Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Hydrogeology, groundwater, modelling, Iraq'

The region of interest is part from Iraqi western desert covering an area about 100,000 km². Several of the large wadis such as Hauran, Amij, Ghadaf, Tubal and Ubaiydh traverse the entire region and discharge into the Euphrates River. The present study included the following hydrogeological investigations: Lineaments interpretation was done by using different data sets (SRTM 30 m and Landsat ETM 15m), within different algorithms. Some faults recognized by field survey match rather well with the automatically extracted lineaments with only a small difference between field data and re-mote sensed data. The groundwater flow directions (west to east) for three aquifers were determined by using different spatial interpolation algorithms. Due to the faults impact, the flow direction gets a slightly other direction when reaching the fault’s zone. Two pumping test were performed close to fault 2 in the unconfined aquifer Dammam using well no. 9 and 17. Results of pumping test and recovery were evaluated with the analytical model MLU for Windows. Well 17 shows a slightly higher transmissivity (0.1048 m²/min) in compari-son to well 9 (T= 0.0832 m²/min). This supports the assumption of a zone of unique elevated permeability between fault 1 and fault 2 because of the tectonic stress and the anticline structure. The catchment and watershed delineation was performed by means of four GIS packages utilizing three DTM´s: 90 m and 30 m SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) and the ASTER 30 m. A thorough field survey and manual catchment delineation of the same area was available from Division 1944. Software used was Arc Hydrotools, TNTmips, River Tools and TecDEM. Ten 90 m SRTM and twelve 30 m ASTER files were merged by means of ArcGIS. The 30 m SRTM dataset of Iraq was supplied by courtesy of the US Army and the region of interest (ROI) was clipped from this DTM using ArcGIS. No additional steps were performed with both DTM data sets before using the mentioned software products to perform the catchment analysis. As a result the catchment calculations were significantly different for both 30 m and 90 m data and the different software products. The groundwater model implemented in Visual Modflow V.4.2 was built by 5 main layers repre-senting Dammam aquifer, first aquiclude, UmEr Duhmma aquifer, second aquiclude and the Tayarat aquifer. Averaged readings of groundwater head from 102 observation wells were used to calibrate the model. Calculated recharge average was 17.5 mm/year based on the water balance for ~30 years (1980-2008). A sensitivity analysis was performed by using different permeability and recharge values. However, the model showed a rather low sensitivity because the values of the standard error of the estimation were between 2.27 m and 3.56 m. Models with recharge less than 11.85 mm/year or more than 60 mm/year did not converge and thus failed to produce a result. Models with Kf values from 1.1-3 to 1.1-4 m/s for aquifers and from 1.1-7 to 1.1-8 m/s for aquicludes converged. Water budget is about 2.17*10¹⁰ m³/year; by irrigating the greenhouses this budget will cover only 1.75% of the total area. However, this value could be upgraded up to 8 – 9 % by utilizing the groundwater inflow from Saudi Arabia
Das Untersuchungsgebiet umfasst eine Fläche von etwa 100.000 km² und ist Teil der westlichen irakischen Wüste. Einige der großen Wadis wie Hauran, Amij, Ghadaf, Tubal und Ubaiydh durchqueren die gesamte Region und entwässern in den Euphrat. Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst folgende hydrogeologische Untersuchungen: Die Interpretation der Lineamente wurde anhand verschiedener Datensätze (SRTM 30 m und Landsat ETM 15 m) und unter Nutzung unterschiedlicher Algorithmen durchgeführt. Einige Störungen, welche während Feldmessungen identifiziert wurden, stimmen gut mit automatisch extrahierten Lineamenten überein, der Unterschied zwischen Feld- und Fernerkundungsdaten ist somit gering. Die Ermittlung der Grundwasserfließrichtungen (von West nach Ost) der drei Aquifere erfolgte unter Nutzung verschiedener Algorithmen zur räumlichen Interpolation. Es zeigte sich, dass die Störungen zu einer leichten Veränderung der Fließrichtung mit zunehmender Nähe zur Störungszone führen. Zwei Pumpversuche in den Brunnen 9 und 17 wurden nahe der Störung 2 im ungesättigten Aquifer Dammam durchgeführt. Die Auswertung der Ergebnisse der Pump- und Wiederanstiegsversuche erfolgte mittels des analytischen Modells MLU für Windows. Es zeigte sich, dass Brunnen 17 eine leicht höhere Transmissivität aufweist (T = 0,1048 m²/min) im Vergleich zu Brunnen 9 (T = 0,0832 m²/min). Dies unterstützt die Annahme der Existenz einer Zone erhöhter Permeabilität zwischen den Störungen 1 und 2, verursacht durch tektonischen Stress und die Antiklinalstruktur. Die Erfassung von Einzugsgebiet und Wasserscheiden erfolgte anhand von vier GIS-Paketen unter Nutzung von 3 DTM’s: 90 m und 30 m SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) sowie ASTER 30 m. Genaue Daten aus einer Feldkampagne und eine manuelle Abgrenzung des Einzugsgebietes derselben Region standen zur Verfügung (Division 1944). Als Software kamen Arc Hydrotools, TNTmips, River Tools und TecDEM zum Einsatz. Zehn SRTM- (90 m) und zwölf ASTER-Files (30 m) wurden mittels ArcGIS vereinigt. Ein 30 m SRTM-Datensatz des Irak (bereitgestellt durch die US-Armee) diente als Grundlage für das Ausschneiden des Untersuchungsgebietes (ROI) mit Hilfe von ArcGIS. An beiden DTM Datensätzen wurden vor der Ermittlung des Einzugsgebietes mit den genannten