Groundwater for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Assessing the effects of ENSO-induced climate variability on shallow coastal groundwater reserves of north Patagonia, Argentina","authors":"Mattia Gaiolini ,&nbsp;Rosario Acosta ,&nbsp;Eleonora Carol ,&nbsp;Nicolò Colombani","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, a statistical correlation analysis, integrating climatic indices and numerically calculated hydrological datasets, was used to assess the impact of climate patterns and meteorological variability (identified by ONI and SPEI, respectively) on a coastal aquifer in a semi-arid area of Patagonia. To estimate aquifer groundwater levels and flows changes over the 56 years period (1967–2022) under analysis, a 3D numerical flow model was implemented, calibrated against observed piezometric heads and validated using remote sensing data from the GRACE mission. Results highlighted the role of meteoric recharge and evapotranspiration in shaping the water budget, highly affecting the piezometric fluctuation over the simulation. The statistical correlation showed a weak positive association between GW levels and both ONI and SPEI, indicating that climate and meteorological variability are exerting a slight but noticeable influence on groundwater dynamics. Moreover, an increasing seawater inflow from the ocean and tidal channels was observed due to decreasing meteoric recharge and this climate change-driven shift in water exchange dynamics could potentially increase salinization risk in the low-lying areas of this coastal aquifer. The developed methodology could help a proper water resource management in a coastal region where groundwater is the only source of supply for residents, providing useful information for studying groundwater resources in other coastal areas of Patagonia and the world that face similar water problems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101427"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143454545","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}

{"title":"Groundwater vulnerability assessment using modified DRASTIC method with integrated hydrological model","authors":"Chanchai Petpongpan,&nbsp;Chaiwat Ekkawatpanit,&nbsp;Duangrudee Kositgittiwong","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Since groundwater is a finite resource, assessing its vulnerability to pollution is crucial for sustainable management. Contamination poses a significant threat, potentially degrading both the quality and quantity of available groundwater. To enhance the efficiency of this vital tool in subsurface water management, this study aims to propose the approach integrating index-based vulnerability assessment (DRASTIC-L) with fully coupled surface water-groundwater model (SWAT-MODFLOW). Various thematic layers regarding hydrogeological characteristics and land use of the Yom and Nan River basins are analyzed and overlaid to calculate the weighted index as well as identify vulnerability classes. DRASTIC-L components (depth to water table, recharge, and hydraulic conductivity) are directly simulated by SWAT-MODFLOW, instead of using interpolated observation data. As a result, the high consistency between simulated river discharges and groundwater levels with observed data implies a high degree of accuracy in the vulnerability parameters obtained from the model. DRASTIC-L index ranges from 61 to 221, classifying the study area into four vulnerability categories: low (&lt;100), moderate (100–140), high (140–200), and very high (&gt;200). 15.8% of the watershed exhibits low susceptibility, while moderate susceptibility characterizes 36.9%. Notably, 42.4% of the area falls within the highly susceptible category, highlighting potential contamination risks. Very highly susceptible zones comprise a smaller portion (4.7%) of the watershed. Moreover, Nitrate concentration data shows spatial congruence with areas designated as highly vulnerable. By providing a more accurate characterization of aquifer vulnerability, this approach can inform decision-makers in developing targeted and efficient plans to protect both groundwater quantity and quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101416"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143474062","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":"An ensemble machine learning approach for predicting groundwater storage for sustainable management of water resources","authors":"Mohammed Sakib Uddin ,&nbsp;Bijoy Mitra ,&nbsp;Khaled Mahmud ,&nbsp;Syed Masiur Rahman ,&nbsp;Shakhawat Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Muhammad Muhitur Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting groundwater storage (GWS) is essential for sustainable water resource management, especially in regions with water scarcity. This study proposes an ensemble machine learning (EML) approach (i.e., Bagging, XGBoost, and CatBoost) leveraging the Landsat-derived parameters to forecast GWS due to the limited availability of field observations. This modeling framework captures complex relationships between socioeconomic and environmental variables and groundwater storage in Chittagong City. Multiple indices, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), and urban heat island (UHI), were utilized in the models. A digital elevation model (DEM), nighttime light (NTL), and nearest distance to water bodies from streamline data were used to investigate their impact on GWS. The empirical Bayesian kriging (EBK) method was used to downscale the GWS and NTL data. The outputs of the models were evaluated using statistical indicators such as the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), and Willmott's indicator of agreement (WIA). The Bagging and CatBoost models had higher R² and lower RMSE values (R² &gt; 0.965, RMSE &lt;1.604 mm) during the summer, while the XGBoost and CatBoost models performed better (R² &gt; 0.966, RMSE &lt;1.686 mm) in the winter. The results demonstrated that the utilization of Landsat metrics had the potential to serve as the predictive factors for estimating