{"title":"Impacts of agricultural intensification on the hydrologic components for a coastal river basin using coupled hydrological model","authors":"Landa Sankarrao, Maheswaran Rathinasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the impacts of the changes in land use and cover (LULC) on the hydrological components was a prime factor for water resource management (SDG 6). Among the different LULC change patterns, agricultural intensification has recently been identified in various parts of the globe. The present study aims to understand the impacts of intensification of agricultural land use (Sankarrao et al.,2021) on the hydrological components within the Nagavali River Basin (NRB) catchment, India. In this context, the fully distributed hydrodynamic MIKESHE model was calibrated well from 2004 to 2014, with an NSE of 0.76 and 0.86 on daily and monthly time scales, respectively. Three scenarios were developed, namely baseline, past, and future scenarios, using three LULC maps of 1990, 2010, and 2030 to evaluate the impact of the intensification of agricultural land use on the hydrological components. The intensification of agricultural land use is due to the reduction in scrubland land use and forest land use (SDG 15) between 1990 to 2010 and 2010 to 2030, respectively. The annual average values of surface runoff, baseflow, and groundwater recharge were increased by 48.45 mm, 2.55 mm, and 22.45 mm, respectively, over the two comparison periods. On the other hand, a reduction of 59.55 mm was observed in the annual average AET at 59.55 mm/year. The Pearson correlation was used to identify the attribution of different LULC changes with hydrological components. The changes in agricultural land use positively correlate with changes in surface runoff, baseflow, and groundwater recharge, whereas actual evapotranspiration has a negative correlation. The spatial distribution of these hydrological component changes was identified at the sub-basin level. Overall, the results explained that the intensification of agricultural land use has increased surface runoff and groundwater recharge within the basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101440"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heavy metal pollution and hydrochemistry analysis of groundwater in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its health implications","authors":"Manisha Ghimire , Naina Byanjankar , Najma Bajracharya , Tejendra Regmi , Tista Prasai Joshi","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study conducted in Kathmandu Valley assessed water quality analyzing 50 water samples for hydrochemical parameters and heavy metals, employing rigorous quality control, data analysis with Origin software and ArcGIS, and various indices including Water Quality Index (WQI), Heavy Metals Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), and Environmental Water Quality Index (EWQI), with human health risks from heavy metal exposure through Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotients (HQ). Piper diagram signifies, most of the selective falls under Ca<sup>2+</sup>-Mg<sup>2+</sup>-HCO<sub>3</sub>ˉ composition indicates the temporary hardness. The heavy metal parameters follow the sequences of Fe > Mn > Zn > As > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd with the mean value below the National Drinking Water Quality Standards except for Fe and Mn, and substantially heterogeneous spatial distribution patterns with 60 % samples as high metal class. The WQI categorizes high levels of Mn, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, Fe, and Pb, while assigning lower weights to Cu and Cd based on standard values and relative weights. The WQI value shows a high significant positive correlation with other indices, while the HPI values exceeding 100 in all samples indicate that the water is unsafe for drinking. Furthermore, the study depicts non-carcinogenic health risks from heavy metal exposure beyond acceptable levels across all sites, emphasizing the need for stronger regulation and enforcement with the development of remedial strategies and rigorous health risk assessment to improve the quality and public health concerns in the studied valley and in similar regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101442"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alderlene Pimentel de Brito , Rodrigo Lilla Manzione , Ingo Daniel Wahnfried
{"title":"Groundwater dynamics and hydrogeological processes in the Alter do Chão Aquifer: A case study in Manaus, Amazonas – Brazil","authors":"Alderlene Pimentel de Brito , Rodrigo Lilla Manzione , Ingo Daniel Wahnfried","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fluctuations in groundwater levels can occur for several reasons related to hydrological, geological, climatic, or even anthropogenic influences due to aquifer exploitation and land use change. In Manaus, the capital of the State of Amazonas, in Brazil, the Alter do Chão Aquifer (ACA) is the main source for private water supply. The recent extreme droughts that affected the Amazon region confirmed the relevance and importance of the ACA water reserves, which must be better understood and studied to promote effective, balanced, and informed groundwater resources management. Even with a monitoring network spread over the city collecting continuous data, information about groundwater levels is not effectively used for water management purposes. Understanding the levels variations, the dynamics of groundwater and the factors that influence groundwater behaviour becomes fundamental in times of water crisis, scarcity, and intensification of extreme climatic events. The objective of this work was to understand the behaviour of groundwater levels in the ACA to determine the main factors influencing groundwater reserve fluctuations under different stresses. Four wells monitored between 2010 and 2023 were analysed using physical-based time series models. The models incorporated time series of precipitation, evapotranspiration, river stage and linear trends from climatological events that occurred in certain periods as multiple inputs and possible stresses in the ACA reserves. The results demonstrate that the ACA presents fast responses to climatological inputs. Even located in the same hydrogeological context, the wells reveal different responses to precipitation and evapotranspiration, the major factors of influence. Also, significant trends were found during El Niño (2014–2016) and La Niña (2020–2023) events. This information can be used for planning water use, understanding the mechanisms of recharge and discharge of groundwater, for drilling new wells and exploring new areas with potential for economic and social growth, in line with environmental preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101441"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143704232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oscar Guevara-Mansilla , Tomás A. Peña-Alonso , René Ventura-Houle , Salvador Ibarra-Martínez , Blanca Lizeth Cristobal-Francisco
