Abstract
Challenged by rapidly changing climate in combination with an increase in anthropogenic pressures, karst groundwater resources in the Old Town of Lijiang (OTLJ), SW China, are diminishing. Higher frequency and longer duration of dried-up periods have been observed at the Heilongtan Park (HP) Springs in recent years. Thus, there is an urgent need for an artificial recharge scheme, aimed at replenishing groundwater in the aquifer and increasing the outflow of the springs to ensure effective water resources management. Evaluation of the scheme feasibility, prior to its implementation, is important. In this study, tracer tests were conducted between the recharge area and receiving springs in order to gain insight into the transport mechanisms of karst groundwater and the structural characteristics of the aquifer. Multiple underground flow paths, exhibiting high conductivity between the recharge area and HP Springs, were revealed by the interpretation of tracer breakthrough curves. Three springs considered as the leakages of the scheme were identified. Moreover, the outflow of springs at HP and OTLJ were predicted to be increased by the artificially recharged water after 9.2 and 12.5 days, respectively. Quantitative analysis of tracer recoveries demonstrates that the springs to be recharged and the springs considered as leakages, respectively, share 45 and 55% of the increased outflow. The feasibility of the scheme has been confirmed by the tracer tests. This report provides references for the evaluation of artificial groundwater recharge and protection strategies, particularly in large and poorly investigated karst spring fields.
Résumé
Les ressources en eaux souterraines karstiques de la Vieille Ville de Lijiang (VVLJ), dans le sud-ouest de la Chine, diminuent en raison du changement rapide du climat et de l’augmentation des pressions anthropiques. Une fréquence plus élevée et une durée plus longue des périodes d’assèchement ont été observées aux sources du parc Heilongtan (HP) ces dernières années. Il est donc urgent de mettre en place un programme de recharge artificielle, visant à reconstituer les eaux souterraines de l’aquifère et à augmenter le débit des sources pour assurer une gestion efficace des ressources en eau. L’évaluation de la faisabilité du projet, avant sa mise en œuvre, est importante. Dans cette étude, des essais de traçage ont été réalisés entre la zone de recharge et les sources réceptrices afin de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de transport des eaux souterraines karstiques et les caractéristiques structurelles de l’aquifère. De multiples voies d’écoulement souterraines, présentant une conductivité élevée entre la zone de recharge et les sources de HP, ont été révélées par l’interprétation des courbes de restitution des traceurs. Trois sources considérées comme des fuites du système ont été identifiées. De plus, on prédit que le débit des sources à HP et VVLJ serait augmenté par l’eau rechargée artificiellement après 9.2 et 12.5 jours, respectivement. L’analyse quantitative des taux de restitution des traceurs démontre que les sources à recharger et les sources considérées comme fuites se partagent respectivement 45 et 55% de l’augmentation du débit sortant. La faisabilité du système de recharge artificielle a été confirmée par les essais de traçage. Ce rapport fournit des références pour l’évaluation des stratégies de protection et de recharge artificielle des eaux souterraines, en particulier dans les grands systèmes de sources karstiques peu étudiés.
Resumen
Los recursos de agua subterránea kárstica de la Old Town of Lijiang (OTLJ), en el suroeste de China, están disminuyendo debido al cambio climático y al aumento de las presiones antropogénicas. En los últimos años se ha observado una mayor frecuencia y duración de los períodos de desecación en los manantiales del Parque Heilongtan (HP). Por lo tanto, existe una necesidad urgente de un plan de recarga artificial, destinado a reponer las aguas subterráneas en el acuífero y aumentar el flujo de salida de los manantiales para garantizar una gestión adecuada de los recursos hídricos. Es importante evaluar la viabilidad del plan antes de su aplicación. En este estudio, se realizaron pruebas de trazadores entre la zona de recarga y los manantiales receptores para conocer los mecanismos de transporte del agua subterránea kárstica y las características estructurales del acuífero. La interpretación de las curvas de ruptura del trazador puso de manifiesto la existencia de múltiples trayectorias de flujo subterráneo que presentaban una alta conductividad entre la zona de recarga y los manantiales HP. Se identificaron tres manantiales considerados como las filtraciones del esquema. Además, se predijo que el flujo de salida de los manantiales en HP y OTLJ sería aumentado por el agua recargada artificialmente después de 9.2 y 12.5 días, respectivamente. El análisis cuantitativo de las recuperaciones del trazador demuestra que los manantiales que se van a recargar y los considerados como filtraciones, respectivamente, comparten el 45 y el 55% del aumento del caudal. La viabilidad del esquema ha sido confirmada por las pruebas de trazadores. Este informe proporciona referencias para la evaluación de las estrategias de recarga y protección artificial de las aguas subterráneas, en particular en campos de manantiales kársticos de gran tamaño y poco investigados.
