Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction in the Nera River Basin (Central Italy): New Insights after the 2016 Seismic Sequence

Modelling groundwater pollutant transfer mineral micropollutants in a multi-layered aquifer in Burkina Faso (West African Sahel)

In Burkina Faso, human activities around water points in rural areas affect groundwater resources, which become unfit for consumption. Nearly 33.5% of boreholes are subject to point source pollution. The assessment of the evolution of such pollution should be monitored to assess groundwater quality. In addition, withdrawals for irrigation alone are estimated at 85%, i.e. 46% of the water demand, heightening the deterioration in quality while creating depression zones further leading to an increase in recharge. It is therefore critical to understand the evolution and fate of the transfer of pollutants in such environments. In this study, we aimed to model the transfer of pollutant and predict the future state of pollution using the MT3D-USGS Groundwater Solute Transport Simulator code through the Groundwater Modelling Software (GMS) over the period 2012-2062 (50 years). A mathematical model is further developed through inferential statistics and used as a surrogate model for comparison. The results showed that deterioration in water quality was more attributable to withdrawals, especially for Cyanide (Cn) and Arsenic (As). A rather slow degradation is reported for Lead (Pb), which extends over 22 km, and Fluoride (F), which extends from 4 to 10 km due to localized recharge. A faster degradation for Cn over a distance of 2-16 km and as from 3 to 11 km is also observed because of the geological setting of the subsoil. These results might assist decision-makers for the quantitative and qualitative management of groundwater resources, and the management of the basement aquifer in the area through the establishment of protection zones.

A Holistic Approach to Study Groundwater-Surface Water Modifications Induced by Strong Earthquakes: The Case of Campiano Catchment (Central Italy)

Carbonate aquifers are characterised by strong heterogeneities and their modelling is often a challenging aspect in hydrological studies. Understanding carbonate aquifers can be more complicated in the case of strong seismic events which have been widely demonstrated to influence groundwater flow over wide areas or on a local scale. The 2016–2017 seismic sequence of Central Italy is a paradigmatic example of how earthquakes play an important role in groundwater and surface water modifications. The Campiano catchment, which experienced significant discharge modifications immediately after the mainshocks of the 2016–2017 seismic sequence (Mmax = 6.5) has been analysed in this study. The study area is within an Italian national park (Sibillini Mts.) and thus has importance from a naturalistic and socio-economic standpoint. The research strategy coupled long-period artificial tracer tests (conducted both before and after the main earthquakes), geochemical and discharge analyses and isotope hydrology with hydrogeological cross-sections. This study highlights how the seismic sequence temporarily changed the behaviour of the normal faults which act predominantly as barriers to flow in the inter-seismic period, with water flow being normally favoured along the fault strikes. On the contrary, during earthquakes, groundwater flow can be significantly diverted perpendicularly to fault-strikes due to co-seismic fracturing and a consequent permeability increase. The interaction between groundwater and surface water is not only important from the point of view of scientific research but also has significant implications at an economic and social level.

Editorial for Special Issue: “Integrated Surface Water and Groundwater Analysis”

Comprehensive understanding of groundwater—surface water (GW–SW) interaction is essential for effective water resources management [...]