https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2024-755
Evaluating groundwater residence time in arid aquifers: a crucial metric for monitoring sustainable water management
Submitted: 20 February 2024
Accepted: 9 September 2024
Published: 30 December 2024
Accepted: 9 September 2024
Abstract Views: 158
PDF: 66
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Assessing groundwater residence time in aquifers of arid regions by analyzing natural radionuclides is crucial for predicting water contaminants, understanding groundwater system dynamics and ensuring sustainable water utilization. This study focuses on the evaluation of groundwater residence time in northeastern Saudi Arabia using tritium as a tracer, where water samples were collected from monitoring wells. Due to the low levels of tritium, the water was reduced twenty to thirty- times from its initial values through the electrolysis process. The enriched samples were meticulously analyzed using a liquid scintillation counter under optimal conditions to determine tritium concentrations. Validation from two international commercial tritium laboratories further confirmed the estimated tritium concentrations. The tritium concentrations were then employed to estimate the groundwater age for each monitoring well. Comparative analysis with international datasets suggests that the collected groundwater in the studied areas is likely over a century old. Notably, groundwater ages display significant variations in different locations, even within the same aquifer. These disparities stem from differences in water flow dynamics, recharge rates, and the geological composition of the rocks and sediments through which the water travels. In contrast, water from selected monitoring wells exhibited an age exceeding a few hundred years, categorizing it as ‘dead water’ due to an extended residence time in the aquifer. This research contributes valuable insights into the longevity of groundwater resources, aiding in formulating sustainable water management strategies in arid regions.
Al-Jaseem, Q. K., Almasoud, F. I., Ababneh, A. M., & Al-Hobaib, A. S. (2016, 2016/09/01/). Radiological assessment of water treatment processes in a water treatment plant in Saudi Arabia: Water and sludge radium content, radon air concentrations and dose rates. Science of The Total Environment, 563-564, 1030-1036. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.049
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.049
Aljaloud, K. B., & ElBatouti, M. (2021, 2021/02/01/). Statistical analysis of 222Rn concentration in Zamzam and other water sources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Heliyon, 7(2), e06057. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06057
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06057
Allen, M., & Boutt, D. (2023). Environmental Tracers Tritium 3H and SF6 Used to Improve Knowledge of Groundwater Sustainability of a Crystalline Rock Island Aquifer of Tobago, West Indies. Water, 15(24), 4231. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/24/4231
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15244231
Alsharhan, A. S., Rizk, Z. A., Nairn, A. E. M., Bakhit, D. W., & Alhajari, S. A. (2001). Preface. In Hydrogeology of an Arid Region: The Arabian Gulf and Adjoining Areas (pp. 287-309). Elsevier Science B.V. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044450225-4/50000-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044450225-4/50012-9
Aly, A. A., Al-Omran, A. M., & Alharby, M. M. (2015, 2015/06/01). The water quality index and hydrochemical characterization of groundwater resources in Hafar Albatin, Saudi Arabia. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 8(6), 4177-4190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1463-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1463-2
Arun, B., Viswanathan, S., Venkatesan, S., Jose, M. T., & Balasubramaniam, V. (2021, 04/29). Study of Triple to Double Coincidence Method for Tritium Measurements. Radiochemistry, 63, 221-226. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1066362221020120
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1066362221020120
Benaafi, M., & Al-Shaibani, A. (2021). Hydrochemical and Isotopic Investigation of the Groundwater from Wajid Aquifer in Wadi Al-Dawasir, Southern Saudi Arabia. Water, 13(13), 1855. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/13/1855
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w13131855
Bethke, C., & Johnson, T. (2008, 05/01). Groundwater Age and Groundwater Age Dating. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci, 36, 121-152. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.36.031207.124210
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.36.031207.124210
El-Taher, A., & Al-Turki, A. (2016, 11/01). Radon activity measurements in irrigation water from Qassim Province by RAD7. Journal of environmental biology, 37, 1299-1302.
