Abstract
Understanding the relationship between surface water and groundwater is important for the integrated management of water resources in arid regions. In the present study, the connectivity of river water and shallow groundwater along the Shidi River, China is estimated using a connectivity index, as well as analyses of hydrochemistry and isotopic signature. The three approaches for hydraulic connectivity assessment were compared and discussed. An end member mixing analysis was performed to estimate the contribution ratios of local precipitation, river leakage and groundwater lateral inflow to the total groundwater recharge along the river. The results show that medium connectivity is identified in all reaches of the river (upstream, midstream and downstream). Water table depth and river channel sediments are the major factors responsible for the spatial variation of the hydraulic connectivity. The CI approach can be adopted to generate preliminary assessment results of hydraulic connectivity, while the physiochemical and isotopic approaches should be used as a tool for results validation and verification. Groundwater lateral inflow is the most important recharge source of groundwater along the river, while river leakage only accounts for 18.4–27.0 % of the total recharge. This study is meaningful in integrated water resources management in arid regions and the methods used in this study can be adopted by other scholars in similar studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anibas C, Buis K, Verhoeven R, Meire P, Batelaan O (2011) A simple thermal mapping method for seasonal spatial patterns of groundwater–surface water interaction. J Hydrol 397:93–104. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.11.036
Anibas C, Verbeiren B, Buis K, Chormański J, De Doncker L, Okruszko T, Meire P, Batelaan O (2012) A hierarchical approach on groundwater-surface water interaction in wetlands along the upper Biebrza River, Poland. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 16:2329–2346. doi:10.5194/hess-16-2329-2012
Banoeng-Yakubo B, Yidana SM, Nti E (2009) Hydrochemical analysis of groundwater using multivariate statistical methods—the Volta Region. Ghana. KSCE J Civ Eng 13(1):55–63. doi:10.1007/s12205-009-0055-2
Becker MW, Georgian T, Ambrose H, Siniscalchi J, Fredrick K (2004) Estimating flow and flux of ground water discharge using water temperature and velocity. J Hydrol 296:221–233. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.03.025
Chen X (2001) Migration of induced-infiltrated stream water into nearby aquifers due to seasonal ground water withdrawal. Ground Water 39(5):721–728. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2001.tb02362.x
Chen X (2007) Hydrologic connections of a stream–aquifer-vegetation zone in south-central Platte River valley. Nebraska. J Hydrol 333(2–4):554–568. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.09.020
Chen X, Chen X (2003) Stream water infiltration, bank storage, and storage zone changes due to stream-stage fluctuations. J Hydrol 280(1–4):246–264. doi:10.1016/S0022-1694(03)00232-4
Chen J, Qian H, Li P (2013) Mixing precipitation of CaCO3 in natural waters. Water 5:1712–1722. doi:10.3390/w5041712
Cho J, Mostaghimi S, Kang MS (2010) Development and application of a modeling approach for surface water and groundwater interaction. Agr Water Manage 97:123–130. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2009.08.018
Christophersen N, Neal C, Hooper RP, Vogt RD, Andersen S (1990) Modelling stream water chemistry as a mixture of soil water end-members—a step towards second-generation acidification models. J Hydrol 116(1):307–320. doi:10.1016/0022-1694(90)90130-P
Clesceri LS, Greenberg AE, Eaton AD (1999) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC
Cloutier V, Lefebvre R, Therrien R, Savard MM (2008) Multivariate statistical analysis of geochemical data as indicative of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in a sedimentary rock aquifer system. J Hydrol 353:294–313. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.02.015
