Strategies for Sustainable Water Management
Hydrochemical Profiling and Protection Zone Design in Rania Basin, Iraq
Abstract
Groundwater in the Rania basin, Iraqi Kurdistan region, has been under intensive exploitation in the last two decades, where quantity and quality are both affected. Hence, any attempt to protect the aquifers has become an urgent need. Saruchawa, Qulai Rania, and Qulai Kanimaran are the three large springs, among dozens of others in the area, that are heavily relied on as the sole or main source of water supply. Hydrochemical analysis, the first and most practical step to evaluating the water quality, was carried out through 60 water samples collected from 13 springs and 17 wells in both dry and wet seasons (October 2018 and May 2019). Laboratory results show a high calcium bicarbonate concentration with weak acids’ dominance. Protection zones are delineated for these springs using aquifer susceptibility to contamination and analysis of the recession part of the spring curves. The equivalent relationship between the protection factor (Fp) produced by the Epikarst, protective cover, infiltration condition, and Karst network development mapping method and the groundwater protection zone (S) is considered. Qulai Rania and Kanimaran Springs are mapped to be in S2 (a highly vulnerable area), whereas Saruchawa Spring is located in S1 (very highly vulnerable). Based on the second method results (recession curve analyses), all three selected springs fall under the (D-type) vulnerability category. As a result, the immediate protection zone was going to be surrounded by the inner protection zone, and both are enclosed within the outer protection zone, which covers the remainder of the catchment area.
Downloads
References
Abirifard, M., Birk, S., Raeisi, E., and Sauter, M., 2022. Dynamic volume in karst aquifers: Parameters affecting the accuracy of estimates from recession analysis. Journal of Hydrology, 612, p.128286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128286
Adams, B., and Foster, S.S.D., 1992. Land‐surface zoning for groundwater protection. Water and Environment Journal, 6(3), pp.312-319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-6593.1992.tb00755.x
Al-Manmi, D.A., 2008. BolWater Resources Management in Rania Area, Sulaimaniyah NE-Iraq. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Al-Manmi, D.A.M.A., and Saleh, K.A., 2019. Delineation of spring protection zone and vulnerability mapping of selected springs in Sulaymaniyah area, Kurdistan, Iraq. Environmental Earth Sciences, 78(21), p.622. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8632-2
APHA., 2012. In: Rice, E.W., Baird, R.B., Eaton, A.D., and Clesceri, L.S., Eds. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 22nd ed., American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF), Washington, DC, USA.
Awawdeh, M., and Nawafleh, A., 2008. A GIS-based EPIK model for assessing aquifer vulnerability in Irbid Governorate, North Jordan. Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, 2(3), pp.267-278.
Bellen, R.V., Dunnington, H.V., Wetzel, R., and Morton, D., 1959. Congrès géologique international. Lexique Stratigraphic International. Paris, p.333.
Bolton, C.M.G., 1958. The Geology of the Ranya Area. Manuscript Report, (271). GEOSURV, Baghdad.
Buday, T., 1980. The Regional Geology of Iraq. Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography. GEOSURV, Baghdad, Iraq, p.445.
Buday, T., and Jassim, S.Z., 1987. In: Abbas, M.J., and Jassim, S.Z., Eds. The Regional geology of Iraq: Tectonism, Magmatism and Metamorphism. GEOSURV, Baghdad, Iraq, p.445.
Civita, M., and De Regibus, C., 1995. Experimentation of some methodologies for assessing the vulnerability of aquifers. Pitagora Bologna, 3, pp.63-71.
Civita, M.V., 2008. An improved method for delineating source protection zones for karst Springs based on analysis of recession curve data. Hydrogeology Journal, 16(5), pp.855-869. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0283-4
Doerfliger, N., and Zwahlen, F., 1998. Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping in Karstic Regions (EPIK), Practical Guide. Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), Berne, p.56.
Doerfliger, N., Jeannin, P.Y., and Zwahlen, F., 1999. Water vulnerability assessment in karst environments: A new method of defining protection areas using a multi-attribute approach and GIS tools (EPIK method). Environmental Geology, 39(2), pp.165-176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540050446
Filippini, M., Segadelli, S., Dinelli, E., Failoni, M., Stumpp, C., Vignaroli, G., Casati, T., Tiboni, B., and Gargini, A., 2024. Hydrogeological assessment of a major Spring discharging from a calcarenitic aquifer with implications on resilience to climate change. Science of the Total Environment, 913, p.169770. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169770
Fiorillo, F., 2014. The recession of spring hydrographs, focused on karst aquifers. Water Resources Management: An International Journal, 28, pp.1781-1805. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0597-z
Foster, S., Hirata, R., and Andreo, B., 2013. The aquifer pollution vulnerability concept: Aid or impediment in promoting groundwater protection? Hydrogeology Journal, 21(7), pp.1389-1392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1019-7
Fryar, A.E., Currens, B.J., and Alvarez, C.S., 2023. Hydrochemical delineation of Spring recharge in an urbanized karst basin, Central Kentucky. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 29(3), pp.203-216. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21663/EEG-D-22-00066
Goldscheider, N., 2005. Karst groundwater vulnerability mapping: Application of a new method in the Swabian Alb, Germany. Hydrogeology Journal, 13, pp.555-564. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0291-3
Goldscheider, N., Klute, M., Sturm, S., and Hötzl, H., 2010. The PI method-a GIS-based approach to mapping groundwater vulnerability with special consideration of karst aquifers. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Geologie, 46(3), pp.157-166.
