Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Desert Management and Control, Department of Rehabilitation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Rehabilitation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

4 Ph.D. Student in Combat Desertification, Department of Rehabilitation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran, Email

Abstract

     Managing the optimal use of water resources is one of the most important issues in sustainable development. Considering the importance of studying groundwater in the field of drinking, industry and agriculture, the study of water qualitative changes can be important for humankind. In this study, groundwater level depletion and electrical conductivity (EC) were used to investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes of groundwater in Karaj plain. The water level hydrographs were drown using Thiessen method based on the piezometric wells data and the groundwater depletion, the elevation contour line, and iso- electrical conductivity maps were provided using GIS. Quantitative changes were studied with reading of each well in different months in a 15-year period (2001-2016). The obtained results showed that the vast range of Karaj plain was depleted due to the lack of proper recharge as well as the over-exploration of groundwater. In addition, the relation between EC and anions and cations (such as Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Cl-, Na+, SO42-, HCO3-) were determined. The calculated Standard Index of Annual Precipitation (SIAP) in five meteorological stations showed groundwater depletion due to rainfall reducing and drought. Electrical conductivity had direct relation with concentration of ions in all cases. According to the hydrographs, the average level of groundwater decreased to 1.02 m over 15 years and the groundwater level depletion consequently decreased the water quality.

Keywords

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