Software-Produkten keine zusätzlichen Schritte durchgeführt. Als Resultat ergaben sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den 30 m und 90 m Datensätzen sowie der verschiedenen Software. Das in Visual Modflow V.4.2 implementierte Grundwassermodell wurde aus fünf Hauptschichten bestehend aus Dammam Aquifer, erster Stauer, UmEr Duhmma Aquifer, zweiter Stauer und Tayarat Aquifer aufgebaut. Durchschnittliche Werte der Grundwasserstände aus 102 Observationsbrunnen dienten der Kalibrierung des Modells. Die berechnete mittlere Grundwasserneubildung betrug 17,5 mm/a, basierend auf dem Wasserhaushalt der letzten 30 Jahre (1980-2008). Unter Einbeziehung verschiedener Werte für Permeabilität und Grundwasserneubildung wurde eine Sensitivitätsanalyse durchgeführt. Dabei ergab sich allerdings eine geringe Empfindlichkeit des Modells, resultierend aus einer Standardabweichung der Schätzung zwischen 2,27 m und 3,56 m. Modelle mit einer Grundwasserneubildung kleiner 11,85 mm/a und größer 60 mm/a zeigten keine Konvergenz und führten somit zu keinem Ergebnis. Modelle mit kf Werten zwischen 1.1-3 und 1.1-4 m/s für Aquifere und zwischen 1.1-7 und 1.1-8 m/s für Grundwasserstauer konvergierten. Die Grundwasserneubildung betrug etwa 2,17∙10¹⁰ m³/a, für die Bewässerung von Gewächshäusern deckt diese Summe nur 1,75% des gesamten Gebietes ab. Allerdings könnte dieser Wert durch die Nutzung des Grundwasserzuflusses aus Saudi Arabien auf 8 – 9% gesteigert werden

Groundwater is a vital water resource in many areas in the world, particularly in the Middle-East region where the water resources become scarce and depleting. Sustainable management and planning of the groundwater resources become essential and urgent given the impact of the global climate change. This research will use a new hydraulic conductivity estimation “Distributed Value Property Zones” approach, which is integrated into a state-of-the-art computer model—the Visual MODFLOW (version 4.6)—to assess the current state of groundwater resources and the risk of future water resource security in the region centred at Al-Najaf province, which is located in the mid-west of Iraq and adjacent to the Euphrates River. It will also explore and assess the groundwater aquifer-Euphrates River interaction. The impact of the interface soil layer located between the two soils of Al-Najaf region aquifer is studied, which is considered to be the second novelty in this research. The model is calibrated both statically and dynamically. The new hydraulic conductivity approach is highly improved the calibration process, particularly the dynamic process. Where, the application of the dynamic calibration with a 16.5 mm/year recharge rate shows the best correspondence with the field observations. After considering the new approach, sensitivity analysis and validation process are also carried out to evaluate the behaviour of the model, which reveals acceptable convergence. Ignoring the interface soil layer from the conceptualisation process and considering the aquifer as one layer only has affected the model’s results. Specifically, only 0.24 km2 dry area appears in the aquifer as compared with the current state’s results of the groundwater aquifer when the interface soil layer is modelled. In addition, the Euphrates River leakage results are different due to the impact of the interface soil layer when compared with those results when ignoring it from the modelling process. Calibration is also affected. The calculated heads were high and dispersed when compared with those heads when the interface soil layer is modelled. This affects the accuracy and acceptability of the model’s calibration results. The results of the current state of Al-Najaf region show a general flow pattern from the west to east of the study area, which agrees well with the observations and the gradient of the ground surface. With the current discharges taken from 69 wells in the study area, a dry area is found in the top and bottom layers, which equals 39 km2 and 1.32 km2, respectively. This indicated a degree of insufficiency of water resources in the study area because the groundwater aquifer supplies only 84% of the current water demand from the pumping schedules. The computed groundwater balance shows that the Euphrates River supplies water of 5354 m3/day into the groundwater aquifer, instead of gaining water from the recharge of 23527 m3/day if no water is pumped from the wells. The predicted impact of climate change cases concludes that the largest effect on the groundwater-Euphrates River connection is when reducing the recharge rate and the western constant head. In particular, the groundwater aquifer's dry area will increase dramatically and will reach 150 km2 and 120 km2 in the top and bottom layers, respectively. The Euphrates River will also suffer hugely through the loss of 14100 m3/day due to the reduction of either the recharge rate or the western constant head. Increasing the pumping schedule for future use will also impact on both the groundwater aquifer and the Euphrates River. Reducing the Euphrates River level by 0.5m or 1m will slightly affect the leakage from the river and the study area's dryness. To control the impact on the groundwater aquifer and its connection with the Euphrates River, it is highly recommended to remove some wells from the pumping schedule and reduce the pumping rate of the other wells, and constantly monitoring the behaviour of both over time. It is expected that the results obtained from the study can provide important information for the sustainable and effective planning and management of the groundwater resources for Al-Najaf City and the surrounding area.

