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WetSpass model and chloride mass balance based groundwater recharge estimation: the Case of Golina River Basin, northern Ethiopia

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Abstract

The Golina River Basin is one of the semi-arid basins located in the northern part of Ethiopia where government intervention of groundwater-based irrigation practices is implemented. The intervention has resulted in the drilling of several boreholes leading to doubts whether the groundwater abstraction is sustainable or not. Hence, the purpose of this study is to estimate groundwater recharge of the basin using the WetSpass model and Chloride mass balance methods and, therefore, evaluate the sustainability of the current groundwater abstraction rate. The WetSpass model-based groundwater recharge estimation was carried out through the preparation of grid-based and database format (dbf) input parameters. These parameters include soil, topography, slope and seasonal precipitation, temperature, wind speed, potential evapotranspiration, groundwater depth, and land use/cover maps. On the other hand, the chloride mass balance method-based groundwater recharge estimation was carried out through preparation of annual mean precipitation, and average chloride concentration in rainfall and groundwater. The results of the WetSpass model indicate that the annual actual evapotranspiration is 681 mm, runoff 140 mm, and groundwater recharge 82 mm. On the other hand, the chloride mass balance method resulted in an annual groundwater recharge of 101 mm. Based on the WetSpass model results, a total of 18.8 MCM of water, which is 25% of annual groundwater recharge, can be safely extracted from the Golina River Basin without creating significant harm to the environment and the aquifer system. Therefore, the current total groundwater abstraction of 10.2 MCM from the Golina River Basin is sustainable.

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(Modified from MCE (2008) and (Hengl et al. 2014)

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Data availability

The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thanks Samara University, Mekelle University, and the Technical University of Darmstadt (TUD) for funding the research work. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Electricity of Ethiopia, Kobo-Girana Valley Development Program Office (KGVDPO), and the Water Resource Office of Kobo Woreda for providing important information and supporting us during the fieldwork data collection.

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  1. School of Earth Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia

    Hindeya Gebru

  2. School of Earth Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Hindeya Gebru, Tesfamichael Gebreyohannes & Ermias Hagos

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  1. Hindeya Gebru
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Correspondence to Hindeya Gebru.

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Gebru, H., Gebreyohannes, T. & Hagos, E. WetSpass model and chloride mass balance based groundwater recharge estimation: the Case of Golina River Basin, northern Ethiopia. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 9, 188 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-023-00967-3

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