El-Taher, A. M., Abojassim, A. A., Najam, L. A., & Mraity, H. A. A. B. (2020). Assessment of Annual effective Dose for Different Age Groups based on Radon Concentrations in the Groundwater of Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Iranian Journal of Medical Physics, 17(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.22038/ijmp.2019.37379.1476
Feng, B., Chen, B., Zhao, C., He, L., Tang, F., & Zhuo, W. (2020, 2020/12/01/). Application of a liquid scintillation system with 100-ml counting vials for environmental tritium determination: Procedure optimization, performance test, and uncertainty analysis. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 225, 106427. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106427
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106427
Gomes, A. R., Abrantes, J., Libânio, A., Madruga, M. J., & Reis, M. (2017, 2017/11/01). Determination of tritium in water using electrolytic enrichment: methodology improvements. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 314(2), 669-674. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5456-y
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5456-y
Grünenbaum, N., Greskowiak, J., Sültenfuß, J., & Massmann, G. (2020, 2020/08/01/). Groundwater flow and residence times below a meso-tidal high-energy beach: A model-based analyses of salinity patterns and 3H-3He groundwater ages. Journal of Hydrology, 587, 124948. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124948
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124948
Hoque, M. A., & Burgess, W. G. (2012, 2012/06/11/). 14C dating of deep groundwater in the Bengal Aquifer System, Bangladesh: Implications for aquifer anisotropy, recharge sources and sustainability. Journal of Hydrology, 444, 209-220. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.04.022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.04.022
Jerbi, H., Hamdi, M., Snoussi, M., Abdelmalek, M. B., Jnoub, H., & Tarhouni, J. (2019). Usefulness of historical measurements of tritium content in groundwater for recharge assessment in semi-arid regions: application to several aquifers in central Tunisia. Hydrogeology journal, 27(5), 1645-1660.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01937-w
Jurgens, B. C., Böhlke, J. K., & Eberts, S. M. (2012). TracerLPM (Version 1): An Excel® workbook for interpreting groundwater age distributions from environmental tracer data [Report](4-F3). (Techniques and Methods, Issue. U. S. G. Survey. http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/tm4F3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3133/tm4F3
Le Nindre, Y.-M., Vaslet, D., Le Métour, J., Bertrand, J., & Halawani, M. (2003, 2003/02/10/). Subsidence modelling of the Arabian Platform from Permian to Paleogene outcrops. Sedimentary Geology, 156(1), 263-285. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00291-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00291-9
Mamun, A. (2023a). Enrichment of Low-Level Tritium in Groundwater via an Electrolysis Process for Liquid Scintillation Counting Applications. Geosciences, 13(10), 290. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/13/10/290
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13100290
Mamun, A. (2023b). Estimation of Tritium Concentration in the Rain- and Groundwater in the Dry River of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia. Limnological Review, 23(2), 93-107. https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/23/2/6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev23020006
Mamun, A., & Alazmi, A. S. (2022a). Advancement of a Liquid Scintillation Counter and Semiconductor Alpha Spectroscopy Detector to Estimate the Radon Concentration in Groundwater. Water, 14(23), 3849. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/23/3849
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233849
Mamun, A., & Alazmi, A. S. (2022b). Investigation of Radon in Groundwater and the Corresponding Human-Health Risk Assessment in Northeastern Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 14(21).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114515
Mamun, A., & Alazmi, A. S. (2023). Risk Assessment of Radon Exposure by Ingestion and Inhalation of Groundwater Within Different Age Groups. Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, 43(1), 69-77. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12558
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12558
Morgenstern, U., & Taylor, C. B. (2009, Jun). Ultra low-level tritium measurement using electrolytic enrichment and LSC. Isotopes Environ Health Stud, 45(2), 96-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010902931194
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10256010902931194
Muhammad, B., Nasiru, R., & Sumaila, A. (2013, 11/30). Procedure for Radio Dating of Water Using Nuclear Hydrological Isotopes Techniques. IOSR Journal of Applied Physics, 6. https://doi.org/10.9790/4861-06214953
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/4861-06214953
Okofo Boansi, L., Adonadaga, M.-G., & Martienssen, M. (2022, 04/01). Groundwater age dating using multi-environmental tracers (SF6, CFC-11, CFC-12, δ18O, and δD) to investigate groundwater residence times and recharge processes in Northeastern Ghana. Journal of Hydrology, 610, 127821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127821
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127821
Pimenta, R., Rocha, Z., Viana, J., Gardini, G., Duarte, M., & Moreira, R. (2017). USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRITIUM IN GROUNDWATER DATING IN THE UPPER JEQUITIBÁ RIVER BASIN, MUNICIPALITY OF SETE LAGOAS, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL.
