Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran
Water scarcity in Khuzestan Province, Iran, has attracted growing concerns despite the region's abundant water resources. The province predominantly relies on surface water, prompting an assessment of groundwater's potential to supplement water supplies during surface water shortages. This...
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Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280054 |
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| author | Marsa Bahiraie Seiyed Mossa Hosseini Bahareh Hossein-Panahi |
| author_facet | Marsa Bahiraie Seiyed Mossa Hosseini Bahareh Hossein-Panahi |
| author_sort | Marsa Bahiraie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water scarcity in Khuzestan Province, Iran, has attracted growing concerns despite the region's abundant water resources. The province predominantly relies on surface water, prompting an assessment of groundwater's potential to supplement water supplies during surface water shortages. This study assesses the province's groundwater availability and quality under increased exploitation conditions. Between 2008 and 2018, data on groundwater quantity and quality were collected from 204 exploration wells and 70 piezometric wells across 19 aquifers. The analysis revealed that 53% of aquifers in the eastern and northeastern regions experienced declining groundwater levels. Hydrochemical assessments indicated low concentrations of major ions in the northeastern, while high levels were observed from the central region towards the southeast. These variations were attributed to agricultural and industrial activities, seawater intrusion, and the influences of evaporation and geological factors. The dominant hydrochemical facies identified were of the Ca-Cl type. Water quality classification showed that 48% of groundwater samples fell within the C4S4-C4S1 category, primarily in the western, central, and southern regions, while 27% were classified as C3S2, C3S1, and 25% as C2S1, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. The Irrigation WWater Quality (IWQ) index indicated that many samples were suitable for irrigation. Additionally, the analysis potable groundwater was primarily found in the northern, northeastern, and eastern aquifers, with quality declining toward the south. The study highlights that certain aquifers in the northern and eastern regions offer greater potential for sustainable groundwater exploitation during water shortages. These findings provide valuable insights for on how to implement effective land and water management strategies to mitigate future water crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f5980c8eedbb4353897ca29cf1bde4c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-7068 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-f5980c8eedbb4353897ca29cf1bde4c82025-08-25T09:25:57ZengGroundwater Science and Engineering LimitedJournal of Groundwater Science and Engineering2305-70682025-09-0113326828510.26599/JGSE.2025.9280054Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, IranMarsa Bahiraie0Seiyed Mossa Hosseini1Bahareh Hossein-Panahi2Physical Geography Department, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6465, Tehran, Iran.Physical Geography Department, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6465, Tehran, Iran.Department of Irrigation & Reclamation Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Tehran, IranWater scarcity in Khuzestan Province, Iran, has attracted growing concerns despite the region's abundant water resources. The province predominantly relies on surface water, prompting an assessment of groundwater's potential to supplement water supplies during surface water shortages. This study assesses the province's groundwater availability and quality under increased exploitation conditions. Between 2008 and 2018, data on groundwater quantity and quality were collected from 204 exploration wells and 70 piezometric wells across 19 aquifers. The analysis revealed that 53% of aquifers in the eastern and northeastern regions experienced declining groundwater levels. Hydrochemical assessments indicated low concentrations of major ions in the northeastern, while high levels were observed from the central region towards the southeast. These variations were attributed to agricultural and industrial activities, seawater intrusion, and the influences of evaporation and geological factors. The dominant hydrochemical facies identified were of the Ca-Cl type. Water quality classification showed that 48% of groundwater samples fell within the C4S4-C4S1 category, primarily in the western, central, and southern regions, while 27% were classified as C3S2, C3S1, and 25% as C2S1, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. The Irrigation WWater Quality (IWQ) index indicated that many samples were suitable for irrigation. Additionally, the analysis potable groundwater was primarily found in the northern, northeastern, and eastern aquifers, with quality declining toward the south. The study highlights that certain aquifers in the northern and eastern regions offer greater potential for sustainable groundwater exploitation during water shortages. These findings provide valuable insights for on how to implement effective land and water management strategies to mitigate future water crises.https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280054groundwater levelgroundwater quantityhydro-geochemistryirrigation waterdrinking waterkhuzestan provincegis-based maps |
| spellingShingle | Marsa Bahiraie Seiyed Mossa Hosseini Bahareh Hossein-Panahi Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering groundwater level groundwater quantity hydro-geochemistry irrigation water drinking water khuzestan province gis-based maps |
| title | Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran |
| title_full | Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran |
| title_short | Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran |
| title_sort | groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in khuzestan province iran |
| topic | groundwater level groundwater quantity hydro-geochemistry irrigation water drinking water khuzestan province gis-based maps |
| url | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280054 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marsabahiraie groundwaterresourcesexploitationmanagementinresponsetowaterscarcitychallengesinkhuzestanprovinceiran AT seiyedmossahosseini groundwaterresourcesexploitationmanagementinresponsetowaterscarcitychallengesinkhuzestanprovinceiran AT baharehhosseinpanahi groundwaterresourcesexploitationmanagementinresponsetowaterscarcitychallengesinkhuzestanprovinceiran |