Groundwater-surface water exchanges in an alluvial plain in southern France subjected to pumping: A coupled multitracer and modeling approach
Résumé
Study region
The study was conducted in an alluvial plain between the Rhône and the Ouvèze Rivers (in the southeast of France) extensively exploited for drinking water. The research area is characterized by significant groundwater-surface interactions influenced by groundwater pumping activities.
Study focus
The aim of this study is to enhance the understanding of interactions between rivers and alluvial aquifers by combined multi-tracer and numerical modeling approaches. Over an 18-month period, groundwater temperature, piezometric levels, and river surface water levels were continuously monitored. Field campaigns focused on conductivity, stable isotopes of water, and radon-222 activity concentration in both groundwater and surface water. Radon-222 was used to quantify water exchanges between the river and the aquifer. A MODFLOW model, calibrated using piezometric data and PEST, was employed to simulate groundwater flow and reactive transport of radon-222 using MT3DMS.
New hydrological insights for the region
The study reveals that river water recharges the aquifer, with radon-222 data delineating this recharge zone. The methodology extended the interpretation of periodic groundwater temperature signals to isotopic signals, allowing the identification of dispersivity and Darcy's velocity. The Ouvèze River was found to contribute approximately 55 % of the pumping water supply, alongside the Rhône. These findings provide valuable insights for sustainable water resource management, demonstrating the relevance of using natural tracers in scenarios where artificial tracers are impractical.
Mots clés
Alluvial aquifer
Groundwater recharge
Radon 222
Alluvial aquifers River-aquifer interactions Multi-tracer approach Numerical modelling Groundwater recharge Radon-222 tracers Stable isotopes MODFLOW model Rhône River Ouvèze River Groundwater temperature monitoring Water resource management Sustainable water management Hydrological study
Alluvial aquifers
River-aquifer interactions
Multi-tracer approach
Numerical modelling
Radon-222 tracers
Stable isotopes
MODFLOW model
Rhône River
Ouvèze River
Groundwater temperature monitoring
Water resource management
Sustainable water management
Hydrological study
Domaines
HydrologieOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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licence |