Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Abstract

Abstract:In recent years, many researchers have devoted their efforts to finding an objective measurement of sustainability by developing evaluation tools based on sustainability indices. These indexes not only reveal the current state of water resources in a given area but also contribute to the development and implementation of effective sustainable water management and decision-making. The great disadvantage of these indices is that for proper application, a number of variables are necessary and they are usually not available in data-scarce aquifers. This study was designed to evaluate sustainability in groundwater resource management in an aquifer in a semiarid zone, using readily available parameters and under a pressure-state-response framework. This methodology has been applied to an aquifer in Southeast Spain with satisfactory results, since the indicators that were evaluated reflect the two main problems that hinder sustainable resource management: the contamination of groundwater by intensive local farming; and the need for external inputs from other basins to alleviate water stress. Therefore, the methodology used can be replicated in other areas with similar characteristics to those of the case study. OPEN ACCESSWater 2015, 7 4306

Assessing the Impact of Best Management Practices in a Highly Anthropogenic and Ungauged Watershed Using the SWAT Model: A Case Study in the El Beal Watershed (Southeast Spain)

“…The Segura River Basin, in the southeast of Spain, lies between latitude 39 • 00 -37 • 00 N and longitude 2 • 50 -0 • 40 W. The study site, El Beal watershed, is located in the southeast part of Segura River Basin within the area known as Campo de Cartagena (Figure 1), which is one of the main horticultural producers in Europe [22] and is characterized by an intensive agriculture and torrential rainfall regime. Water scarcity has resulted in the use of drip irrigation and the need to make efficient use of water [23]. Moreover, the southern portion of Campo de Cartagena was a very active mining region for hundreds of years, although the area is currently abandoned [24].…”

Using Machine-Learning Algorithms for Eutrophication Modeling: Case Study of Mar Menor Lagoon (Spain)

“…Tourism and agriculture along the shoreline of the Mar Menor lagoon are a very important activity for the local economy. The drainage area of the lagoon, known as Campo de Cartagena, is a long plain of more than 1600 km 2 with non-permanent, but abundant surface watercourses that collect the sparse, but intense rainfall [37]. Campo de Cartagena is characterized by intensive agriculture, and its southern zone was a very active mining region for hundreds of years, although this area is currently abandoned [38].…”

Long Term Hydrodynamic Effects in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Multilayer Aquifer: Campo de Cartagena in South-Eastern Spain

“…In the middle of the 19th century, several authors mentioned the existence of an artesian basin in the Campo de Cartagena, and in the early 20th century, several more commented on the drilling of artesian wells due to mining research [27]. In recent hydrogeological studies, researchers have addressed the groundwater problems of Campo de Cartagena from several perspectives, including sustainable management of groundwater based on sustainability indexes [28]; contamination between aquifers [18]; and recharge of the Campo de Cartagena aquifer [7,29].…”