GWS. The proposed modeling framework can be used to predict GWS in regions with limited data, which will help policymakers, urban planners, and environmental organizations develop sustainable groundwater management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101417"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143430339","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":"Pyrethroids in groundwater near the Citarum River: Insights into ecological and health risks","authors":"Nurul Fahimah ,&nbsp;Indah Rachmatiah Siti Salami ,&nbsp;Mariska Margaret Pitoi ,&nbsp;Dwina Roosmini ,&nbsp;Diana Rahayuning Wulan ,&nbsp;Katharina Oginawati ,&nbsp;Haryo Mubiarto ,&nbsp;Oman Rohman","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101422","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101422","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While pyrethroid presence in rivers in Indonesia, particularly the Citarum River, has been reported, no studies have documented its occurrence in groundwater. This study is the first to report pyrethroid contamination in groundwater in Indonesia. We examine the distribution of pyrethroid concentrations in groundwater near the Citarum River in relation to distance from the river and evaluate the associated ecological and health risks. Of the nine pyrethroids tested, five were detected in Citarum River samples, and all were found in groundwater well samples, exceeding the maximum permissible concentration. Allethrin and β-cyfluthrin were detected in all water samples at concentrations of 101–264 ng/L and 12–58 ng/L, respectively. Although allethrin concentrations decreased with increasing distance from the river and increased with decreasing elevation, no significant correlation was found between distance, elevation, and allethrin concentrations. No distinct pattern was observed for β-cyfluthrin in river and groundwater samples. Additionally, neither allethrin nor β-cyfluthrin showed a significant correlation with proximity to agricultural areas, indicating that contamination sources may not be solely related to agricultural activities. Ecological risk assessment revealed that pyrethroid contamination poses a significant ecological threat to the Citarum River (Total Risk Quotient (TRQ) ≥ 1). However, total non-carcinogenic risk levels for pyrethroids in all groundwater samples were below 1, indicating no non-cancer health risks. These findings highlight the need for further research on pyrethroid dynamics and land-use interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101422"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143445378","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":"Zambezi River Basin aquifer systems: Opportunities and challenges in using freely available data sources and groundwater flow modelling for spatial exploratory analysis","authors":"Kawawa Banda ,&nbsp;Ezio Crestaz ,&nbsp;Roman Seliger ,&nbsp;Haile Mengistu ,&nbsp;James Sauramba ,&nbsp;Marciano Saraiva","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A groundwater flow model was implemented over the Zambezi River Basin using the state-of-the-art DHI-WASY finite element code Feflow. The analysis was based upon different freely available datasets that include a hydrologically consistent digital elevation model from HYDROSHEDS, the BGS (British Geological Survey) quantitative hydrogeological maps, and the regional hydrogeological SADC-GMI database. The model implementation was aimed at: (i) to identify and analyse challenges and limitations (data scarcity, accuracy of regional datasets, impact of geological, tectonic and hydrogeological complexity on model reliability) in applying groundwater flow modelling at basin scale; (ii) to perform an exploratory spatial analysis with reference to the magnitude and spatial distribution of effective recharge, aquifers’ properties and interlinks between surface water and aquifer systems (surface water – groundwater interactions). High uncertainty is generally associated with the estimation of hydrological and hydrogeological parameters, whose high spatial variability is not necessarily captured by the regional data products. This study evaluates how integrating freely available datasets (such as the DEM, BGS maps) influences model accuracy and uncertainty, particularly in terms of parameter estimation. The findings illustrates that, despite the limitations, freely available datasets can still effectively be used to develop a groundwater model that captures regional piezometric trends and provides insights into spatial variability. This demonstrates the potential for using such models in similar data-scarce regions. The modeling approach is expected to provide valuable quantitative insights into groundwater trends and variability, helping to identify key areas of uncertainty and guiding future data collection and model refinement efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101421"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143430338","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":"Implications of multi-decadal land use changes on groundwater regime in tropical coastal regions","authors":"Ananya Muduli,&nbsp;Pallavi Banerjee Chattopadhyay","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study investigates Odisha's coastal regions, analyzing Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes from 2009 to 2023 and their impact on land surface temperature (LST) and groundwater quality index (GWI) under increasing anthropogenic pressures. The findings revealed a 6.6% rise in built-up areas, a 25.6% increase in agricultural land, and a 4.2% decline in vegetation, with Kappa accuracies exceeding 80%. These changes corresponded to a 1.5 °C rise in mean LST. Hydrogeochemical analysis of 257 groundwater samples from Scenario 1 (2016–2017) and Scenario 2 (2022–2023) showed significant changes in water chemistry. Piper and Chadha diagrams indicated a transition from Na⁺-Cl⁻ to mixed Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-Cl⁻ and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃⁻ facies, reflecting a shift from saline to mixed water types and freshwater recharge. Despite this trend, scatter plots and molar ratios identified multiple contamination sources, particularly from anthropogenic activities. The GWI revealed that approximately 50% of the region falls into “poor” to “unsuitable” categories for drinking water, attributed to high levels of K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻ in Scenario 1 and K⁺, HCO₃⁻, Na⁺, pH, and TH in Scenario 2, supported by ANOVA analysis. The increasing strong correlation between K⁺ and GWI further confirms the rise in agricultural activity. Gibbs diagram highlights rock-water interaction as the primary factor, with evaporation as secondary. The Ca²⁺ vs. SO₄²⁻ scatter plot highlighted carbonate weathering, contributing to increased groundwater hardness. TDS vs. TH correlation (&gt;0.77) indicated worsening groundwater quality, with more samples transitioning to \"very hard\" and \"brackish\" categories. In contrast, strong correlations between TDS and Na⁺, Cl⁻ (&gt;0.8) further confirmed increased salinity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed positive GWI and negative LULC loadings, linking urbanization and agricultural expansion to groundwater quality degradation. This study proposes sustainable water management (SDGs) strategies to fulfill SDGs 3, 6, and 11 enhancing coastal water resilience and public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101419"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143430340","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":"Assessing seawater intrusion impact on groundwater quality in El-Omayed aquifers, Mediterranean coast, Egypt using hydrogeochemical and chemometric analyses","authors":"Mohammed I.A. Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. El-Sawy ,&nbsp;Ahmed R. Elgendy ,&nbsp;Hossam M. El-Sayed ,&nbsp;Laila A. Mohamed ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Aly-Eldeen","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater, a vital freshwater source, faces threats from natural and human-induced factors, particularly seawater salinization in coastal aquifers. This study assesses the impacts of seawater intrusion and heavy metals (HMs) on groundwater quality (11 aquifers and 2 drains) in Egypt's El-Omayed area along the Mediterranean coast. Several parameters were measured including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), major ions, and seven HMs. Seawater intrusion, geochemical mechanisms, and hydrochemical faces of water, were evaluated by ion deviations (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>D</mi><mi>j</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>), Piper, Gibbs and Chadha plots, and various ionic ratios. The water quality indices (WQI, EWQI, and impWQI), and heavy metal pollution index were employed to assess water suitability for drinking, while EC, total hardness (TH), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI), etc., were used to evaluate water suitability for irrigation. The results indicated that Na–Cl hydrochemical facies were predominant, suggesting significant salinization, and the ion-exchange mechanisms (dissolution-evaporation) influenced by seawater intrusion regulate the groundwater geochemistry. Seawater fractions (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>f</mi><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>a</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>%) ranging from 0.012% to 20.89%, along with the positive mixing ratios (<span><math><mrow><mo>Δ</mo><msub><mi>m</mi><mi>i</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>) of <span><math><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>N</mi><mi>a</mi></mrow><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msup><mi>K</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow></math></span> in all stations, indicates significant ion addition due to seawater intrusion. Although HM concentrations (Fe &gt; Zn &gt; Ni &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Mn &gt; Cd) within the WHO permissible levels for drinking, the high EC and TDS values suggest substantial saltwater intrusion. WQI, EWQI, and impWQI ranged from 86.53 to 1203.04, 89.14 to 1091.02, and 93.81 to 813.70, respectively, categorizing ∼60% of stations as “very poor,” 1–15% as “poor,” 15–23% as “moderate,” and 1% as “good”. According to FAO, about 38% of stations exhibit moderate hardness (75 &lt; EC &lt; 150), while 69% are permissible for irrigation (EC &lt; 3000). The majority of samples are unsuitable with SAR&gt;12; however, the PI% suggests suitability with PI &gt; 75. Overall, most groundwater in the El-Omayed area is unsuitable for drinking and irrigation without pre-treatment, highlighting the urgent need for effective management and remediation to mitigate seawater intrusion and enhance water quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419504","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":"Assessment of potentially harmful elements in surface and groundwater from the granito-gneissic aquiferous formations in Bertoua city and environs, East Region, Cameroon, Central Africa: Effects on human health","authors":"Sharon Ntube Ngwese ,&nbsp;Hassina Mouri ,&nbsp;Richard Ayuk II. Akoachere ,&nbsp;Jennifer McKinley ,&nbsp;Carla Candeias","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study of Bertoua city and its environs, in the East Region of Cameroon (4.46–4.6° N, 13.64–13.8° E) was to assess potentially harmful elements in surface and groundwater sources and their potential health risks, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, ensuring good health and SDG 6, ensuring clean water and sanitation. Thirty water samples were analysed for the presence of major ions: Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻, N0₃^-, and Cl⁻ using ion chromatography (IC) during both the wet and dry seasons, and PHEs including Al, Si, Se, Fe, Cr, Co, and Cu using inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) during the dry season. Results indicated high NO₃⁻ and