Plassin, S., Koch, J., Paladino, S., Friedman, J. R., Spencer, K., & Vaché, K. B. (2020, 2020/03/06). A socio-environmental geodatabase for integrative research in the transboundary Rio Grande/Río Bravo basin. Scientific Data, 7(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0410-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0410-1
Plummer, L. N., & Glynn, P. D. (2013). Radiocarbon dating in groundwater systems. Chapter 4. IAEA; Vienna (International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)); International Atomic Energy Agency, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Vienna (Austria). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/ Other: ISBN 978-92-0-137210-9; TRN: XA13M0262055166 INIS
Post, V. E. A., Vandenbohede, A., Werner, A. D., Maimun, & Teubner, M. D. (2013, 2013/07/01/). Groundwater ages in coastal aquifers. Advances in Water Resources, 57, 1-11. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2013.03.011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2013.03.011
Sadeak, S., Al Amin, M., Chowdhury, T., Mia, M. B., Alam, M. J., Ahmed, K. M., & Khan, M. R. (2023, 2023/02/01/). Comparison of the groundwater recharge estimations of the highly exploited aquifers in Bangladesh and their sustainability. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 20, 100896. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100896
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100896
Salvato, C. (2003). The role of microâ€strategies in the engineering of firm evolution. Journal of management studies, 40(1), 83-108.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.t01-2-00005
Sánchez-Úbeda, J. P., López-Chicano, M., Calvache, M. L., Purtschert, R., Engesgaard, P., Martín-Montañés, C., Sültenfuβ, J., & Duque, C. (2018, 2018//). Groundwater Age Dating in Motril-Salobreña Coastal Aquifer with Environmental Tracers (δ18O/δ2H, 3H/3He, 4He, 85Kr, and 39Ar). Groundwater and Global Change in the Western Mediterranean Area, Cham.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69356-9_33
Schlosser, P., Stute, M., Dörr, H., Sonntag, C., & Münnich, K. O. (1988, 1988/08/01/). Tritium/3He dating of shallow groundwater. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 89(3), 353-362. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(88)90122-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(88)90122-7
USEPA. (2000). National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; Radionuclides; Final Rule. Fed. Reg., 65(236), 76708.
Vincent, P. (2008). Saudi Arabia: an environmental overview (1st Edition ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203030882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203030882.ch1
How to Cite
Mamun, A. (2024). Evaluating groundwater residence time in arid aquifers: a crucial metric for monitoring sustainable water management. Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2024-755
Copyright (c) 2024 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Michele Remonti, Piero Mori, Evaluation of groundwater-surface water interaction through groundwater modelling: simulation of the effects of removal of a dam along a river at a contaminated site in Northern France , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2013)
- Lidia Razowska-Jaworek, Groundwater in Katowice - center of a large urban and deep coal mining area in Poland , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 13 No. 3 (2024)
- Klaus Hinsby, Sophie O’Connor, Ozren Larva, Peter van der Keur, Francesco La Vigna, Groundwater in the cities of Europe: hidden challenges in a changing climate , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 13 No. 3 (2024)
- M. Antonellini, M. Pandolfini, N. Greggio, P.N. Mollema, Geothermal characterization of the coastal aquifer near Ravenna (Italy) , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 1 No. 3 (2012)
- Loris Colombo, Statistical methods and transport modeling to assess PCE hotspots and diffuse pollution in groundwater (Milan FUA) , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 6 No. 4 (2017)
- Marco Amanti, Giovanni Conte, Lucio Martarelli, Gennaro Maria Monti, Guido Motteran, Anna Rosa Scalise, Roberto Serafini, Angelantonio Silvi, Hydrogeological map of Italy: the preliminary Sheet N. 348 Antrodoco (Central Italy) , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 5 No. 2 (2016)
- Piero Barazzuoli, Jenny Migliorini, Fausto Capacci, Water resources and main groundwater bodies in the Province of Siena in the framework of the land management plan , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 9 No. 1 (2020)
- Davide Sartirana, Chiara Zanotti, Marco Rotiroti, Mariachiara Caschetto, Agnese Redaelli, Simone Bruno, Letizia Fumagalli, Mattia De Amicis, Tullia Bonomi, Urban Water Management in Milan Metropolitan Area, a review , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 13 No. 3 (2024)
- Lorenzo De Carlo, Antonietta Celeste Turturro, Maria Clementina Caputo, Manuel Sapiano, Julian Mamo, Oriana Balzan, Luke Galea, Michael Schembri, Mapping saltwater intrusion via Electromagnetic Induction for planning a Managed Aquifer Recharge facility in Maltese island , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 13 No. 1 (2024)
- Mara Meggiorin, Giulia Passadore, Silvia Bertoldo, Andrea Sottani, Andrea Rinaldo, Assessing the long-term sustainability of the groundwater resources in the Bacchiglione basin (Veneto, Italy) with the Mann-Kendall test: suggestions for higher reliability , Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater: Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021)
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
