stream flow data, inadequacy of soil and rainfall chloride data, and misappropriation of recharge estimation methods to the actual field conditions are the main challenges for the rise of uncertainty of these methods. In general, recharge studies that have applied various recharge estimation techniques in Ethiopia have one limitation in common – i.e., failure to provide sufficient verification of results. Hence, this study shows that recharge estimations in Ethiopia are less reliable so that recharge values cannot be trusted to make robust water resources development plans. Therefore, selection of recharge estimation methods should rely on prior identification of recharge mechanisms and appropriation of the method to actual field conditions. The verification process should be accompanied by adequate field data measurements.

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埃塞俄比亚在选择适当的地下水补给估算方法方面的困境：对现有方法的系统审查

地下水补给知识是水资源可持续管理的先决条件。然而，在埃塞俄比亚，在选择和应用各种方法方面，补给量估算方法仍然杂乱无章。因此，本研究的目的是回顾埃塞俄比亚常用的地下水补给估算方法，确定并分析影响补给估算可靠性的主要挑战和局限性，并为未来研究提出见解。为此，我们以埃塞俄比亚和类似地区为重点，进行了系统的文献综述。约 87.8% 的综述研究只采用了一种补给估算方法。补给估算方法的选择主要取决于数据的可用性，而不考虑其是否适合实际的实地条件以及方法的固有局限性。相对而言，WetSpass、SWAT、地下水位波动（WTF）和氯化物质量平衡（CMB）技术是经常使用的方法，其使用率依次递减，分别为 20%、18%、13% 和 12%。降雨数据覆盖面积不足、蒸散量估算不准确、模拟峰值流量数据的性能较低、土壤和降雨氯化物数据不足以及补给估算方法与实际野外条件不匹配是这些方法不确定性增加的主要挑战。总的来说，在埃塞俄比亚采用各种补给估算技术进行的补给研究都有一个共同的局限性，即未能对结果进行充分验证。因此，本研究表明，埃塞俄比亚的补给估算不太可靠，补给值不能用于制定稳健的水资源开发计划。因此，在选择补给估算方法时，应事先确定补给机制，并将方法与实际的实地条件相适应。在验证过程中，应进行充分的实地数据测量。

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来源期刊

Groundwater for Sustainable Development Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development

CiteScore

11.50

自引率

10.20%

发文量

152

期刊介绍： Groundwater for Sustainable Development is directed to different stakeholders and professionals, including government and non-governmental organizations, international funding agencies, universities, public water institutions, public health and other public/private sector professionals, and other relevant institutions. It is aimed at professionals, academics and students in the fields of disciplines such as: groundwater and its connection to surface hydrology and environment, soil sciences, engineering, ecology, microbiology, atmospheric sciences, analytical chemistry, hydro-engineering, water technology, environmental ethics, economics, public health, policy, as well as social sciences, legal disciplines, or any other area connected with water issues. The objectives of this journal are to facilitate: • The improvement of effective and sustainable management of water resources across the globe. • The improvement of human access to groundwater resources in adequate quantity and good quality. • The meeting of the increasing demand for drinking and irrigation water needed for food security to contribute to a social and economically sound human development. • The creation of a global inter- and multidisciplinary platform and forum to improve our understanding of groundwater resources and to advocate their effective and sustainable management and protection against contamination. • Interdisciplinary information exchange and to stimulate scientific research in the fields of groundwater related sciences and social and health sciences required to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for sustainable development.