Groundwater vulnerability to pollution in karst aquifers, considering key challenges and considerations: application to the Ubrique springs in southern Spain

Marín, Ana Isabel; Rodríguez, José Francisco Martín; Barberá, Juan Antonio; Fernández-Ortega, Jaime; Mudarra, Matías; Sánchez, Daniela García; Andreo, Bartolomé

doi:10.1007/s10040-020-02279-8

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The measured parameters' data in real-time monitoring should be uploaded to an online database. Based on obtained data, the appropriate algorithm would continuously assess the potential risk of contamination and automatically validate its forecasting in near-real time and give a warning about the risk of contamination for spring water quality [52].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring as the Key Factor for Sustainable Use and Protection of Groundwater in Karst Environments—An Overview

Stevanović

Stevanović²

2021

Sustainability

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As a specific type of landscape and aquifer, karst is developed in soluble carbonate and evaporitic rocks and is of great importance for humanity. It covers more than 15% of Earth’s ice-free land and its aquifers provide about 10% of the world population’s drinking water. However, in general, its importance is not adequately supported by monitoring. Due to very dynamic karst regimes, in many countries, monitoring networks and their technology must be enlarged and improved, in terms of both the quantity and quality of water. The article discusses the current state of monitoring in legislation and water practice, as well as its importance in preventing water pollution, ensuring water provision to dependent ecosystems and preparing adaptation strategies to mitigate the negative effects of climate changes. Karst aquifers’ heterogeneity, high vulnerability to pollution and their very dynamic regimes require a more frequent observation of discharge and water quality parameters than any other aquifer system. There is also a need for installing sophisticated monitoring equipment, which enables remote observation of changes in dynamic karst systems. Improving monitoring and creating an early warning system would have a direct and positive effect on water management and might also be able to prevent uncontrolled groundwater extraction and deterioration of water quality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring as the Key Factor for Sustainable Use and Protection of Groundwater in Karst Environments—An Overview

Stevanović

Stevanović²

2021

Sustainability

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“…Long-term spring flow and water quality observations, isotope analysis, natural tracers, and water budgeting could help in a better understanding of hydrogeological properties of the karst system [12]. However, spatial validation of vulnerability maps is possible only by conducting dye-trace experiments at different points of the source catchment [41]. Dye tracer travel time and recovery rate could directly confirm the vulnerability degree obtained by applying the COP + K method and water travel time obtained by applying the TDM method.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability Assessment as a Basis for Sanitary Zone Delineation of Karst Groundwater Sources—Blederija Spring Case Study

Živanović

Atanacković

Stojadinović

2021

Water

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The application of groundwater vulnerability methods has great importance for the sanitary protection zones delineation of karstic sources. Source vulnerability assessment of karst groundwater has mainly relied on the European approach (European Cooperation in Science and Technology – COST action 620), which includes analysis of the K factor, which refers to water flow through the saturated zone of the karst system. In the paper, two approaches to groundwater vulnerability assessment have been applied, COP + K and TDM (Time-Dependent Model) methods, to produce the most suitable source vulnerability map that can be transformed into sanitary protection zones maps. Both methods were tested on the case example of Blederija karst spring in Eastern Serbia. This spring represents a classical karst spring with allogenic and autogenic recharge. Dual aquifer recharge points out the necessity for the inclusion of the vulnerability assessment method created especially for the assessment of karst groundwater. Obtained vulnerability maps show similar results, particularly in the spring and the ponor areas, and these zones are most important for future protection. The COP + K method brings out three vulnerability classes that can be directly transformed into three sanitary protection zones. Contrary to the previous one, the TDM method uses water travel time as a vulnerability degree. The results show that the final map can be easily used to define sanitary zones considering different national legislation.

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“…To make these assessments, predominant criteria are usually based on distance and flow, and sensitive areas are delineated in concentric spheres upstream from the source. Many studies have highlighted the inadequacy of traditional strategies for protecting karst water sources and stressed the need to develop an integrated approach [151][152][153].…”

Section: Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overall Perspective for the Study of Emerging Contaminants in Karst Aquifers

et al. 2022

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Karst aquifers are essential drinking water sources, representing about 25% of the total available sources globally. Groundwater ecosystems consist of fissured carbonate rocks commonly covered with canopy collapse sinkholes. The open nature of karst aquifers makes them susceptible to rapidly transporting contaminants from the surface in dissolved and particulate forms. The principal aim of this review is to contribute to filling the gap in knowledge regarding major concerns affecting karst aquifers and understanding their vulnerabilities and dynamics. The principal groundwater pollutants of relevance are detailed in the present work, including well-known issues, such as the input of agriculture and its role in water quality. Emerging pollutants such as microplastics, still poorly studied in the groundwater systems, were also considered. Case studies for each typology of pollutant were highlighted, as their relative concerns for karst environments. Final considerations underlined an approach for studying karst environments more focused on understanding dynamics and links among different pollutants inputs and their drivers than on individual sources and impacts.

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Groundwater vulnerability to pollution in karst aquifers, considering key challenges and considerations: application to the Ubrique springs in southern Spain

Cited by 23 publications

References 63 publications

Monitoring as the Key Factor for Sustainable Use and Protection of Groundwater in Karst Environments—An Overview

Monitoring as the Key Factor for Sustainable Use and Protection of Groundwater in Karst Environments—An Overview

Vulnerability Assessment as a Basis for Sanitary Zone Delineation of Karst Groundwater Sources—Blederija Spring Case Study

An Overall Perspective for the Study of Emerging Contaminants in Karst Aquifers

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