{"title":"Delimitation of potential zones for groundwater recharge and discharge in the Guayalejo–Tamesi River Basin, southern Tamaulipas, Mexico","authors":"Oscar Guevara-Mansilla , Tomás A. Peña-Alonso , René Ventura-Houle , Salvador Ibarra-Martínez , Blanca Lizeth Cristobal-Francisco","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Guayalejo–Tamesi River Basin (GTB) has suffered from water scarcity mainly due to aquifer overexploitation, limited understanding of the surface water – groundwater relationship, and poor water resource management. Given this, appropriate land use can be a decisive factor in sustainable water management. In this context, the present study focuses on delineating potential groundwater recharge zones (PGRZ) and discharge zones (PGDZ) to achieve an overview of groundwater flow systems and thus preserve areas of hydrogeological importance. This analysis was conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS), integrating satellite data, geophysical information, and terrain surface characteristics. Based on these databases, ten hydrogeological variables were obtained and assessed using an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on Groundwater Flow System Theory (GFST) criteria. This resulted in two mathematical models estimating that 37.71 % and 11.78 % of the GTB exhibit PGRZ and PGDZ conditions, respectively. The models were validated by comparing the delineation of PGRZ and PGDZ with the locations of 222 springs and the chemistry of 30 groundwater samples, showing an accuracy of 75 % for the PGRZ calculation and 70 % for the PGDZ model. The model proved sufficiently accurate for identifying small PGRZ and PGDZ, thus providing a regional understanding of hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater flow dynamics at a local resolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101439"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Berenice Zapata-Norberto , Eric Morales-Casique , René Contreras-Galván , José A. Ramos-Leal
{"title":"Land subsidence in Mexico City: New insights from field data and numerical modeling","authors":"Berenice Zapata-Norberto , Eric Morales-Casique , René Contreras-Galván , José A. Ramos-Leal","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101432","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101432","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water supply to Mexico City relies mainly on groundwater from a regional aquifer overlain by highly compressible lacustrine sediments. Intensive pumping has originated land subsidence, threatening water supply and damaging urban infrastructure. A research site where the thickness of the aquitard reaches 100 m, was instrumented with piezometers, benchmarks and extensometers and monitored for 10 years. Data are analyzed to understand the main drivers and quantify their contribution to the process of land subsidence in Mexico City. Total settlement amounted to 3.661 m, at an average rate of 0.314 m/year. Increase in total stress due to new infrastructure built near the site (a highway) at the start of the monitoring period amounts for 35% of the observed total settlement; this deformation takes place from 0 to 36 m within the aquitard, where pore pressure maintained a hydrostatic distribution. Our analysis shows that the main driver for land subsidence is groundwater pumping from the regional aquifer as most of the deformation due to consolidation (2.128 m) was registered below a depth of 82 m. Since the thickness of the aquitard at the research site is 100 m, numerical simulation shows that most of this deformation most probably takes place at interbedded compressible lenses within the regional aquifer. Future modeling efforts in Mexico City need to consider this process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101432"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jino Lawrence , Narayanan Natarajan , Mohanadhas Berlin , Alagarsamy Vanav Kumar , Swapnali Doley , Vasudevan Mangottiri
{"title":"Temporal Fractionation Models for Depicting Mass Transfer Limiting Conditions of Multispecies Transport in Porous Media","authors":"Jino Lawrence , Narayanan Natarajan , Mohanadhas Berlin , Alagarsamy Vanav Kumar , Swapnali Doley , Vasudevan Mangottiri","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Numerical modeling is widely recognized as the most flexible and reliable method for predicting the flow and transport of contaminants in the sub-surface under highly heterogenous and complex environment. Many times, the classical advection-dispersion model needs to be customarily modified and solved in order to address these complexities in porous media at least in Darcy-scale domain. This is particularly crucial when different mass transfer processes happen at different rates and temporal scales. In an attempt to depict the limiting conditions of multispecies mass transfer within the temporal scales, the present study simulates the fractional mass transfer phenomena in porous media by considering different levels of time fractionation by solving a set of partial differential equations using finite difference method. The incorporation of the time fractionation provides new insights to the solute transport behavior in complex systems, highlighting the changes in the temporal concentration profiles and tailing phenomena. Further, the sensitivity of the flow and transport parameters such as flow velocity, dispersion coefficient, retardation coefficient and contaminant reaction rates are found to be enhanced within the flow domain. Based on the direct proportion observed between the time fractionation scale and the contaminant propagation level (in terms of peak and skewness), the present study postulates the significance of design and adjustment of suitable temporal fractionation for accurately profiling multi-species transport in different types of porous domains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101438"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143637544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arshad Ashraf, Muhammad Bilal Iqbal, Ali Kamran, Naveed Mustafa
