The influence of fish ponds and salinization on groundwater quality in the multi-layer coastal aquifer system in Israel

Tal, A.; Weinstein, Yishai; Yechieli, Yoseph; Borisover, Mikhail

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.04.008

Cited by 19 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Withdrawal from the coastal aquifer in the studied area during 2005-2015 was 18-20 m 3 year −1 . According to chemical balances [12], the fish ponds' contribution to the Kurkar aquifer (units B) is 2-3 × 10 6 m 3 year −1 . This value was subtracted from the total pumping instead of adding artificial recharge from the pond, and, thus, the effective pumping was assumed~15 × 10 6 m 3 year −1 .…”

Section: Pumping Regimementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although exploitation is very high, groundwater level in these units is quite stable, and seawater intrusion is very limited [43]. Geochemical mass balance indicates that more than 85% of the water in units B and C derives from the underlying Late Cretaceous aquifer [12], while the ponds contribution is no more than 3 × 10 6 m 3 year −1 [12]. This suggests that most of the ponds' losses flow through unit A to the sea.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is explained by contribution from the underlying Late Cretaceous aquifer, which increased with the pumping rate, as is also indicated by the numerical simulations. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and manganese, and characterized by strong reducing conditions [12].Seawater intrusion (SI) is also a global concern, exacerbated by increasing demands for freshwater in coastal zones and predisposed to the influences of rising sea levels and changing climates. Open questions still exist, in particular about the transient SI processes and timeframes, and the characterization and prediction of freshwater-saltwater interfaces over regional scales and in highly heterogeneous and dynamic settings [13].Numerical solutions have become standard tools for analyzing aquatic systems, which involve a bi-directional flow [14].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carmel area on its eastern side to a chalky facies on its western (seawards) side [35,37], which prevents the direct flow of groundwater from the Late Cretaceous aquifer to the sea and forces the water to discharge in the Taninim springs through Quaternary sediments (Figure 3). Some of this water flows westward through the Pleistocene sediments and plays an important role in the water balance of the coastal Quaternary Aquifer [12,[38][39][40].…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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The Interrelations between a Multi-Layered Coastal Aquifer, a Surface Reservoir (Fish Ponds), and the Sea

Tal

Weinstein

Wollman

et al. 2018

Water

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This research examines the interrelations in a complex hydrogeological system, consisting of a multi-layered coastal aquifer, the sea, and a surface reservoir (fish ponds) and the importance of the specific connection between the aquifer and the sea. The paper combines offshore geophysical surveys (CHIRP) and on land TDEM (Time Domain Electro Magnetic), together with hydrological measurements and numerical simulation. The Quaternary aquifer at the southern Carmel plain is sub-divided into three units, a sandy phreatic unit, and two calcareous sandstone ('Kurkar') confined units. The salinity in the different units is affected by their connection with the sea. We show that differences in the seaward extent of its clayey roof, as illustrated in the CHIRP survey, result in a varying extent of seawater intrusion due to pumping from the confined units. FEFLOW simulations indicate that the FSI (Fresh Saline water Interface) reached the coastline just a few years after pumping has begun, where the roof terminates~100 m from shore, while no seawater intrusion occurred in an area where the roof is continuous farther offshore. This was found to be consistent with borehole observations and TDEM data from our study sites. The water level in the coastal aquifer was generally stable with surprisingly no indication for significant seawater intrusion although the aquifer is extensively pumped very close to shore. This is explained by contribution from the underlying Late Cretaceous aquifer, which increased with the pumping rate, as is also indicated by the numerical simulations. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and manganese, and characterized by strong reducing conditions [12].Seawater intrusion (SI) is also a global concern, exacerbated by increasing demands for freshwater in coastal zones and predisposed to the influences of rising sea levels and changing climates. Open questions still exist, in particular about the transient SI processes and timeframes, and the characterization and prediction of freshwater-saltwater interfaces over regional scales and in highly heterogeneous and dynamic settings [13].Numerical solutions have become standard tools for analyzing aquatic systems, which involve a bi-directional flow [14]. Two different modeling approaches have been used in the literature to represent the freshwater-saltwater relationship, one of which is sharp interface approximation [15][16][17], while the other includes a transition zone between freshwater and seawater [18][19][20][21]. Numerical solution with the FEFLOW cod is a common tool to study the salt water interface movement [22]. Yet, extensive measurement campaigns are necessary to accurately delineate interfaces and their displacement in response to real-world coastal aquifer stresses, encompassing a range of geological and hydrological settings [13]. Analytical studies of tide-induced groundwater fluctuations in confined coastal aquifers that extend under the sea have been studied in References [23-25] and others. Other studies [24,26] suggested a general analytical sol...