In the last few decades protection of the environment has moved to the forefront of earth science research. Sustainable development is becoming more important to rapidly growing communities throughout southern Ontario including the City of Waterloo which has adopted an ecosystem planning approach toward future urban expansion. The City of Waterloo is located in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo which relies mainly on local groundwater resources for its drinking water supply. The Waterloo West Side is a collective name for several new developments occurring at the western limit of the City of Waterloo. Development of the Waterloo West Side is encroaching on a potential regional groundwater recharge area. Recent studies have recommended that some of these developments will require artificial infiltration facilities to augment the reduction in infiltration rates at the post-development stage. For this study, the pre-development groundwater flow system was characterized using a three-dimensional finite element model (WATFLOW). The regional Waterloo Moraine Model (approximately 750 km2) was refined in the study area (approximately 25 km2) so as to include the regional-scale influence on the local-scale groundwater flow. In addition, to approximate the complex groundwater flow system, within the study area, modifications were made to the current conceptual model. Several existing techniques were utilized in the numerical approach including three-dimensional parameterization and automated calibration methods. Simulations were completed to steady-state therefore results are averaged on a yearly basis. The potential impact of urbanization on the groundwater flow system was investigated by modifying the surficial boundary condition to simulate post-development infiltration rates (increased runoff) in areas where development will occur. The impact to local surface water was investigated for each post-development scenario. In addition, the effect on the regional and local groundwater flow systems were compared for each scenario.

The connections between surface water and groundwater systems remain poorly understood in many catchments throughout the world and yet they are fundamental to effectively managing water resources. Managing water resources in an integrated manner is not straightforward, particularly if both resources are being utilised, and especially in those regions that suffer problems of data scarcity. This study explores some of the principle issues associated with understanding and practically modelling surface and groundwater interactions. In South Africa, there remains much controversy over the most appropriate type of integrated model to be used and the way forward in terms of the development of the discipline; part of the disagreement stems from the fact that we cannot validate models adequately. This is largely due to traditional forms of model testing having limited power as it is difficult to differentiate between the uncertainties within different model structures, different sets of alternative parameter values and in the input data used to run the model. While model structural uncertainties are important to consider, the uncertainty from input data error together with parameter estimation error are often more significant to the overall residual error, and essential to consider if we want to achieve reliable predictions for water resource decisions. While new philosophies and theories on modelling and results validation have been developed (Beven, 2002; Gupta et al., 2008), in many cases models are not only still being validated and compared using sparse and uncertain datasets, but also expected to produce reliable predictions based on the flawed data. The approach in this study is focused on fundamental understanding of hydrological systems rather than calibration based modelling and promotes the use of all the available 'hard' and 'soft' data together with thoughtful conceptual examination of the processes occurring in an environment to ensure as far as possible that a model is generating sensible results by simulating the correct processes. The first part of the thesis focuses on characterising the 'typical' interaction environments found in South Africa. It was found that many traditional perceptual models are not necessarily applicable to South African conditions, largely due to the relative importance of unsaturated zone processes and the complexity of the dominantly fractured rock environments. The interaction environments were categorised into four main 'types' of environment. These include karst, primary, fractured rock (secondary), and alluvial environments. Processes critical to Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) were defined within each interaction type as a guideline to setting a model up to realistically represent the dominant processes in the respective settings. The second part of the thesis addressed the application and evaluation of the modified Pitman model (Hughes, 2004), which allows for surface and groundwater interaction behaviour at the catchment scale to be simulated. The issue is whether, given the different sources of uncertainty in the modelling process, we can differentiate one conceptual flow path from another in trying to refine the understanding and consequently have more faith in model predictions. Seven example catchments were selected from around South Africa to assess whether reliable integrated assessments can be carried out given the existing data. Specific catchment perceptual models were used to identify the critical processes occurring in each setting and the Pitman model was assessed on whether it could represent them (structural uncertainty). The available knowledge of specific environments or catchments was then examined in an attempt to resolve the parameter uncertainty present within each catchment and ensure the subsequent model setup was correctly representing the process understanding as far as possible. The confidence in the quantitative results inevitably varied with the amount and quality of the data available. While the model was deemed to be robust based on the behavioural results obtained in the majority of the case studies, in many cases a quantitative validation of the outputs was just not possible based on the available data. In these cases, the model was judged