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The impact of intensive groundwater abstraction on recharge to a shallow regional aquifer system: evidence from Bangladesh

Impact de l’exploitation intensive des eaux souterraines sur la réalimentation d’un aquifère peu profond d’extension régionale : un exemple au Bangladesh

El impacto de extracción intensiva de agua subterránea sobre la recarga a un sistema acuífero regional somero: evidencia de Bangladesh

地下水强采对区域浅层含水层补给的影响,以孟加拉国为例

O impacte da extração intensiva de água subterrânea na recarga de um sistema aquífero freático regional: exemplo do Bangladesh

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Abstract

Quantitative evaluations of the impact of groundwater abstraction on recharge are rare. Over a period (1975–2007) during which groundwater abstraction increased dramatically in the Bengal Basin, changes in net groundwater recharge in Bangladesh are assessed using the water-table fluctuation method. Mean annual groundwater recharge is shown to be higher (300–600 mm) in northwestern and southwestern areas of Bangladesh than in southeastern and northeastern regions (<100 mm) where rainfall and potential recharge are greater. Net recharge in many parts of Bangladesh has increased substantially (5–15 mm/year between 1985 and 2007) in response to increased groundwater abstraction for irrigation and urban water supplies. In contrast, net recharge has slightly decreased (−0.5 to −1 mm/year) in areas where groundwater-fed irrigation is low (<30% of total irrigation) and where abstraction has either decreased or remained unchanged over the period of 1985–2007. The spatio-temporal dynamics of recharge in Bangladesh illustrate the fundamental flaw in definitions of “safe yield” based on recharge estimated under static (non-pumping) conditions and reveal the areas where (1) further groundwater abstraction may increase actual recharge to the shallow aquifer, and (2) current groundwater abstraction for irrigation and urban water supplies is unsustainable.

Résumé

Rares sont les évaluations de l’impact quantitatif des prélèvements en eau souterraine sur la réalimentation. Sur une période qui a vu un accroissement dramatique des prélèvements en eau souterraine dans le bassin du Bengale (1975–2007), les modifications de la réalimentation nette des aquifères au Bangladesh ont été étudiées par la méthode du bilan en eau. La réalimentation annuelle moyenne apparaît plus élevée dans le Nord-Ouest et le Sud-Ouest du pays (300–600 mm), que dans les secteurs Nord-Est et Sud-Est (<100 mm), où les précipitations et la réalimentation potentielle sont supérieures. Dans de nombreuses zones, l’infiltration nette a substantiellement augmenté (5–15 mm/an de 1985−2007) en réponse à l’accroissement des prélèvements en eau souterraine pour irrigation et alimentation en eau potable. A contrario, elle a légèrement décru (−0.5 à −1 mm/an) dans les secteurs où l’irrigation sollicite peu la nappe (<30% de l’irrigation totale), et où les prélèvements ont soit diminué soit stagné de 1985 à 2007. La dynamique spatio-temporelle de la réalimentation au Bangladesh illustre l’imperfection fondamentale de la définition du “débit critique”, basé sur une infiltration estimée en conditions statiques (sans pompage) ; elle montre les secteurs où (1) des prélèvements supplémentaires peuvent accentuer la réalimentation réelle de l’aquifère peu profond, et où (2) les prélèvements actuels pour l’irrigation et l’alimentation en eau potable ne sont pas viables.

Resumen

Las evaluaciones cuantitativas del impacto de la extracción de agua subterránea sobre la recarga son poco comunes. Se evaluaron los cambios en la recarga neta de agua subterránea en Bangladesh usando el método de fluctuación de los niveles freáticos en un período (1975–2007) durante el cual la extracción de agua subterránea se incrementó dramáticamente en la Cuenca de Bengala. Se demuestra que la recarga media anual de agua subterránea es mayor (300–600 mm) en las áreas noroeste y sudoeste de Bangladesh que en las regiones sudeste y noreste (<100 mm) donde la precipitación y la recarga potencial son mayores. La recarga neta en muchas partes de Bangladesh se ha incrementado sustancialmente (5−15 mm/año entre 1985 y 2007) en respuesta al incremento de la extracción de agua subterránea para irrigación y para abastecimiento urbano. En contraste, la recarga neta ha disminuido levemente (−0.5 a −1 mm/año) en áreas donde la alimentación de agua subterránea por la irrigación es baja (<30% de la irrigación total) y donde la extracción ha disminuido o bien ha permanecido sin cambios en el período de 1985–2007. La dinámica espacio temporal de la recarga en Bangladesh ilustra la falla fundamental en las definiciones de “rendimiento seguro” basada en estimaciones de la recarga bajo condiciones estáticas (sin bombeo) y revela las áreas donde (1) la extracción ulterior de agua subterránea puede incrementar la recarga real hacia el acuífero somero, y (2) la extracción actual de agua subterránea para la irrigación y abastecimiento urbano no es sustentable.