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Section: Pumping Regimementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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The Interrelations between a Multi-Layered Coastal Aquifer, a Surface Reservoir (Fish Ponds), and the Sea

Tal

Weinstein

Wollman

et al. 2018

Water

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Science, society, and the coastal groundwater squeeze

Michael

Post

Wilson

et al. 2017

Water Resources Research

191

105

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Coastal zones encompass the complex interface between land and sea. Understanding how water and solutes move within and across this interface is essential for managing resources for society. The increasingly dense human occupation of coastal zones disrupts natural groundwater flow patterns and degrades freshwater resources by both overuse and pollution. This pressure results in a “coastal groundwater squeeze,” where the thin veneers of potable freshwater are threatened by contaminant sources at the land surface and saline groundwater at depth. Scientific advances in the field of coastal hydrogeology have enabled responsible management of water resources and protection of important ecosystems. To address the problems of the future, we must continue to make scientific advances, and groundwater hydrology needs to be firmly embedded in integrated coastal zone management. This will require interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, open communication between scientists and the public, and strong partnerships with policymakers.

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Groundwater, salt and contaminant transport in a coastal aquifer system with a low‐permeability layer in the intertidal zone

Li,

Gibbes,

Liu

et al. 2024

Hydrological Processes

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Low‐permeability layer (LPL), formed by natural deposit or artificial reclamation and commonly found below the intertidal zone of coastal groundwater system, can retard the ingress of seawater and contaminants, and shorten the travel time of the land‐sourced contaminant to the marine environment compared with a homogenous sandy coastal aquifer. However, there is limited understanding on how an intertidal LPL, a condition occurred in a coastal aquifer at Moreton Bay, Australia, influences the groundwater and contaminant transport across the shallow beach aquifer system. We characterized the aquifer hydrological parameters, monitored the in situ groundwater heads, and constructed a 2‐D numerical model to analyses the cross‐shore hydrological processes in this stratified system. The calibrated model suggests that in the lower aquifer, the inland‐source fresh groundwater flowed horizontally towards the sea, upwelled along the freshwater–saltwater interface, and exited the aquifer at the shore below the LPL. Whereas in the upper aquifer, the tidally driven seawater circulation formed a barrier that prevented fresh groundwater from horizontal transport and discharge to the beach above the LPL, thereby directing its leakage to the lower aquifer. A contaminant represented by a conservative tracer was ‘released’ the upper aquifer in the model and results showed that the spreading extent of the contaminant plume, the maximum rate of contaminant discharge to the ocean, and its plume length decreased compared with a simulation case in a homogenous sandy aquifer. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to investigate the characteristics of the LPL, including its continuity and hydraulic conductivity, which were found to vary along the beach at Moreton Bay. The result shows that with a lower hydraulic conductivity and continuous layer of LPL reduced the groundwater exchange and contaminant transport between upper and lower aquifer. The findings from the combined field and modelling investigations on the impact of an intertidal LPL on coastal aquifer systems highlight its significant implications to alter the groundwater and mass transport across the land–ocean interface.

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The influence of fish ponds and salinization on groundwater quality in the multi-layer coastal aquifer system in Israel

Cited by 19 publications

References 37 publications

The Interrelations between a Multi-Layered Coastal Aquifer, a Surface Reservoir (Fish Ponds), and the Sea

The Interrelations between a Multi-Layered Coastal Aquifer, a Surface Reservoir (Fish Ponds), and the Sea

Science, society, and the coastal groundwater squeeze

Groundwater, salt and contaminant transport in a coastal aquifer system with a low‐permeability layer in the intertidal zone

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