Abstract
The implementation process of the EU water legislation (EU WFD, EU GWD) has put pressure on environmental managers to create, analyse and disseminate hydrological data in recent years. In this context, distributed hydrological model results at the macro scale (>10,000 km2) have gained importance for the Environment Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, too. Within a joint project the distributed water balance model GROWA, developed for Germany, has been adapted to Slovenia by re-calibrating the routine for determining the average annual groundwater recharge rate. This routine consists mainly of a base flow index approach (BFI). This BFI is based on 41 different site conditions in Slovenia, whereas lithology dominates the recharge process. This paper outlines the general GROWA approach, the required input data, and the calibration process. Validated model results for the period 1971–2000, especially total runoff and base flow, are presented and discussed. These results have been used already for practical water management issues in Slovenia on European, national and regional level. It is shown that Slovenian groundwater resources exhibit high regional and seasonal variability. Tendencies of more frequent and more pronounced droughts have been detected. As demonstrated by the results GROWA is a valuable tool for the spatially distributed assessment of groundwater recharge in Slovenia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahamsen P, Hansen S (2000) Daisy: an open soil-crop-atmosphere system model. Environ Model Softw 15:313–330
Andjelov M, Gale U, Kukar N, Trišić N, Uhan J (2006) Groundwater quantitative status assessment in Slovenia (in Slovenian, English summary). Geologija 49/2:383–392. http://www.geologija-revija.si/clanki.aspx?a=255. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Andjelov M, Kunkel R, Uhan J, Wendland F (2014) Determination of nitrogen reduction levels necessary to reach groundwater quality targets in Slovenia. J Environ Sci 26:1806–1817
ARSO (2010a) Meteorološki informacijski sistem. Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje, Ljubljana
ARSO (2010b) Hidrološki informacijski sistem. Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje, Ljubljana
ARSO (2011) Geografski informacijski sistem ARSO. Spletna objektna storitev (WFS) za izdajanje okoljskih prostorskih podatkov. http://gis.arso.gov.si/. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Bogena H, Kunkel R, Schöbel T, Schrey HP, Wendland F (2005a) Distributed modelling of groundwater recharge at the macroscale. Ecol Model 187:15–26
Bogena H, Kunkel R, Montzka C, Wendland F (2005b) Uncertainties in the simulation of groundwater recharge at different scales. Adv Geosci 5:25–30
Brown A, Matlock MD (2011) A review of water scarcity indices and methodologies. White paper the sustainability consortium. http://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/wp-content/themes/sustainability/assets/pdf/whitepapers/2011_Brown_Matlock_Water-Availability-Assessment-Indices-and-Methodologies-Lit-Review.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Brunner P, Simmons CT (2012) HydroGeoSphere: a fully integrated, physically based hydrological model. Groundwater 50:170–176
Buser S (2010) Geološka karta Slovenije = Geological map of Slovenia—1:250.000. Ljubljana. http://www.geo-zs.si/podrocje.aspx?id=441. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Buser S, Draksler V (1993) Geological map of Slovenia 1:500,000. Geodetski zavod Slovenije, Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana
Celen M, Karpuzcu M, Engin G, Tetzlaff B, Wendland F (2014) Modelling of the total phosphorus input pathways in Porsuk reservoir catchment in Turkey. Environ Earth Sci 72:5019–5034
Chung IM, Kim NW, Lee J, Sophocleous M (2010) Assessing distributed groundwater recharge rate using integrated surface water-groundwater modelling: application to Mihocheon watershed, South Korea. Hydrogeol J 18:1253–1264