摘要
由于快速变化的气候和人为压力增加的影响, 中国西南部丽江古城(OTLJ)的岩溶地下水资源正在减少。近年来, 在黑龙潭公园(HP)温泉中观察到更高频次和更长的干涸期。因此, 迫切需要一种人工补给方案, 旨在补充含水层中的地下水并增加泉水溢出量, 以确保有效的水资源管理。在实施之前对计划的可行性进行评估很重要。在这项研究中, 为了深入了解岩溶地下水的输送机制和含水层的结构特征, 在补给区和排泄泉之间进行了示踪试验。通过对示踪穿透曲线的解释, 揭示了在补给区和 HP泉之间表现出高电导率的多个地下流动路径。考虑将三个泉作为方案的泄露点。此外, 预计在 9.2 天和 12.5 天后, 人工补给水将增加 HP 和 OTLJ 的泉水溢出量。示踪剂回收的定量分析表明, 待再补给的泉和被视为泄漏的泉分别分享增加的流出量的 45 和 55%。示踪试验证实了该方案的可行性。本报告为评价人工地下水补给和保护策略为大型和研究不充分的喀斯特泉群研究提供了参考。
Resumo
Desafiados pelas rápidas mudanças climáticas em combinação com um aumento das pressões antropogênicas, os recursos hídricos subterrâneos cársticos na Cidade Velha de Lijiang (CVL), SO China, estão diminuindo. Maior frequência e maior duração dos períodos de seca têm sido observados nas nascentes do Parque Heilongtan (PH) nos últimos anos. Assim, há uma necessidade urgente de um esquema de recarga artificial, visando a reposição de águas subterrâneas no aquífero e o aumento do escoamento das nascentes para garantir uma gestão efetiva dos recursos hídricos. É importante uma avaliação da viabilidade do regime, antes de sua implementação. Neste estudo, foram realizados testes de traçadores entre a área de recarga e as nascentes recebedoras, a fim de obter uma visão dos mecanismos de transporte das águas subterrâneas cársticas e as características estruturais do aquífero. Múltiplos caminhos de fluxo subterrâneo, exibindo alta condutividade entre a área de recarga e as nascentes do PH, foram revelados pela interpretação das curvas de avanço do traçador. Foram identificadas três nascentes consideradas como vazamentos do esquema. Além disso, as vazões de saída das nascentes do PH e da CVL foram previstas para ser aumentados pela água artificialmente recarregada após 9.2 e 12.5 dias, respectivamente. A análise quantitativa da recuperação dos traçadores demonstra que as nascentes a serem recarregadas e as nascentes consideradas como vazamentos, respectivamente, compartilham 45 e 55% da vazão de saída. A viabilidade do esquema foi confirmada pelos testes do traçador. Este relatório fornece referências para a avaliação de estratégias de recarga artificial e proteção de águas subterrâneas, particularmente no campo de nascentes amplamente e insuficientemente investigadas.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr. Junjie Zhang, Dr. Leilei Guo, Yuxin Li, Wei Gao, Anbang Huang, Wanting Zhang, Chengwen Wang, Ruiwen Ling, Qingzhong Ding and Leilei Yu for participating of the field tracer work. We also gratefully acknowledge the very useful technical edit by Sue Duncan. Special thanks are given to the editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.
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This article was funded by the State Key Laboratory for Geo-hazard Prevention and Geo-environment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology; grant No. SKLGP2020K002).
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Cen, X., Xu, M., Qi, J. et al. Characterization of karst conduits by tracer tests for an artificial recharge scheme. Hydrogeol J 29, 2381–2396 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02398-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02398-w