on its ability to represent the conceptualisation of the processes occurring in the catchments. While the lack of appropriate data means there will always be considerable uncertainty surrounding model validation, it can be argued that improved process understanding in an environment can be used to validate model outcomes to a degree, by assessing whether a model is getting the right results for the right reasons. Many water resource decisions are still made without adequate account being taken of the uncertainties inherent in assessing the response of hydrological systems. Certainly, with all the possible sources of uncertainty in a data scarce country such as South Africa, pure calibration based modelling is unlikely to produce reliable information for water resource managers as it can produce the right results for the wrong reasons. Thus it becomes essential to incorporate conceptual thinking into the modelling process, so that at the very least we are able to conclude that a model generates estimates that are consistent with, and reflect, our understanding (however limited) of the catchment processes. It is fairly clear that achieving the optimum model of a hydrological system may be fraught with difficulty, if not impossible. This makes it very difficult from a practitioner's point of view to decide which model and uncertainty estimation method to use. According to Beven (2009), this may be a transitional problem and in the future it may become clearer as we learn more about how to estimate the uncertainties associated with hydrological systems. Until then, a better understanding of the fundamental and most critical hydrogeological processes should be used to critically test and improve model predictions as far as possible. A major focus of the study was to identify whether the modified Pitman model could provide a practical tool for water resource managers by reliably determining the available water resource. The incorporation of surface and groundwater interaction routines seems to have resulted in a more robust and realistic model of basin hydrology. The overall conclusion is that the model, although simplified, is capable of representing the catchment scale processes that occur under most South African conditions.

The Mt. Tom Price Mine, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, has been the site of major iron ore mining since the 1960s by Rio Tinto Iron Ore/Pilbara Iron. The thesis project area covers approximately 121 km², covering the Mt. Tom Price Mining area and the surrounding catchment boundary. The climate in the Pilbara region is arid, with rainfall driven by seasonal cyclonic events, producing 300 mm/year net rainfall on average. The geology of the Mt. Tom Price area consists of a series of banded iron formations (BIF) and shales that are generally low in hydraulic conductivity values. Iron ore in the region is produced through the process of supergene enrichment whereby gangue minerals are dissolved and replaced with haematite and goethite. Mining is focused in a series of open cast pits including, North Deposit, West Pits, Centre Pits, Southern Ridge, South East Prongs, Section Six, Section Seven, and the proposed Marra Mamba Pits. Due to the impermeable nature and complex geology of the BIF sequence, groundwater flow is dominated by bedrock aquifer flow, with compartmentalization occurring in several areas of the mine. Highly faulted and folded units can also have increased hydraulic conductivity values. Pit floor lowering began to encounter the regional water table in early 1994. A series of dewatering bores and depressurization measurements have been utilized to ensure dry mining practice. This data was used to help understand regional groundwater flow and create the Mt. Tom Price Groundwater Model (MTPGM). A 3D geological model of the project area was created to aid visualisation of semi-regional hydrogeology. From this model, accurate template files were created so that geological detail loss is kept to a minimal when entering hydrogeological parameters into the MTPGM. The MTPGM was setup using PMWIN Pro, a graphical user interface for use with MODFLOW. Stresses such as recharge and pumping were entered via software packages within MODFLOW. The model was run to simulate measured 1994-2007 responses to dewatering and high rainfall events. A Parameter Estimation (PEST) software package and trial and error calibration was used to lower stress response variances that were observed in the model output files. This was achieved by the adjustment of hydrogeological parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and specific yield values. A prediction simulation of final pit lake recovery was created Using the calibrated MTPGM. Recovery curves predicted that full recovery of the water table of the pit voids varied from 96 to 120 years, recovering to levels close to the initial heads measured in 1994 before large-scale pumping commenced. The hydrochemistry of the groundwater in the mining area is highly influenced by geological hosts, with clearly defined hydrochemical signatures approximated for each screened geological unit. Due to the sulphur rich, acid- forming Mt. McRae Shale, regular monitoring of pit and groundwater is essential. Final pit lake water quality was estimated using final pit levels and recovery rates approximated from the MTPGM, combined with historical data and previous groundwater quality reports. Pit lake water quality is dominantly driven by evaporation concentration, caused by high evaporation rates and low throughflow. Pit waters are expected to be brine waters (greater than 100,000 mg/L TDS), with high levels of acidity values occurring in the South East Prongs and Section Six pits due to the exposure of the acid forming Mt. McRae Shale above the pit lakes at these localities. Future studies should focus on more detailed modelling of the compartmentalised aquifer systems. This would produce much more accurate final pit lake levels. Further study of the Mt. McRae Shale formation and its implications on acidity should also be undertaken. Seasonal fluctuations in lake levels will affect acidity due to the continual re-exposure and oxidation of the Mt. McRae Shale. This could be studied to help understand short term pit lake quality conditions and help to predict long term acidity conditions in the pit lakes.