CLC (2000) Corine land cover information. http://gis.arso.gov.si/clc/. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Combalicher EA et al (2008) Comparing groundwater recharge and base flow in the Bukmoongol small-forested watershed, Korea. J Earth Syst Sci 117:553–566
Custodio E (2002) Aquifer overexploitation: what does it mean? Hydrogeol J 10:254–277
Demuth S (1993) Untersuchungen zum Niedrigwasser in West-Europa. Freiburger Schr zur Hydrologie:1, Freiburg
Devlin JF, Sophocleous M (2005) The persistence of the water budget myth and its relationship to sustainability. Hydrogeol J 13:549–554
Dolinar M (2008) Water balance elements—precipitation. In: Frantar P (eds) Water balance of Slovenia 1971–2000. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 4 012020, pp 29–39
Dörhöfer G, Josopait V (1981) A method for determining area-related rates of groundwater recharge. Nat Res Dev 14:99–119
Eckhardt K, Ulbrich U (2003) Potential impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge and streamflow in a central European low mountain range. J Hydrol 284:244–252
EEA (1999) Groundwater quality and quantity in Europe. Technical report 22, Copenhagen
EEA (2009) Water resources across Europe-confronting water scarcity and drought. EEA Report No 2/2009, Copenhagen
EEA (2010a) The European environment-state and outlook 2010: Synthesis. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
EEA (2010b) Use of freshwater resources (CSI 018/WAT 001). Assessment published Dec 2010. http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/use-of-freshwater-resources/use-of-freshwater-resources-assessment-2. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
EU WFD (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. L 327. Official Journal of the European Communities
EU GWD (2006) Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration, L 327/19. Official Journal of the European Communities
Frantar P (2007) Geographical overview of water balance of Slovenia 1971–2000 by main river basins. Acta Geogr Slov 47–1:25–45
Frantar P (ed. 2008) Water balance of Slovenia 1971–2000. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environ Science, vol 4, pp 012020. doi:10.1088/1755-1307/4/1/012020
Gabriel B, Ziegler G (1989) Lithofazieseinheiten - ein neues Konzept zur Berechnung der Grundwasserneubildung im Festgesteinsbereich. Wasserwirtsch Wassertechn 39:163–165
Goderniaux P et al (2009) Large scale surface-subsurface hydrological model to assess climate change impacts on groundwater reserves. J Hydrol 373:122–138
Golf W (1981) Ermittlung der Wasserressource im Mittelgebirge. Wasserwirtsch Wassertechn 31:93–95
GURS (2000) InSAR DEM 100—Survey and Mapping Administration, Ljubljana. http://prostor.renderspace.net/nc/sistem_zbirk_prostorskih_podatkov/topografsko_kartografski_podatki/digitalni_model_visin. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Hennings V (2000) Methodendokumentation Bodenkunde-Auswertemethoden zur Beurteilung der Empfindlichkeit und Belastbarkeit von Böden. Geol Jb: F1-232
Henriksen HJ et al (2003) Methodology for construction, calibration and validation of a national hydrological model for Denmark. J Hydrol 280:52–71
Herrmann F, Jahnke C, Jenn F, Kunkel R, Voigt HJ, Voigt J, Wendland F (2009) Groundwater recharge rates for regional groundwater modelling: a case study using GROWA in the Lower Rhine lignite mining area, Germany. Hydrogeol J 17:2049–2060
HMO (2007) Hidromelioracijski sistemi. Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano. http://rkg.gov.si/GERK/Za_OB/. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Jyrkama MI, Sykes JF (2007) The impact of climate change on spatially varying groundwater recharge in the grand river watershed (Ontario). J Hydrol 338:237–250
Kille K (1970) Das Verfahren MoMNQ, ein Beitrag zur Berechnung der mittleren langjährigen Grundwasserneubildung mit Hilfe der monatlichen Niedrigwasserabflüsse. Z dt geol Ges Sonderh Hydrogeol Hydrogeochem 89–95
