Decline in Iran’s groundwater recharge

Abstract

Groundwater recharge feeds aquifers supplying fresh-water to a population over 80 million in Iran—a global hotspot for groundwater depletion. Using an extended database comprising abstractions from over one million groundwater wells, springs, and qanats, from 2002 to 2017, here we show a significant decline of around −3.8 mm/yr in the nationwide groundwater recharge. This decline is primarily attributed to unsustainable water and environmental resources management, exacerbated by decadal changes in climatic conditions. However, it is important to note that the former’s contribution outweighs the latter. Our results show the average annual amount of nationwide groundwater recharge (i.e., ~40 mm/yr) is more than the reported average annual runoff in Iran (i.e., ~32 mm/yr), suggesting the surface water is the main contributor to groundwater recharge. Such a decline in groundwater recharge could further exacerbate the already dire aquifer depletion situation in Iran, with devastating consequences for the country’s natural environment and socio-economic development.

Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development

“…The depletion of groundwater reserves across Iran is a critical issue impacting aquifers and freshwater supply. A sharp decline in groundwater recharge by approximately 3.8 mm per year between 2002 and 2017 poses a grave threat to providing freshwater to Iran’s population of over 80 million 42 . Groundwater recharge averaging around 40 mm per year surpasses the reported annual surface runoff of approximately 32 mm per year in Iran, emphasizing the vital role of surface waters in recharge.…”

“…Groundwater recharge averaging around 40 mm per year surpasses the reported annual surface runoff of approximately 32 mm per year in Iran, emphasizing the vital role of surface waters in recharge. This decline in groundwater recharge within the Mashhad Plain may exacerbate an already critical situation, necessitating urgent water management actions to mitigate environmental and socio-economic repercussions 42 .…”

A Conceptual Framework for Modeling Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Diesel Attenuation Capacity: A Case Study across Namyangju, South Korea

“…Each data point is treated as a bin and contains the attenuation capacity information for an exact location at a specific time. A z-score, p-value, and hot spot classification calculated on the basis of the Getis-Ord Gi* statistics will be added to each bin, which is then reanalyzed using Mann-Kendall statistics, which has been widely used in temporal trend analysis within hydrologic and climatological studies [36][37][38][39][40]. The outputs are the hot/cold spot trend over space and time.…”

Total Dissolved Solids Risk Assessment and Optimisation Scheme of Managed Aquifer Recharge Projects in a Karst Area of Northern China

“…Most of the precipitation and evapotranspiration occur from June to September. Atmospheric rainfall is typically the primary source of groundwater [30]. Geographically, the study area is delineated by the Mashan Fault to the west, the Dongwu Fault to the east, the lower reaches of the Zhangxia Formation within the Middle Cambrian system to the south, and an igneous rock formation to the north.…”