Constantz J, Stonestrom D (2003) Heat as a tracer of water movement near streams. In: Stonestrom D, Constantz J (eds) Heat as a tool for studying the movement of ground water near streams. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston Circular 1260
Cook PG (2013) Estimating groundwater discharge to rivers from river chemistry surveys. Hydrol Process 27(25):3694–3707. doi:10.1002/hyp.9493
Craig H (1961) Isotope variations in meteoric waters. Science 133:1702–1703. doi:10.1126/science.133.3465.1702
Dahl M, Nilsson B, Langhoff JH, Refsgaard JC (2007) Review of classification systems and new multi-scale typology of groundwater–surface water interaction. J Hydrol 344:1–16. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.06.027
Dor N, Syafalni S, Abustan I, Rahman MTA, Nazri MAA, Mostafa R, Mejus L (2011) Verification of surface-groundwater connectivity in an irrigation canal using geophysical, water balance and stable isotope approaches. Water Resour Manag 25(11):2837–2853. doi:10.1007/s11269-011-9841-y
Dujardin J, Batelaan O, Canters F, Boel S, Anibas C, Bronders J (2011) Improving surface–subsurface water budgeting using high resolution satellite imagery applied on a brownfield. Sci Total Environ 409:800–809. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.10.055
Dujardin J, Anibas C, Bronders J, Jamin P, Hamonts K, Dejonghe W, Brouyère S, Batelaan O (2014) Combining flux estimation techniques to improve characterization of groundwater–surface-water interaction in the Zenne River. Hydrogeol J, Belgium. doi:10.1007/s10040-014-1159-4
Eslamian S, Nekoueineghad B (2009) A review on interaction of groundwater and surface water. Int J Water 5(2):89–99
Fleckenstein JH, Krause S, Hannah DM, Boano F (2010) Groundwater-surface water interactions: new methods and models to improve understanding of processes and dynamics. Adv Water Resour 33:1291–1295. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.09.011
Hooper RP, Christophersen N, Peters NE (1990) Modelling stream water chemistry as a mixture of soil water end-members—an application to the Panola Mountain catchment, Georgia. USA. J Hydrol 116(1):321–343. doi:10.1016/0022-1694(90)90131-G
Hu L-T, Wang Z-J, Tian W, Zhao J-S (2009) Coupled surface water–groundwater model and its application in the Arid Shiyang River basin, China. Hydrol Process 23:2033–2044. doi:10.1002/hyp.7333
Jolly ID, McEwan KL, Holland KL (2008) A review of groundwater–surface water interactions in arid/semi-arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology. Ecohydrology 1:43–58. doi:10.1002/eco.6
Kalbus E, Reinstorf F, Schirmer M (2006) Measuring methods for groundwater-surface water interactions: a review. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10:873–887. doi:10.5194/hess-10-873-2006
Kalbus E, Schmidt C, Bayer-Raich M, Leschik S, Reinstorf F, Balcke GU, Schirmer M (2007) New methodology to investigate potential contaminant mass fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface by combining integral pumping tests and streambed temperatures. Environ Pollut 148:808–816. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.01.042
Kalbus E, Schmidt C, Molson JW, Reinstorf F, Schirmer M (2009) Influence of aquifer and streambed heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater discharge. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 13:69–77. doi:10.5194/hess-13-69-2009
Kalbus E, Kalbacher T, Kolditz O, Krüger E, Seegert J, Röstel G, Teutsch G, Borchardt D, Krebs P (2012) Integrated water resources management under different hydrological, climatic and socio-economic conditions. Environ Earth Sci 65:1363–1366. doi:10.1007/s12665-011-1330-3
Keery J, Binley A, Crook N, Smith JWN (2007) Temporal and spatial variability of groundwater–surface water fluxes: development and application of an analytical method using temperature time series. J Hydrol 336:1–16. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.12.003
King AC, Raiber M, Cox ME (2014) Multivariate statistical analysis of hydrochemical data to assess alluvial aquifer–stream connectivity during drought and flood: cressbrook Creek, southeast Queensland, Australia. Hydrogeol J 22:481–500. doi:10.1007/s10040-013-1057-1
Lambs L (2004) Interactions between groundwater and surface water at river banks and the confluence of rivers. J Hydrol 288:312–326. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2003.10.013