Kuhr P, Haider J, Kreins P, Kunkel R, Tetzlaff B, Wendland F (2013) Model based assessment of nitrate pollution of water resources on a federal state level for the dimensioning of agro-environmental reduction strategies-The North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) case study. Water Res Manag 27:885–909
Kunkel R, Wendland F (2002) The GROWA98 model for water balance analysis in large river basins-the river Elbe case study. J Hydrol 259:152–162
Kunkel R, Bogena H, Tetzlaff B, Wendland F (2006) Digitale Grundwasserneubildungskarte von Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hamburg und Bremen: erstellung und Auswertungsbeispiele. Hydrol Wasserbewirtsch 50:212–219
Li Q et al (2008) Simulating the multi-seasonal response of a large-scale watershed with a 3D physically-based hydrologic model. J Hydrol 357:317–336
Lobnik F, Vidic NJ, Grčman H, Lisec A, Šporar M, Zupan M, Prus T, Rupreht J, Vrščaj B, Suhadolc M, Mihelič R (2006) Soils of Slovenia: soil map 1:250,000. In: Tajnsek A (ed) Novi izzivi v poljedelstvu 2006. Proceedings of symposium Rogaška Slatina 7 and 8. December 2006 Ljubljana. Slovensko agronomsko društvo, pp 193–197
Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia (2003) Rules on methods for determining water bodies of groundwater. Ur.l. RS, no. 65/2003. http://www.uradni-list.si/. Accessed 26 August 2014
Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia (2005) Rules of determining water bodies of groundwater. Ur. l. RS, no. 63/2005. http://www.uradni-list.si/. Accessed 26 August 2014
OGK1 (1998) Basic geological map of Yugoslavia 1:100,000. Map sheets for Slovenia 1967–1998
Panday S, Huyakorn PS (2004) A fully coupled physically-based spatially-distributed model for evaluating surface/subsurface flow. Adv Water Resour 27:361–382
Perko D (1998) Regionalization of Slovenia. Geografski zbornik, XXXVIII, Ljubljana. http://giam.zrc-sazu.si/zbornik/perko_38.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
PKS (2007) Pedološka karta Slovenije. Analize, Podatki. Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano. http://rkg.gov.si/GERK/. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Prestor J, Komac M, Janža M, Meglič P, Bavec M, Poljak M (2004) Hidrogeološka karta R Slovenije 1:250 000. Nacionalna baza hidrogeoloških podatkov za opredelitev teles podzemne vode Republike Slovenije. Geološki zavod Slovenije, Ljubljana
Prestor J, Urbanc J, Janža M, Meglič P, Šinigoj J, Hribernik K, Komac M, Strojan M, Bizjak M, Feguš B, Brenčič M, Krivic M, Kumelj Š, Požar M, Hötzl M, Sušnik A, Benčina D, Krajnc M, Gacin M (2006) Nacionalna baza hidrogeoloških podaktov za opredelitev teles podzemne vode Republike Slovenije. Geološki zavod Slovenije, Ljubljana
Rejec Brancelj I, Dobnikar Tehovnik M, Uhan J (2011) Key features of the national water management plan for 2009–2015 and implementing the water directive. In: Volfand J (ed) Water management in Slovenia. FIT Media, pp 8–19
Renger M, Wessolek G (1996) Berechnung der Verdunstungsjahresnummern einzelner Jahre. DVWK, Bonn
Seiler KP, Gat JR (2007) Groundwater recharge from run-off, infiltration and percolation. Springer, Dordrecht
Sophocleous M (2000) From safe yield to sustainable development of water resources-the Kansas experience. J Hydrol 235:27–43
Sorooshian S, Gupta VK, Fulton JL (1983) Evaluation of maximum likelihood parameter estimation techniques for conceptual rainfall-runoff models: influence of calibration data variability and length on model credibility. Water Resour Res 19:251–259
Tetzlaff B, Wendland F (2008) Flächendifferenzierte Modellierung von Phosphateinträgen in die Oberflächengewässer über Dränagen. Hydrol Wasserbewirtsch 52:258–269
Tetzlaff B, Wendland F (2012) Modelling sediment input to surface waters for German states with MEPhos: methodology, sensitivity and uncertainty. Water Res Manage 26:165–184
