Groundwater balance, safe yield and recharge feasibility in a semi-arid environment: A case study from western part of Iran

Abstract

In this study, detailed local geological, geophysical and hydrogeological investigations were carried out to delineate the architecture of different subsurface geological horizons using lithologs and generated vertical electrical sounding data. This study deals with the estimation of groundwater balance of the alluvial aquifer in Kangavar basin (West Iran), in order to assess the safe yield of the aquifer. The water-budget was calculated out using a developed computer program. The main water inputs and outputs were measured. It was calculated as, 91.1% of the total abstraction is consumed for agriculture supply. The present abstractions exceed both recharge and safe yield of the aquifer system, thus the aquifer is overexploited. The decrease in groundwater storage during the year 1982-2003 was estimated to be 12.23 Mm, representing an average yearly decline of 2.514 m of the water table. Attempt has also been made to delineate hydrogeological conditions of Kangavar basin to asses the feasibility of the application of artificial recharge, in order to restore the negative water balance. For this purpose hydrogeological, hydrological and geophysical data were obtained by field reconnaissance visit. Finally, some recommendations are proposed, in order to support a sustainable management of the groundwater resources in the basin. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.