Aquifer recharge for securing water resources: the experience in Llobregat river

The Llobregat Delta Aquifer has historically been a strategic water supply resource to the Barcelona metropolitan area. The use of river water combined with the exploitation of groundwater resources during dry periods has enabled the demographic and economic growth of the Barcelona area during the l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2011-01, Vol.63 (2), p.220-226
Main Authors: Hernández, M, Tobella, J, Ortuño, F, Armenter, J Ll
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Chlorides - analysis
Coastal aquifers
Conservation of Natural Resources - methods
Demographics
Economic conditions
Economic development
Economic growth
Environmental Monitoring
Exploitation
Freshwater
Groundwater
Groundwater levels
Groundwater quality
Groundwater recharge
Intrusion
Metropolitan areas
Overexploitation
Purification
Resource exploitation
River water
Rivers
Saline water intrusion
Salinization
Seawater
Seawater - analysis
Spain
Water availability
Water purification
Water quality
Water resources
Water supply
Water Supply - analysis
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Summary:The Llobregat Delta Aquifer has historically been a strategic water supply resource to the Barcelona metropolitan area. The use of river water combined with the exploitation of groundwater resources during dry periods has enabled the demographic and economic growth of the Barcelona area during the last fifty years. The aquifer overexploitation has entailed the decrease of groundwater level and the penetration inland of seawater intrusion. The main consequences have been the salinization of several wells and the deterioration of the groundwater quality. In this context, aquifer recharge has been practiced during nearly 40 years with the following objectives: (i) storing excess of water for times of less water availability, (ii) introducing an additional barrier for purification of water for a specific use and (iii) preventing the degradation of groundwater resources due to overexploitation or seawater intrusion. These methods, jointly with an efficient management of well extractions, have enabled to recover groundwater quality and therefore to guarantee the sustainable exploitation of such a vulnerable aquifer.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2011.036