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The analysis of saltwater intrusion through Komesu underground dam and water quality management for salinity

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Abstract

The Komesu underground dam is the first full-scale underground dam constructed to prevent saltwater intrusion in Japan. Although the cutoff wall of the dam effectively reduces the movement of saltwater into the reservoir area, saltwater masses remained behind the dam at the time of its completion, and saltwater can intrude beneath and diffuse through the wall, particularly when the reservoir level is below the sea level because of high pumping levels during the drought years. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate in advance whether the saltwater concentration in the pumped water is likely to exceed or not the permissible salinity level because of an increase in the residual saltwater mass as a result of saltwater intrusion and to take necessary measures to suitably manage the saltwater level behind the dam. To analyze saltwater intrusion, we first selected the optimal program suitable for the analysis of saltwater intrusion. Second, we examined the longitudinal dispersivity and the effect of the cone of depression around the pumping wells. Then we analyzed saltwater intrusion into the reservoir area in detail by using a two-dimensional convective–dispersive analysis. The results of the analysis make it possible to improve management of saltwater in the reservoir area behind the underground dam.

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Acknowledgments

This case study was carried out by the officials of the National Irrigation Project Office of the Okinawa Main Island Southern Area District (NIPOOMISAD) and Sanyu Consultant Inc. (SCI). The authors would like to thank Mr. Kenichi Yokota, Mr. Shinichi Tamada, Mr. Susumu Aoki and Mr. Jin Nakao, who were then the officials of NIPOOMISAD, Mr. Shigeru Sugiyama and Mr. Gen Murakami are officials of SCI. This study was carried out with the support of the Underground Dam Technical Study Board. The authors would like to thank Dr. Takashi Hasegawa, Dr. Taro Okamoto, Dr. Hiroyasu Furukawa and Dr. Masayuki Imaizumi of the board for their valuable advice to this study. Finally, the authors would like to thank Dr. Kazurou Momii and Dr. Kei Nakagawa for their valuable advice on the water tank experiment and analysis of longitudinal dispersivity by tracer test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Irrigation Project Office of the Waga Middle Area District, Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 6-131-1 Naganuma, Wagamachi, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0333, Japan

    Norio Nawa

  2. Sanyu Consultants Inc., 2-15-22 Nishiki, Nakaku, Nagoya, Aichi, 460-0003, Japan

    Kenji Miyazaki

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  1. Norio Nawa
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  2. Kenji Miyazaki
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Correspondence to Norio Nawa.

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Nawa, N., Miyazaki, K. The analysis of saltwater intrusion through Komesu underground dam and water quality management for salinity. Paddy Water Environ 7, 71–82 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-009-0154-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-009-0154-1

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