Naturally occurring arsenic (As) in Holocene aquifers in Bangladesh have undermined a long success of supplying the population with safe drinking water. Arsenic is mobilised in reducing environments through reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides. Several studies have shown that many of the tested mitigation options have not been well accepted by the people. Instead, local drillers target presumed safe groundwater on the basis of the colour of the sediments. The overall objective of the study has thus been focussed on assessing the potential for local drillers to target As safe groundwater. The specific objectives have been to validate the correlation between aquifer sediment colours and groundwater chemical composition, characterize aqueous and solid phase geochemistry and dynamics of As mobility and to assess the risk for cross-contamination of As between aquifers in Daudkandi and Matlab Upazilas in SE-Bangladesh. In Matlab, drillings to a depth of 60 m revealed two distinct hydrostratigraphic units, a strongly reducing aquifer unit with black to grey sediments overlies a patchy sequence of weathered and oxidised white, yellowish-grey to reddish-brown sediment. The aquifers are separated by an impervious clay unit. The reducing aquifer is characterized by high concentrations of dissolved As, DOC, Fe and PO43--tot. On the other hand, the off-white and red sediments contain relatively higher concentrations of Mn and SO42- and low As. Groundwater chemistry correlates well with the colours of the aquifer sediments. Geochemical investigations indicate that secondary mineral phases control dissolved concentrations of Mn, Fe and PO43--tot. Dissolved As is influenced by the amount of Hfo, pH and PO43--tot as a competing ion. Laboratory studies suggest that oxidised sediments have a higher capacity to absorb As. Monitored hydraulic heads and groundwater modelling illustrate a complex aquifer system with three aquifers to a depth of 250 m. Groundwater modelling illustrate two groundwater flowsystems: i) a deeper regional predominantly horizontal flow system, and ii) a number of shallow local flow systems. It was confirmed that groundwater irrigation, locally, affects the hydraulic heads at deeper depths. The aquifer system is however fully recharged during the monsoon. Groundwater abstraction for drinking water purposes in rural areas poses little threat for cross-contamination. Installing irrigation- or high capacity drinking water supply wells at deeper depths is however strongly discouraged and assessing sustainability of targeted low-As aquifers remain a main concern. The knowledge gained here can be used for developing guidelines for installing safe wells at similar environments in other areas of Bangladesh.
QC 20111227

Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a form of natural gas (mainly methane) sorbed in underground coal deposits. Mining this gas involves drilling a well directly into an underground coal seam, and pumping out the water (CSG water) flowing through it. Presently, CSG is under exploration in New Zealand (NZ); however, there is concern about CSG water disposal in NZ mainly because of the controversy that this activity has generated in some basins in the United States (US). The first part of this thesis studies CSG water from a well in Maramarua (NZ) and compares it to water from US basins. The NZ CSG water from this well had high pH (7.8), alkalinity in the order of 360 mg/l as CaCO₃, high sodium (334 mg/l), bicarbonate (435 mg/l), and chloride (146 mg/l). These ions also occur in US CSG waters, and their concentrations follow the same trend - high sodium, bicarbonate, and chloride with low calcium, magnesium, and sulphate concentrations. Prior to this work, little detailed analyses of CSG water quality variability from a well had been carried out. A Factor Analysis of 33 Maramarua samples was conducted and revealed that about one third of the variations were due to sample degassing, which induced calcium carbonate precipitation - this was supported by experimental work (sample sparging) and geochemical modelling (MINTEQA2). This finding is important for CSG water management because, as calcium concentrations decrease, higher SAR values are generated, and this can cause problems if CSG waters are disposed on land. In the second part, this thesis assesses the potential environmental effects of disposing CSG waters in NZ by formulating management options and a simple wastewater treatment system. This was carried out by studying the ecological response (soils, plant, and aquatic life) resulting from CSG water disposal operations in the US, and by applying relevant salinity and sodicity guidelines to the interaction between soils and CSG waters from Maramarua. This work showed that similar problems are likely to occur in NZ if CSG water disposal takes place without proper controls. Such a study has never been carried out in a region before actual CSG development has taken place, so this work shows how to quantify the effects arising from CSG water disposal prior to full scale production. This can be particularly useful for CSG stakeholders wanting to develop this resource in other regions around the world. A simple treatment system using Ngakuru zeolites has proven effective in reducing the SAR of Maramarua CSG water. Laboratory results indicate that these zeolites work by exchanging sodium cations in the water by other cations contained within the zeolite structure but with slow ion exchange kinetics. The calculated sodium absorption capacity for these natural zeolites ranged from 11.3 meq/100g to 16.7 meq/100g (flow-through conditions without previous regeneration). In addition, these experiments showed that the ion exchange process is accompanied by some dissolution (sulphate, boron, TOC, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and reactive silica), but mainly at the beginning of the treatment process. Nevertheless, using this system, 180 grams of zeolite material were used to treat an initial 1.83 litres of Maramarua CSG water thus reducing potential soil infiltration problems to nil. As more CSG water was treated, the zeolites kept reducing SAR values but at a lesser rate until 4.53 litres of CSG water had been treated. A step-by-step methodology to assess treatment design options for these materials has been developed and will aid future researchers and engineers. This thesis presents the first comprehensive study of CSG water management in NZ. It also presents an ion exchange treatment system using natural zeolites already available in NZ. In conclusion, the research finds that, whether through adequate management or active treatment, CSG waters can be safely disposed without creating major environmental problems, and can even be used in beneficial applications.