Lamontagne S, Leaney FW, Herczeg AL (2005) Groundwater–surface water interactions in a large semi-arid floodplain: implications for salinity management. Hydrol Process 19:3063–3080. doi:10.1002/hyp.5832
Langhoff JH, Rasmussen KR, Christensen S (2006) Quantification and regionalization of groundwater–surface water interaction along an alluvial stream. J Hydrol 320:342–358. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.07.040
Li P (2014) Phoebe Koundouri. (2011). Water resources allocation: policy and socioeconomic issues in Cyprus, Springer, Global issues in water policy series, Vol. 1. Hardcover ISBN 978-90-481-9824-5. Water Resour Manag 28:2381–2385. doi:10.1007/s11269-014-0609-z
Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2013) Major ion chemistry of shallow groundwater in the Dongsheng Coalfield, Ordos Basin, China. Mine Water Environ 32:195–206. doi:10.1007/s10230-013-0234-8
Li P, Qian H, Wu J (2014a) Accelerate research on land creation. Nature 510(7503):29–31. doi:10.1038/510029a
Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2014b) Occurrence and hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in alluvial aquifer of Weihe River, China. Environ Earth Sci 71:3133–3145. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2691-6
Li P, Qian H, Wu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H (2014c) Heavy metal contamination of Yellow River alluvial sediments, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3628-4
Liu Y, Yamanaka T (2012) Tracing groundwater recharge sources in a mountain–plain transitional area using stable isotopes and hydrochemistry. J Hydrol 464–465:116–126. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.06.053
Liu F, Williams MW, Caine N (2004) Source waters and flow paths in an alpine catchment, Colorado Front Range, United States. Water Resour Res 40(9):W09401. doi:10.1029/2004WR003076
Newman BD, Vivoni ER, Groffman AR (2006) Surface water–groundwater interactions in semiarid drainages of the American southwest. Hydrol Process 20:3371–3394. doi:10.1002/hyp.6336
Oyarzún R, Barrera F, Salazar P, Maturana H, Oyarzún J, Aguirre E, Alvarez P, Jourde H, Kretschmer N (2014) Multi-method assessment of connectivity between surface water and shallow groundwater: the case of Limarí River basin, north-central Chile. Hydrogeol J 22:1857–1873. doi:10.1007/s10040-014-1170-9
Qian H, Li P (2011) Mixing corrosion of CaCO3 in natural waters. E-J Chem 8(3):1124–1131. doi:10.1155/2011/891053
Qian H, Li P (2012) Proportion dependent mixing effects of CaCO3 in natural waters. Asian J Chem 24(5):2257–2261
Qian H, Li P, Wu J, Zhou Y (2013) Isotopic characteristics of precipitation, surface and ground waters in the Yinchuan plain., Northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 70(1):57–70. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-2103-3
Qian H, Zhang H, Li P, Chen J, Wu J (2014a) Field Investigation report for groundwater pollution and risk management in and around the water source site of Hua County. Xi’an, Chang’an University (in Chinese)
Qian H, Wu J, Zhou Y, Li P (2014b) Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes as indicators of lake water recharge and evaporation in the lakes of the Yinchuan Plain. Hydrol Process 28:3554–3562. doi:10.1002/hyp.9915
Qin D, Turner JV, Pang Z (2005) Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater circulation in the Xi’an geothermal field, China. Geothermics 34:471–494. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2005.06.004
Ransley T, Tottenham R, Sundaram B, Brodie R (2007) Development of method to map potential stream aquifer connectivity: a case study in the Borders rivers catchment. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Government, Canberra
Raul SK, Panda SN, Holländer H, Billib M (2011) Integrated water resource management in a major canal command in eastern India. Hydrol Process 25:2551–2562. doi:10.1002/hyp.8028
Rodgers P, Soulsby C, Petry J, Malcolm I, Gibbins C, Dunn S (2004) Groundwater–surface-water interactions in a braided river: a tracer-based assessment. Hydrol Process 18:1315–1332. doi:10.1002/hyp.1404