Hamdan, I., Margane, A., Ptak, T., Wiegand, B., and Sauter, M., 2016. Groundwater vulnerability assessment for the karst aquifer of Tanour and Rasoun springs catchment area (NW-Jordan) using COP and EPIK intrinsic methods. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, p.1474. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6281-2
Hamed Masoud, H., Dara Rebwar, N., and Kirlas Marios, C., 2024. Groundwater vulnerability assessment using a GIS-based DRASTIC method in the Erbil Dumpsite area (Kani Qirzhala), Central Erbil Basin, North Iraq. Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering, 12(1), pp.16-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26599/JGSE.2024.9280003
Jassim, S.Z., and Goff, J.C., Eds., 2006. Geology of Iraq. Dolin, Prague and Moravian Museum, Brno, p.341.
Jeannin, P.Y., Cornaton, F., Zwahlen, F., and Perrochet, P., 2001. VULK: A Tool for Intrinsic Vulnerability Assessment and Validation. In: 7th Conference on Limestone Hydrology and Fissured Media, Besanc. Vol. 13. pp.185-188.
Kovacs, A., and Perrochet, P., 2008. A quantitative approach to Spring hydrograph decomposition. Journal of Hydrology, 352(1-2), pp.16-29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.12.009
Marín, A.I., Andreo B., and Mudarra, M., 2015. Vulnerability mapping and protection zoning of karst springs. Validation by multitracer tests. Science of the Total Environment, 532, pp.435-446. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.029
Meerkhan, H., Freitas, L., Pereira, A.J.S.C., Rocha, F., and Chaminé, H.I., 2022. Delineating Springs safeguard zones with disco-urban Index: A valuable tool for groundwater vulnerability mapping in local-scale urban areas. Discover Water, 2, p.2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-022-00011-z
Rusjan, S., Lebar, K., and Bezak, N., 2023. Insight into heterogenous karst catchment by dynamical system approach. Advances in Water Resources, 180, p.104524. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2023.104524
SAEFL., 2000. Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping in Karstic Regions (EPIK). Practical Guide. Environment in Practice. SAEFL, Berne, pp.56-57.
Segadelli, S., Filippini, M., Monti, A., Celico, F., and Gargini A., 2021. Estmation of recharge in mountain hard-rock aquifer based on discrete spring discharge monitoring during base flow recession. Hydrogeology Journal, 29, pp.949-961. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02317-z
Sissakian, V.K., 1997. Geological map of Arbeel and Mahabad Quadrangles, scale 1:250000. In: State Establishment of Geological Survey and Mining.Iraq’s Geological Survey Publication, Iraq-Baghdad.
Sissakian, V., and Fouad, S.F., 2014. Geological Map of Sulaimaniyah Kirkuk Quadrangle, Scale 1: 250000. 2nd ed. Iraq Geological Survey Publications, Baghdad, Iraq.
Mogheir, Y. and Tarazi, G., 2010. Comparative identification of wellhead protection areas for municipal supply wells in gaza. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2, pp.105-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2010.22012
Tripet, J.P., Doerfliger, N., and Zwahlen, F., 1997. Vulnerability mapping in karst areas and its uses in Switzerland. Hydrogeologie (France), 3, pp.51-57.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2010. Springs and wells. In: National Engineering Handbook, Part 631, Ch. 32. USDA, Washington, DC, p.51.
US EPA., 2021. Delineate the Source Water Protection Area. US EPA.
Vias, J.M., Andreo, B., Perles, M.J., Carrasco, F., Vadillo, I., and Jimenez, P. 2006. A proposed method for groundwater vulnerability mapping in carbonate (karstic) aquifers: The COP method. Hydrogeology Journal, 14. pp.912-925. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0023-6
Zeydalinejad, N., 2023. An overview of the methods for evaluating the resilience of groundwater systems. MethodsX, 10, p.102134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2023.102134
Copyright (c) 2024 Ata O. Salih, Diary A. Al-Manmi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who choose to publish their work with Aro agree to the following terms:
-
Authors retain the copyright to their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. The work is simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY-NC-SA 4.0]. This license allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
-
Authors have the freedom to enter into separate agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work. This includes options such as posting it to an institutional repository or publishing it in a book, as long as proper acknowledgement is given to its initial publication in this journal.
-
Authors are encouraged to share and post their work online, including in institutional repositories or on their personal websites, both prior to and during the submission process. This practice can lead to productive exchanges and increase the visibility and citation of the published work.
By agreeing to these terms, authors acknowledge the importance of open access and the benefits it brings to the scholarly community.
ARO Journal is a scientific, peer-reviewed, periodical, and OAJ that has no APC or ASC.