The island of Gotland, Sweden, is struggling with supplying the population with freshwater during summers. At the same time as the demand increases during these months, the warm weather and geological conditions prevent sufficient volumes of groundwater to recharge. The Swedish Environmental Research Institute is conducting a research project together with Region Gotland, aiming to solve the freshwater supply problem in Storsudret, located on southern Gotland, by investigating the suitability of different water management techniques. In this thesis, the impacts of artificial infiltration on the groundwater level have been investigated in northern Storsudret, where a sandy deposit has been identified to possibly be suitable for increased groundwater storage. The modelling software MIKE SHE was used to create a groundwater model to assess the suitability of the area. Further, an assessment of using MIKE SHE for this purpose was done. Electrical resistivity measurements and Ground Penetrating Radar were used in field, to identify the geological conditions and conceptualize the domain. The model was based on the field data, as well as data from e.g. SMHI, Lantmäteriet and SGU. Based on the model simulations, locations were evaluated to find suitable areas for artificial infiltration during spring, and for groundwater extraction during summer. The results indicate that the sand deposit present in the domain is thin, leading to high evapotranspiration during spring and summer. Artificial infiltration elevates the groundwater level in a limited proximity to the infiltration point. However, the difference in groundwater level decreased during July and the conditions were the same as without artificial infiltration in August. Maximal water extraction during June, July, and August, did not seem to impact surrounding groundwater levels significantly. This suggests that the combination of low hydraulic conductivity and inadequate thickness of the sand limits the possibilities to use the deposit as an aquifer. MIKE SHE was assessed to perform well, when comparing the water balance with historic data. It was evaluated to be suitable for projects of this character, but limited research and documentation on artificial infiltration in MIKE SHE was found. However, to validate the groundwater flow simulation, sufficient groundwater observation data is required.
Under sommarhalvåret är Gotland ett populärt turistmål och trycket på infrastrukturen ökar kraftigt, särskilt färskvattenresurserna belastas tungt. Klimatförändringar och geologiska förutsättningar leder till förändringar i grundvattenbildningen och försvårar vattenhållningen ytterligare. Svenska Miljöinstitutet har tillsammans med bland annat Region Gotland påbörjat ”Testbädd Storsudret” som en satsning för att hitta lösningar på vattenproblemen. Ett område med större sandmäktighet, och möjligheter för ökad vattenlagring genom konstgjord infiltration, har identifierats som en potentiell kandidat för att stärka vattenförsörjningen på Storsudret, södra Gotland. I detta arbete undersöks dessa möjligheter genom geofysiska mätningar och modellering med programvaran MIKE SHE. För att närmare undersöka de geologiska förhållandena i området utfördes mätningar med både elektrisk resistivitet och markradar. Modellen baserades både på dessa fältmätningar och data från bland annat SMHI, Lantmäteriet och SGU samt litteratur. Områdets generella lämplighet samt lämplig lokalisering av platser för infiltration och grundvattenbrunnar undersöktes med hjälp av den konstruerade modellen. Resultatet pekar tydligt på att sandmäktigheten i området är för liten för att det ska vara lämpligt för ändamålet. Vid konstgjord infiltration dräneras mycket av vattnet till dikena och bort från området, men även evapotranspirationen ser ut att minska grundvattenbildningen kraftigt. Den konstgjorda infiltrationen verkar endast påverka grundvattennivåerna i närheten av infiltrationspunkten och effekterna av infiltrationen ser ut att avta och inga spår av infiltrationen är synliga två månader efter dess slut. Grundvattennivåer runt brunnarna verkade inte påverkas markant vid högsta möjliga pumphastighet. Vilket kan tyda på att den hydrauliska konduktiviteten i kombination med sandens begränsade mäktighet är de faktorer som i huvudsak begränsar uttag av grundvatten. MIKE SHE bedöms vara användbart för projekt av liknande karaktär som detta även om dokumentation gällande konstgjord infiltration ansågs bristfällig. För att kunna validera, och kalibrera, en modell behövs däremot tillräckligt med grundvattenobservationer.