{"title":"Prospecting high-altitude springs in the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan: Knowledge towards policy development","authors":"Arshad Ashraf, Muhammad Bilal Iqbal, Ali Kamran, Naveed Mustafa","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101437","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101437","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural springs form a significant source of clean water for a large number of mountain communities in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH) region. Adequate knowledge and understanding of this resource are lacking in this region where water demand has already been increased manifold owing to growing urbanization and climate change. In the present study, prospects of springs have been investigated under different physiographic conditions in the HKH region of Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan for sustainable water resource management. Among 3864 springs identified in the region, a maximum of about 14.9 % springs lie within 1500–2000 m elevation range followed by 14.8 % within 1000–1500 m and 14 % within 3500–4000 m range. A maximum of 1612 springs were observed over high mountains (>3000 m), followed by 927 springs over low mountains (1200–2000 m) and 842 over middle mountains (2000–3000 m). The spring density was observed maximum in the Himalaya (i.e., 0.05 springs/km<sup>2</sup>) followed by the Hindu Kush range (i.e., 0.04 springs/km<sup>2</sup>) and the Karakoram range (i.e., 0.01 springs/km<sup>2</sup>). Overall the density was found to be over 0.03 springs/km<sup>2</sup> in the three HKH ranges. The spring indicated a positive relationship with annual rainfall (R<sup>2</sup> value 0.79) highlighting the influence of rainfall in sustaining spring resource in the area. The adoption of an integrated water resource management approach and efficient water use are essential to sustain spring resource in this mountainous region. In-depth research on the hydrodynamic characteristics of springs is essential in the context of changing climate and land use to meet growing water demands and improve communities’ livelihoods in the HKH region in future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101437"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancing groundwater sustainability: Strategy combining hydro-chemical analysis, pollution mitigation, and community-based water resource governance","authors":"Kusam , Diksha Kumari , Shally Pandit, Pragati Sharma, Arindam Kuila","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review examines the impact of geochemical and human-induced processes on water composition, evaluates the potential of emerging technologies mainly machine learning for water quality assessment, and underscores the importance of community engagement in groundwater monitoring and management. Water quality is shaped by both natural factors, such as water-rock interactions, and anthropogenic activities, including agricultural practices. Understanding the geochemical factors that regulate water composition is critical for sustainable management. The study of groundwater chemistry, its evolution, and quality is pivotal for detecting changes and guiding effective management strategies. Machine learning techniques offer cost-efficient and reliable tools for evaluating water quality and identifying groundwater zones. A holistic approach to watershed management, emphasizing community involvement and the implementation of best practices, is vital to improving water quality and ensuring long-term sustainability. Additionally, supportive legal frameworks are necessary to promote community-driven efforts in protecting water resources, particularly through enhanced wastewater treatment and sanitation measures. This review aims to bridge the gap between the application of machine learning in water quality assessment and the crucial role of community engagement in monitoring and managing groundwater resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101433"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unveiling groundwater gems: A GIS-powered fusion of AHP and TOPSIS for mapping groundwater potential zones","authors":"S.K. Ray","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101431","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101431","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater is indispensable to various sectors like industry, households, and agriculture, yet its assessment remains critical. This research focuses on evaluating potential groundwater zones within the Jamsholaghat watershed, employing a robust geospatial approach. Twelve thematic maps, spanning factors influencing groundwater recharge, namely lithology, drainage density, distance from river, land use and land cover, lineament density, rainfall, hydrological soil group, roughness, geomorphology, topographic position index, slope, and topographic wetness index underwent a multicollinearity check for independence before integration using ArcGIS's weighted overlay analysis. Utilizing a combination of the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), each thematic map was ranked based on its relative significance in groundwater recharge. The resulting Groundwater Potential Zone (GPZ) map divided the region into high (40%), medium (52%), and low (8%) potential zones. Notably, the easternmost part emerged as the most conducive for recharge, attributed to factors like favorable lithology (laterite and quartz), geomorphological features (water bodies and flood plains), high rainfall, and gentle slope. This insight can inform targeted interventions for sustainable groundwater management. This practical information empowers water resource managers to prioritize exploration efforts. By focusing drilling activities on high-potential zones, success rates can increase, saving time, money, and minimizing environmental impact. Furthermore, understanding recharge-influencing factors can guide land-use practices that promote infiltration, ensuring the long-term sustainability of this vital resource. This research paves the way for informed decision-making, fostering sustainable groundwater management practices within the Jamsholaghat watershed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101431"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143488723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}