Iran-Water Resources Research

Iran-Water Resources Research

Investigating the Effects of Stresses Caused by Recharge and Exploitation in Ghaemshahr-Juybar Coastal Aquifer on the Sea Saltwater Intrusion

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Science, University of Kharazmi, Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
The development and management of aquifers in coastal belts is a significant contributor to sea saltwater intrusion. Therefore, tempo-spatial monitoring of the qualitative behavior of these aquifers is crucial for understanding the development of salinity, identifying its sources, and implementing measures to control this phenomenon. This study investigates the hydrochemical variations in coastal groundwater resources of the Ghaemshahr-Juybar plain by the Caspian Sea. For this purpose, a combination of statistical methods, principal component analysis, the saline water intrusion groundwater quality index, and hydrochemical facies evolution diagrams was utilized alongside GIS tools to compare, identify, and investigate the tempo-spatial changes of saltwater intrusion in this coastal alluvial aquifer. Based on analysis made on qualitative samples collected from three unconfined, perched, and saline aquifers during four time periods (2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020), saline water intrusion in these aquifers is certain but the sources of their salinity differ. The results indicated that the chemical composition of the groundwater in aquifers of this plain is primarily controlled by three main factors; the saltwater intrusion from the Caspian Sea and the fossil water from the bedrock, the reverse cation exchange process, and the influence of domestic sewage, agricultural activities, and the use of nitrate fertilizers. These factors, whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, have been exacerbated by human activities, including unauthorized and excessive exploitation of agricultural wells in the plain. The findings of the research indicated that the construction and operation of the water supply network from the Alborz Dam in the plain, and the use of surface water for irrigation instead of groundwater wells, significantly reduced the intrusion of saltwater from the sea and fossil water from the bedrock into the coastal aquifers. Therefore, considering the geological and lithological conditions of the studied area, it is essential to restrict water exploitation from the wells to prevent the intrusion of fossil saline water into the existing aquifers, thereby mitigating the saltwater upconing phenomenon. The proposed approach in this study for managing the salinity of coastal aquifers at risk of saltwater intrusion can be highly beneficial for both managers and researchers.
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  • Receive Date 07 June 2024
  • Revise Date 11 July 2024
  • Accept Date 22 July 2024