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Potential uses of pumped urban groundwater: a case study in Sant Adrià del Besòs (Spain)

Utilisations potentielles des pompages d’eau souterraine en milieu urbain: un cas d’étude à Sant Adrià del Besòs (Espagne)

Usos potenciales del agua subterránea bombeada en ambientes urbanos: un caso de estudio en Sant Adrià del Besòs (España)

开采的城市地下水的潜在利用:(西班牙)Sant Adrià del Besòs地区的一个研究实例

Usos potenciais das águas subterrâneas urbanas bombeadas: estudo de caso em Sant Adrià del Besòs (Espanha)

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Abstract

Urban groundwater has often been over-exploited for industrial uses. Now, this usage tends to be reduced or the resource abandoned due to pollution and/or changes in land use. The use and the subsequent disuse of groundwater has resulted in rising water tables that damage underground structures (e.g., building basements and underground car parks and tunnels), leading to the need for additional pumping in urban areas. In the case of the underground parking lot of Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona, NE Spain), large amounts of urban groundwater are pumped to avoid seepage problems. Can this pumped groundwater be used for other purposes (e.g., drinking water and urban irrigation) instead of wasting this valuable resource? To answer this question, it was necessary to quantify the groundwater recharge and to assess the evolution of groundwater quality. The limiting factor at this study site is the groundwater quality because ammonium and some metals (iron and manganese) are present at high concentrations. Hence, further treatment would be needed to meet drinking water requirements. The pumped groundwater could also be used for supplementing river flow for ecological benefit and/or for mitigating seawater intrusion problems. Currently, only a small amount of this urban groundwater is used for cleaning public areas and watering public gardens. This situation highlighted the urgent need to manage this resource in a responsible and more efficient manner, especially in moments of high water demand such as drought periods.

Résumé

Les eaux souterraines en milieu urbain ont souvent été surexploitées pour des usages industriels. Désormais, cet usage tend à se réduire ou la ressource est abandonnée en raison de pollutions et/ou de changements d’occupation des sols. La réduction de l’usage des eaux souterraines a conduit à une augmentation des niveaux d’eau avec des dommages sur les structures souterraines (par ex. fondations de bâtiments et de parkings souterrains et tunnels), conduisant à un besoin de pompages supplémentaires dans les zones urbaines. Dans le cas du parking souterrain de Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelone, Nord-est de l’Espagne), des quantités importantes d’eau souterraine sont pompées pour éviter des problèmes d’infiltration d’eau. Est-ce que cette eau souterraine pompée peut être utilisée pour d’autres besoins (ex. eau de boisson et arrosage des espaces verts), au lieu de gaspiller cette ressource de valeur ? Pour répondre à cette question, il était nécessaire de quantifier la recharge de l’aquifère et d’évaluer l’évolution de la qualité de l’eau souterraine. Le facteur limitant de ce site d’étude est la qualité de l’eau souterraine en raison de la présence d’ammonium et de certains métaux (fer et manganèse) à des concentrations élevées. Par conséquent, un traitement complémentaire serait nécessaire pour atteindre les exigences d’une eau de boisson. L’eau souterraine pompée pourrait aussi être utilisée afin de soutenir le débit de la rivière, pour un bénéfice écologique et/ou pour atténuer les problèmes d’intrusions d’eau de mer. Actuellement, seule une petite part de cette eau souterraine urbaine est utilisée pour le nettoyage des espaces publics et pour l’arrosage des espaces verts. Cette situation souligne le besoin urgent de gérer cette ressource de manière responsable et plus efficace, en particulier lors des périodes de sécheresse où la demande en eau est forte.

Resumen

A menudo, las aguas subterráneas urbanas han sido sobreexplotadas para usos industriales. Debido a la contaminación o a cambios urbanísticos, el uso de estos recursos tiende a reducirse o incluso a abandonarse. El cese del aprovechamiento de las aguas subterráneas en zonas urbanas suele ocasionar la recuperación de los niveles freáticos, lo que puede afectar a estructuras subterráneas (por ejemplo: sótanos de edificios, aparcamientos subterráneos y túneles). Esta recuperación de los niveles freáticos puede conllevar bombeos adicionales. En el caso del aparcamiento subterráneo de Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona, NE de España), se bombean grandes cantidades de agua subterránea para evitar problemas de filtraciones. ¿Se puede usar este recurso para otros usos (por ejemplo, agua potable y riego urbano) en vez de desperdiciarse? Para responder a esta pregunta, fue necesario cuantificar la recarga y evaluar la evolución de la calidad de estos acuíferos. En este caso, el factor limitante es la calidad del agua subterránea debido a que el amonio y algunos metales (hierro y manganeso) están presentes en altas concentraciones. En este caso, se necesitaría de un tratamiento adicional para poder satisfacer los requerimientos de calidad para agua potable. El agua bombeada también podría usarse para complementar el caudal ecológico del río y/o para mitigar problemas de intrusión marina en las proximidades de la zona. Actualmente, sólo una pequeña cantidad de esta agua subterránea urbana se utiliza para limpieza urbana y riego de jardines públicos. Esta situación puso de manifiesto la necesidad urgente de gestionar este recurso de manera responsable y más eficiente, especialmente en momentos de alta demanda de agua como los períodos de sequía.

