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A numerical study on land subsidence due to extensive overexploitation of groundwater in Aliabad plain, Qom-Iran

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Abstract

Over the last decade, many areas of Iran have been increased in suffering from land subsidence due to a large exploitation of groundwater, needed to cope with the water scarcity caused by low precipitation. The plateau of Qom, especially the area of Aliabad village (Aliabad plain), has encountered many problems due to subsidence which occurs as cracks in building walls and fractures in wells. In this paper, we are going to evaluate land subsidence in some parts of Qom plateau, in particular Aliabad plain, by a numerical model (PLAXIS® 3D; v1.6) considering aquifer pressure changes, hydrological and geotechnical data. Results of the study reveal that since 2001–2013, the average groundwater level decline was measured 26.35 m and the corresponding subsidence had been 0–76 cm in different areas of the plain. Response of the saturated geologic units toward the changes in ground water level due to groundwater extraction and, in turn, land subsidence depends on the characteristics of geological materials in the units. Moreover, the units containing a combination of grain and fine soil, such as sand and clay which are completely different in the geotechnical parameters, tend to react differently due to all changes in the groundwater level.

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Fig. 1

(Reproduced with permission from Qom Regional Water Company 2011a, b)

Fig. 2
Fig. 3

(adopted from Qom Regional Water Company 2011a; Geological Survey of Iran 2002)

Fig. 4

(data adopted from Qom Regional Water Company 2013)

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Acknowledgements

Authors are willing to thank Qom Regional Water Company for provision of useful information.

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  1. Engineering Geology Department, School of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Ali M. Rajabi

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Rajabi, A.M. A numerical study on land subsidence due to extensive overexploitation of groundwater in Aliabad plain, Qom-Iran. Nat Hazards 93, 1085–1103 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3448-z

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