摘要

以往关于地下水开采对补给影响的定量评价很少。在过去的一段时期内( 1975–2007年),孟加拉流域的地下水开采量急剧增加。本文利用水位动态方法对孟加拉国的净地下水补给量的变化进行了评估。多年平均地下水补给量显示,孟加拉国西北和西南地区高(300–600 mm)而东南及东北地区低(<100 mm)。而后者降雨量和潜在补给量大。作为对用于农业灌溉和城市供水的地下水开采的响应,孟加拉国很多地区的地下水净补给量大大增加(1985 到2007年每年增加5–15 mm)。相反,在1985到2007年间农业灌溉依赖地下水较少(<总灌溉量的30%)的地区地下水开采量降低或者保持不变,净补给量略有下降(每年–0.5– –1 mm)。孟加拉国补给量的时空分布表明,基于静态(没有抽水)条件定义的“安全开采量”存在根本缺限,表现在:(1)过量的地下水抽取会增加浅部含水层的实际补给量;(2)目前为灌溉和城市供水而进行的地下水抽取是不可持续的。

Resumo

Avaliações quantitativas do impacte da extração de água subterrânea na recarga são raras. As alterações da recarga efetiva no Bangladesh são aferidas, usando o método da flutuação do nível freático, ao longo de um período (1975–2007) durante o qual a extração de água subterrânea aumentou drasticamente na Bacia de Bengal. A recarga anual média da água subterrânea revela-se mais elevada (300–600 mm) nas áreas noroeste e sudoeste de Bangladesh do que nas regiões sudeste e nordeste (<100 mm), onde a precipitação e a recarga potencial são mais elevadas. Em muitas partes do Bangladesh a recarga efetiva aumentou substancialmente (5–15 mm/ano entre 1985 e 2007) como resposta ao aumento da extracção de água subterrânea para rega e abastecimento urbano. Por outro lado, a recarga efetiva diminuiu ligeiramente (−0.5 to −1 mm/ano) nas áreas onde a alimentação da água subterrânea devido à rega é menor (<30% da rega total) e onde a extração diminuiu ou se manteve constante durante o período de 1985–2007. A dinâmica espaço-temporal da recarga no Bangladesh ilustra o equívoco básico na definição das “extrações sustentáveis” baseada na estimação da recarga sob condições estáticas (sem bombagem) e releva as áreas onde (1) a continuação da extração de água subterrânea pode aumentar a recarga efetiva do aquífero freático e (2) a actual extraçção de água subterrânea para rega e abastecimento urbano é desadequada.

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Acknowledgements

Support from the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through a Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award (Ref. GR/AKFXDHPA 2007–2011) and a Wingate Scholarship (Ref. 4387, 2010–2011) is kindly acknowledged. We thank Richard Chandler (University College London, UK) for his advice on the seasonal-trend decomposition technique. We are also grateful to William Burgess and Mohammad Hoque (University College London, UK), and Peter Cook (CSIRO Land and Water, Australia) for helpful suggestions that improved the clarity of arguments presented in the report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Mohammad Shamsudduha & Richard G. Taylor

  2. Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Curzon Hall Campus, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Kazi M. Ahmed

  3. Bangladesh Water Development Board, 72 Green Road, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

    Anwar Zahid

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  1. Mohammad Shamsudduha
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Correspondence to Mohammad Shamsudduha.

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Shamsudduha, M., Taylor, R.G., Ahmed, K.M. et al. The impact of intensive groundwater abstraction on recharge to a shallow regional aquifer system: evidence from Bangladesh. Hydrogeol J 19, 901–916 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0723-4

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