Al above the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization. In groundwater, NO₃⁻ concentrations ranged from 0 to 643.5 mg/L in the wet season and 0–705.4 mg/L in the dry season, while Al concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 1.79 mg/L: both above the World Health Organization limit. In surface water, NO₃⁻ concentrations ranged from 152.71 to 188 mg/L in the wet season and 143.3–166.5 mg/L in the dry season, while Al concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.12 mg/L both above the same drinking water standard. The water types were Na⁺-K⁺-SO₄^2-, Ca²⁺-HCO₃^-, Ca²⁺-SO₄^2- and Ca²⁺-Cl^-, with simple dissolution and ion exchange responsible for them. Rock weathering was the dominant hydrogeochemical process controlling groundwater chemistry with minimal influence from atmospheric precipitation. Contamination inputs were from anthropogenic and geogenic sources. Calculated HQ_oral for males, females and children were greater than one (HQ_oral &gt; 1) for NO₃⁻, Al, Se, and Fe with children having higher values compared to the other demographic age groups due to a larger body-size-to-volume ratio. The HQ_dermal values were low and below the safe limit of 1 for all demographic groups, indicating no health risks to the population from dermal exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101420"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419505","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":"Seasonal variability of arsenic concentrations in irrigation water and its impact on arsenic accumulation in agriculture soils: A study from Bengal Delta","authors":"Sandip Kumar Mohakud,&nbsp;Syed Hilal Farooq","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic geogenic contaminant present in groundwater globally. The Bengal Delta (jointly Bangladesh and West Bengal, India) is considered as one of the worst As affected areas. The present study investigates (i) the extent of As contamination in the irrigation wells, (ii) its seasonal variability, and (iii) understanding the As accumulation in agriculture soils in the Bengal Delta. For this purpose, 68 irrigation wells (34 shallow and 34 deep) were sampled during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, and thus, a total of 204 water samples were collected. Additionally, top-soil samples (15 cm) and paddy plant (grain, leaf and stem) samples were collected from 6 paddy-cultivating agricultural fields and analysed for As concentrations. The samples were analysed for various physicochemical parameters, major ions and trace elements, including As and iron. Two-way ANOVA test suggests that significant variation in As concentration only across seasons and the As concentration ranges from &lt;1 μg/L to 197 μg/L. This highlights the role of seasonal redox conditions in mobilizing As from sediments into the groundwater. In the Piper plot, both the deep and shallow groundwater falls in Ca-HCO₃ type and do not show any significant seasonal variation in hydrochemical facies. Further, silicate and carbonate weathering have been identified as major contributors to groundwater solute composition.</div><div>The As concentrations in the irrigation water and in different parts of the paddy plant were utilized for As budgeting in the agricultural soils for the last 50 years. The calculated (21.48 mg/kg) As values in soils closely align with the measured values (21.29 mg/kg) indicating a gradual build-up of As in the agricultural system through irrigation water over the last 50 years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101415"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509230","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":"A review of drivers contributing to unsustainable groundwater consumption in Pakistan","authors":"Faizan ul Hasan ,&nbsp;Bareerah Fatima","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater depletion in Pakistan, particularly in the Indus Basin, poses a severe threat to agricultural sustainability, water security, and economic stability. Over the past few decades, groundwater extraction has surged dramatically, with the number of tube wells increasing by 1500% from 1975 to 2021, reaching 1.4 million. Currently, groundwater supplies 60% of irrigation water, 90% of domestic water, and 100% of industrial water. However, this extensive reliance has resulted in significant water table declines, especially in canal command areas and urban centers. This study synthesizes insights from scientific literature, policy documents, and technical reports to examine the key drivers contributing to unsustainable groundwater consumption in Pakistan. Weak governance structures, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and increasing agricultural water demand—where five major crops (rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, and maize) consume 85% of total water resources while contributing less than 5% to GDP—have led to unchecked groundwater exploitation. The historic 80.3 billion cubic meters (BCM) of annual recharge in the upper Indus plain is now outpaced by extraction, exacerbating the crisis. Climate variability, including a 19% reduction in surface water irrigation area from 2003 to 2021, has further increased reliance on groundwater. Despite some recent policy efforts, such as the Punjab Water Act (2019) and KP Water Act (2020), enforcement remains weak due to institutional constraints and political barriers. There is an urgent need for adaptive groundwater governance, integrating scientific knowledge, regulatory mechanisms, and technological innovations. A transition from an open-access regime to a regulated system, supported by robust monitoring and data-sharing mechanisms, is critical for long-term sustainability. This review highlights urgent policy gaps and provides recommendations to strengthen groundwater governance in Pakistan and other regions facing similar challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101414"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143373068","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}