摘要

城市地下水常常超采用于工业。现在,由于污染及/或土地利用的变化,这种用途趋向于减少或资源被放弃。地下水的使用及随后的停止使用致使水位上升,损害了地下结构(例如建筑物基础及地下停车场和隧道),导致需要城区额外抽水。在(西班牙巴塞罗那)Sant Adrià del Besòs一个地下停车场的实例中,大量地下水被抽取以避免渗漏问题。这些抽取的地下水能否用于其它目的而不浪费这个宝贵的资源?为了回答这个问题,有必要量化地下水补给量并评价地下水水质的演化。本研究场地的限制因素是地下水水质,因为水中铵和一些金属(铁和锰)的含量很高。因此,需要进一步处理以满足饮用水要求。抽取的地下水还可用于补充河流获取生态效益以及/或减轻海水入侵问题。目前,只有一小部分这种城市地下水用于清洁公共区域及浇灌公共花园。这种情况强调了以负责任及更高效的方式管理此种资源的迫切需要,特别是在干旱期水需求很大的时候更是如此。

Resumo

Muitas vezes, as águas subterrâneas urbanas foram sobrexplotadas para fins industriais. Agora, esse uso tende a ser reduzido ou o recurso abandonado devido à poluição e/ou mudanças no uso da terra. A utilização e o subsequente desuso das águas subterrâneas resultaram na elevação do nível das águas subterrâneas que danificam estruturas subterrâneas (p. ex., porões de construção, estacionamentos subterrâneos e túneis), levando à necessidade de bombeamento adicional em áreas urbanas. No caso do estacionamento subterrâneo de Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona, NE, Espanha), grandes quantidades de águas subterrâneas urbanas são bombeadas para evitar problemas de infiltração. Pode esta água subterrânea bombeada ser usada para outros fins (p. ex., água potável e irrigação urbana) em vez de se desperdiçar este valioso recurso? Para responder a essa pergunta, foi necessário quantificar a recarga das águas subterrâneas e avaliar a evolução da qualidade das águas subterrâneas. O fator limitante neste local de estudo é a qualidade das águas subterrâneas, porque a amônia e alguns metais (ferro e manganês) estão presentes em altas concentrações. Por conseguinte, seria necessário um tratamento posterior para atender aos requisitos de água potável. As águas subterrâneas bombeadas também poderiam ser usadas para suplementar o fluxo do rio para benefício ecológico e/ou para mitigar problemas de intrusão de água do mar. Atualmente, apenas uma pequena quantidade destas águas subterrâneas urbanas é usada para limpar áreas públicas e regar jardins públicos. Esta situação realçou a necessidade urgente de gerir este recurso de forma responsável e mais eficiente, especialmente em momentos de alta demanda de água, como os períodos de seca.

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Acknowledgements

A. Jurado and E. Pujades are currently postdoctoral fellows at the University of Liège (Belgium). This work was accomplished during their earlier affiliation with the Hydrogeology Group of Barcelona (Spain). They gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the University of Liège and the EU through the Marie Curie BeIPD-COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme (2015–2017 and 2014–2016 fellows from FP7-MSCA-COFUND, 600405). Thanks go to the city council of Sant Adrià del Besòs, and EUSAB (Estacionaments Urbans de Sant Adrià del Besòs), for their support in the logistics and the field work performed.

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  1. University of Liège, ArGEnCo, GEO3, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Liege, Belgium

    Anna Jurado & Estanislao Pujades

  2. GHS, Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain

    Enric Vázquez-Suñé

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  1. Anna Jurado
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Jurado, A., Vázquez-Suñé, E. & Pujades, E. Potential uses of pumped urban groundwater: a case study in Sant Adrià del Besòs (Spain). Hydrogeol J 25, 1745–1758 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1575-3

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