Schmidt C, Bayer-Raich M, Schirmer M (2006) Characterization of spatial heterogeneity of groundwater-stream water interactions using multiple depth streambed temperature measurements at the reach scale. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10:849–859. doi:10.5194/hess-10-849-2006
Smith AJ, Pollock DW, Palmer D (2010) Groundwater interaction with surface drains in the Ord River Irrigation Area, northern Australia: investigation by multiple methods. Hydrogeol J 18:1235–1252. doi:10.1007/s10040-010-0596-y
Song J, Chen X, Cheng C, Wang D, Lackey S, Xu Z (2009) Feasibility of grain-size analysis methods for determination of vertical hydraulic conductivity of streambeds. J Hydrol 375(3–4):428–437. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.06.043
Sophocleous M (2002) Interactions between groundwater and surface water: the state of the science. Hydrogeol J 10:52–67. doi:10.1007/s10040-001-0170-8
Sulis M, Meyerhoff SB, Paniconi C, Maxwell RM, Putti M, Kollet SJ (2010) A comparison of two physics-based numerical models for simulating surface water–groundwater interactions. Adv Water Resour 33:456–467. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2010.01.010
Vandersteen G, Schneidewind U, Anibas C, Schmidt C, Seuntjens P, Batelaan O (2015) Determining groundwater-surface water exchange from temperature-time series: combining a local polynomial method with a maximum likelihood estimator. Water Resour Res 51:922–939. doi:10.1002/2014WR015994
Woessner WW (2000) Stream and fluvial plain ground water interactions: rescaling hydrogeologic thought. Ground Water 38(3):423–429. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2000.tb00228.x
Wu J, Sun Z (2015) Evaluation of shallow groundwater contamination and associated human health risk in an alluvial plain impacted by agricultural and industrial activities, Mid-west China. Expo Health. doi:10.1007/s12403-015-0170-x
Wu J, Li P, Qian H (2013) Environmental chemistry of groundwater near an industrial area, Northwest China. Asian J Chem 25(17):9795–9799. doi:10.14233/ajchem.2013.15355
Wu J, Li P, Qian H, Duan Z, Zhang X (2014) Using correlation and multivariate statistical analysis to identify hydrogeochemical processes affecting the major ion chemistry of waters: a case study in Laoheba phosphorite mine in Sichuan, China. Arab J Geosci 7(10):3973–3982. doi:10.1007/s12517-013-1057-4
Yidana SM, Banoeng-Yakubo B, Akabzaa TM (2010) Analysis of groundwater quality using multivariate and spatial analyses in the Ketabasin, Ghana. J Afr Earth Sci 58:220–234. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2010.03.003
Zhang H (2014) Early-warning of nitrogen pollution in groundwater source in Huaxian, China. A dissertation submitted for the Degree of Master, Chang’an Univeristy, Xi’an (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
This work is funded by the Special Funds for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges, Chang’an University (310829151072), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41502234 and 41172212), the Foundation of Outstanding Young Scholar of Chang’an University (310829153509), the General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580804), the Special Financial Grant from the Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation, the special Funds for Scientific Research on Public Interest of the Ministry of Water Resources (201301084) and the Doctoral Postgraduate Technical Project of Chang’an University (2014G5290001). Xinsheng Lyu, Hui Tang, Hanting Zhang, Zhihua Zhang, Hongwei Liu and Jie Chen are specially acknowledged for their help in sample collection and field investigation. We are also grateful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers whose comments have helped us a lot in improving the quality of our original manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, P., Wu, J. & Qian, H. Preliminary assessment of hydraulic connectivity between river water and shallow groundwater and estimation of their transfer rate during dry season in the Shidi River, China. Environ Earth Sci 75, 99 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4949-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4949-7