The Pimpama estuarine plain in subtropical southeast Queensland is comprised of Quaternary sediments infilling older bedrock. These multilayered unconsolidated sediments have various depositional origins, and are highly heterogeneous. The plain is low-lying and the surface drainage is controlled by flood mitigation measures including tidal gates and channelised streams. The control of surface drainage potentially affects the shallow water table. This modification of hydrology has implications for future viability of agriculture and also the environmental health of waterways. Increased landscape modification and water management is likely in the coming years. The combination of sediment heterogeneity, low hydraulic gradients, and artificial drainage modification result in the plain being hydrogeologically complex. In order to understand hydrologic processes in this setting, a multi-disciplinary research programme was conducted which included a drilling program, overland electromagnetic induction and other geophysical surveys (downhole gamma log, electromagnetic induction and magnetic susceptibility) to initially establish the geologic framework. These surveys were followed by hydrogeochemical testing which includes for major and minor ions and also stable isotopes, and mineralogical analysis of drillhole material. Underlying basement rock occurs at up to 60 m depth. Unconsolidated gravel and sand deposits occur within incised paleo-valleys and are overlain by predominantly low-permeability fluvial sandy clays and estuarine and lagoonal muds. Fine-grained delta sands occur in the top 15 m of the sub-surface. Within the unconsolidated sediments, hydrodynamic trends clearly discriminated between upper unconfined and lower semi-confined aquifer systems. A comparison of surface water and shallow groundwater levels indicate limited interaction of groundwater and surface water. Hydrogeochemical analysis effectively distinguished between groundwater bodies, and also distinguished saline groundwater from seawater. Trends in major ion chemistry in the semi-confined system (particularly Na/Cl and Ca/Cl ratios) showed ion exchange accompanying saline intrusion. However, due to factors such as mineral dissolution, major ion chemistry does not clearly identify solute flux trends in the shallow aquifer system. Water stable isotope analysis (δ18O and δ2H) indicated the provenance of fresh and saline groundwater and also the relative importance of the principal hydrologic processes, i.e. evaporation and water uptake by plants. Groundwater exhibited a wide range in salinity, from very fresh to hypersaline. The formation of hypersaline groundwater was attributed largely to uptake of water by mangrove forests. Since mangrove forests were more extensive at the time of the Holocene maximum sea level (approximately 6,000 years ago) than at present, some of this groundwater may represent relict salinity from this earlier time. The relationship of relict salinity to low permeability sediments, particularly at intermediate depths, and their depositional history was examined. Vertical salinity gradients and hydrogeochemistry within these sediments varied according to position within the plain, suggesting deposition under various hydrological and sea level regimes. A preliminary investigation using analysis of stable sulfate isotopes (δ34S and δ18OSO4) was made. This study shows substantial potential for the application of this technique for quantification of solute flux and sulfur chemical transformations within settings such as this coastal plain. To establish shallow groundwater flow processes, a MODFLOW-based numerical model was used to inversely estimate aquifer parameters under various recharge scenarios. The model was designed to examine the relative importance of evapotranspiration and discharge to surface waters. However, largely due to the complexity of the drainage network and non-uniform surface water flows, the quantification of surface water- groundwater interaction by consideration of hydrodynamics is problematic. Therefore, the chemistry of groundwater and surface water was compared. While the estimated contribution of rainfall to groundwater level fluctuations was significant (46%), high evapotranspiration rates reduced net recharge and it was concluded that baseflow to drains and creeks during dry periods was insignificant, and groundwater velocities in the shallow aquifer are low. The study illustrates the value of both hydrodynamic and hydrogeochemical analyses in estuarine settings where relict salinity and groundwater-aquifer interactions impact significantly on water quality. Saline groundwater is chemically distinct from theoretical mixtures of seawater and freshwater. The study also demonstrates the value of particular chemical parameters, e.g. Na/Cl and SO4/Cl ratios and stable water isotopes, for identifying hydrologic processes in this setting.

