The assessment of hydrogeological characteristics and sustainable development of groundwater of Mahabad Plain Aquifer

Abstract

Population growth, increasing demand and limited surface water resources, make groundwater resources particularly important. For protections of aquifers, management and sustainable development of groundwater resources, the groundwater balance should be determined periodically. Optimal groundwater resources management requires understanding and investigation of the aquifer hydrogeological condition. Mahabad plain aquifer located in the southern part of the Urmia Lake. The systematic monitoring of pizometer wells and drilling exploration as wells as data taken from Western Azerbaijan Province regional water authority are used to hydrogeological studies of the Plain, aquifer characterization, determination of water balance, evaluation of deep and fluctuation of groundwater table. In this study, careful consideration of the geological formations impact on the quantity of water resources, and the impact on groundwater recharge has been studied. Field studies has led to identification of two hidden faults in the plain. The results of water balance indicate the equilibrium state of the aquifer. According to this, the annual allowable exploitation of groundwater without causing adverse conditions in the groundwater basin, equivalent to 30 million cubic meters per year. As well as suitable areas for drilling exploitation wells and distance of wells from each other in the plain were determined.

Keywords

• groundwater
• hydrogeological characteristics
• mahabad plain
• sustainable development
• water balance