Tetzlaff B, Kunkel R, Taugs R, Dörhöfer G, Wendland F (2004) Grundlagen für eine nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung von Grundwasserressourcen in der Metropolregion Hamburg. Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich
Tetzlaff B, Kuhr P, Vereecken H, Wendland F (2009a) Aerial photograph-based delineation of artificially drained areas and their relevance for water balance and nutrient modeling in large river basins. Phys Chem Earth 34:552–564
Tetzlaff B, Kuhr P, Wendland F (2009b) A new method for creating maps of artificially drained areas in large river basins based on aerial photographs and geodata. Irrig Drain 58:569–585
Tetzlaff B, Vereecken H, Kunkel R, Wendland F (2009c) Modelling phosphorus inputs from agricultural sources and urban areas in river basins. Environ Geol 57:183–193
Tetzlaff B, Haider J, Kreins P, Kuhr P, Kunkel R, Wendland F (2013a) Grid-based modelling of nutrient inputs from diffuse and point sources for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) as a tool for river basin management according to EU WFD. River Syst 20:213–229
Tetzlaff B, Friedrich K, Vorderbrügge T, Vereecken H, Wendland F (2013b) Distributed modelling of mean annual soil erosion and sediment delivery rates to surface waters. Catena 102:13–20
Tetzlaff B, Krause D, Marowsky K, Bock A (2015) Eutrophierungsprobleme im Altmühlsee als Folge diffuser und punktförmiger P-Einträge—Modellierung und Ergebnisse. Hydrol Wasserbewirtsch 59:23–36
TNP (2012) Management plan of the Triglav National Park 2014–2023-draft. Triglav National Park
Uhan J (2012) Quantitative status of groundwater in Slovenia. Groundwater monitoring report 2011. Slovenian Environment Agency, Ljubljana
Uhan J, Andjelov M (2012a) Groundwater recharge. Environmental indicators in Slovenia. Slovenian Environment Agency. http://kazalci.arso.gov.si/?data=indicator&ind_id=473&lang_id=94. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Uhan J, Andjelov M (2012b) Groundwater minimum of the last 50 years. Slovenian Environment Agency, Ljubljana
Uhan J, Vižintin G, Pezdič J (2010) Groundwater nitrate vulnerability assessment using process-based models and weights-of-evidence technique—Lower Savinja Valley case study Slovenia. Proceedings of XXXVIII IAH Congress, Krakow, pp 205–210
Vrba J, Lipponen A (2007) Groundwater resources sustainability indicators. UNESCO IHP-VI. Ser Groundw 14, Paris. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001497/149754e.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Wendland F, Kunkel R, Tetzlaff B, Dörhöfer G (2003) GIS-based determination of the mean long-term groundwater recharge in Lower Saxony. Environ Geol 45:273–278
Wendland F, Behrendt H, Hirt U, Kreins P, Kuhn U, Kuhr P, Kunkel R, Tetzlaff B (2010) Analyse von Agrar- und Umweltmaßnahmen zur Reduktion der Stickstoffbelastung von Grundwasser und Oberflächengewässer in der Flussgebietseinheit Weser. Hydrol Wasserbewirtsch 54:231–244
Wessolek G, Facklam M (1997) Standorteigenschaften und Wasserhaushalt von versiegelten Flächen. Z Pflanzenernähr Bodenk 160:41–46
Wundt W (1958) Die Kleinstwasserführung der Flüsse als Maß für die verfügbaren Grundwassermengen. Forsch Deut Landeskunde 104:47–54
Zektser IS, Everett LG (2004) Groundwater resources of the world and their use. UNESCO IHP-VI. Ser Groundw 6, Paris. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001344/134433e.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb 2015
Zupanc V et al (2011) Nitrate leaching under vegetable field above a shallow aquifer in Slovenia. Agric Ecosyst Environ 144:167–174
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tetzlaff, B., Andjelov, M., Kuhr, P. et al. Model-based assessment of groundwater recharge in Slovenia. Environ Earth Sci 74, 6177–6192 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4639-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4639-5