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Groundwater flow evaluation using a groundwater budget model and updated aquifer structures at an alluvial fan of Echi-gawa, Japan

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Abstract

As groundwater is a vital water resource and plays an important role in sustainable use and environment maintenance, evaluating the groundwater flow is crucial. To quantitatively ascertain the groundwater flow at the Echi-gawa alluvial fan, Japan, groundwater budget was carried out by combining hydrogeological parameters (hydraulic gradient, hydraulic conductivity, and recharge rate) and modified aquifer structures (unconfined/confined aquifers and aquitards). The groundwater budget was calculated on the right bank (B–B′ cross section) and left bank (C–C′ cross section) of the Echi River, where the aquifer structures are significantly different. The total flow rate in the unconfined aquifer was 533.2 × 103 m3/year, of which the outflow to the confined aquifer was 14% in B–B′, whereas the total flow rate in the unconfined aquifer was 433.7 × 103 m3/year, of which the outflow to the confined aquifer was 2.7% in C–C′. The difference of the outflow to the confined aquifer between B–B′ and C–C′ is derived from the difference of the updated aquifer structures. The groundwater budget indicated that 5–20-holds amount of the groundwater infiltrates to more deeper aquifers than the aquitard the study targeted near the foot of mountains. The groundwater pumping in the confined aquifer in B–B′ affects the infiltration of the unconfined aquifer, which may control the groundwater quality. Results of the groundwater budget in this study are well corresponded to the previous studies. Although separating the groundwater pumping and the upward groundwater flow rate using the groundwater budget this study provided is unavailable due to lack of the hydraulic head in ATI in C–C′, the method used for this study is adequate to reproduce groundwater flow systems, which may be applicable to areas, where the aquifer structures are unestablished.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Geothermal Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 3088-176 Noguchibaru, Beppu, Oita, 874-0903, Japan

    Heejun Yang

  2. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan

    Heejun Yang

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Yang, H. Groundwater flow evaluation using a groundwater budget model and updated aquifer structures at an alluvial fan of Echi-gawa, Japan. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 8, 4359–4371 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-022-01394-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-022-01394-7

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