La caracterisation de l'agencement spatial des proprietes hydrauliques est essentielle pour predire les ecoulements et le transport des solutes dans les milieux heterogenes. Les methodes de tomographie hydraulique, principalement developpees pour estimer les proprietes des milieux poreux, n'ont qu'une faible r'esolution spatiale qui ne reflete pas la vraie heterogeneite des distributions de fractures des milieux fractures. Le principal objectif de cette these est de developper une nouvelle methode d'inversion specifique pour imager les proprietés hydrauliques et de transport des milieux fractures a l'echelle du site. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, des experiences in situ ainsi qu'une nouvelle approche de modelisation inverse sont proposees, notamment en utilisant la temperature comme marqueur des ecoulements. Nous proposons tout d'abord la tomographie d'ecoulement bas'ee sur des tests s'equentiels de debimetrie entre puits, comme une nouvelle approche pour caracteriser la connectivit'e des fractures ainsi que leur transmissivite. A partir de simulations numeriques reproduisant des cas d'etudes synth'etiques, nous montrons que l'approche par tomographie r'eduit significativement l'incertitude sur les parametres estimes, et fournit une caracterisation detaillee du reseau de fracture sans requerir a l'utilisation d'obturateurs hydrauliques. Nous montrons ensuite comment les mesures de temperature peuvent etre utilisees pour quantifier les ecoulements dans les milieux fractur'es. Le grand int'erˆet d'utiliser la temperature est d'obtenir facilement et de facon continue en puits des profils de temp'erature. En utilisant un mod'ele numerique d'ecoulement et de transfert de chaleur a l'echelle du puits, une methode d'inversion pour estimer les vitesses d'ecoulement dans le puits 'a partir des donnes de temperature est proposee. Nous couplons ensuite les deux approches presentees precedemment dans une nouvelle approche experimentale consistant en des enregistrements sequentiels de temperature dans un puits dans des conditions de pompage entre puits. L'application de cette approche de tomographie en temperature sur le site de Stanger Brune montre des resultats encourageants pour l'identification du reseau global de connectivite et des zones d'ecoulement principales. Enfin, nous discutons de l'interet d'utiliser la chaleur comme traceur par rapport 'a l'utilisation de traceurs classiques. Nous montrons que realiser des tests de tracage thermiques en milieu fracture fournit des contraintes supplementaires importantes sur les propri'et'es de transport du milieu.

During the recent summers, Gotland has suffered from drinking water shortage and due to the climate change, the water shortage can possible increase in the future. To find a solution, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute IVL and Region Gotland are going to build a testbed at Storsudret located on the south of Gotland, to investigate different sustainable solutions. One possible solution is to increase the water level in Lake Mjölhatteträsk, located at Storsudret, to increase the water storage. This master thesis has focused on the water balance of the lake to understand whether it is possible to store more water in the lake and how large areas that would be flooded in the event of an increase in the water level. This has been done using a combination of field data sampling with geophysical methods, hydraulic tests, water depth measurements, existing hydrometeorological data from Lantmäteriet and the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) and modelling with the tools MIKE SHE and MIKE HYDRO River created by DHI and also GIS. The result of this master thesis showed that there is a very thin soil layer with possibly high clay and silt content to the west of the lake. At the bottom of the lake, a thick clay layer exists which reduces the hydraulic connection between the lake and the surroundings. The potential to store and extract water in the sand layer in the west is therefore small. However, there is potential to produce enough water in the lake to meet the water demand at Storsudret, according to the model created in MIKE SHE. This would require a dam at a suggested location at the outflow with a height of 0.12 m.
Gotland har under de senaste åren lidit utav vattenbrist under somrarna och på grund av klimatförändringarna är det möjligt att vattenbristen kan komma att öka i framtiden. För att hitta en lösning har Svenska Miljöinstitutet (IVL) och region Gotland fått i uppgift att anlägga en testbädd på Storsudret på södra Gotland, där olika hållbara lösningar ska testas. En möjlig lösning är att höja vattennivån i sjön Mjölhatteträsk på Storsudret för att på så vis kunna lagra mer vatten. Den här masteruppsatsen har fokuserat på hur sjöns vattenbalans ser ut för att förstå om det är möjligt att lagra mer vatten i sjön och hur stora områden som skulle bli översvämmade vid en ökning av vattennivån. Detta har gjorts med hjälp av en kombination av fältstudier med geofysiska mätningar, hydrauliska tester, vattendjupmätningar och flödesmätningar tillsammans med digitala databaser från Lantmäteriet och Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning (SGU) samt modellering med verktygen MIKE SHE och MIKE HYDRO River som skapats av DHI och även GIS. Resultatet för den här masteruppsatsen visade att det finns ett mycket tunt jordlager med eventuellt högt ler och silt innehåll väster om sjön. Vid botten av sjön finns ett tjockt lerlager som minskar den hydrauliska förbindelsen mellan sjön och omgivningen. Potentialen att lagra och utvinna vatten i sandlagret i väst är därmed liten. Däremot finns det potential att producera tillräckligt med vatten i sjön för att kunna uppfylla vattenbehovet på Storsudret, enligt modellen skapad i MIKE SHE. Detta skulle innebära en dam vid en föreslagen punkt vid utflödet som har en höjd på 0.12 m.