Groundwater for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Nitrate pollution in the shallow groundwater of a rapidly urbanizing coastal area: Insight from spatial-seasonal distribution and source identification in Xiamen, China","authors":"Xiang Li ,&nbsp;Xiangke Kong ,&nbsp;Xiongguang Li ,&nbsp;Ximing Luo ,&nbsp;Shengwei Cao ,&nbsp;Xiujian Hu ,&nbsp;Yasong Li ,&nbsp;Yinglan Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrate (NO₃⁻) pollution in groundwater has become an increasingly serious problem in rapidly urbanized coastal areas. However, the complex hydrogeology and intensive human activities complicate the identification of NO₃⁻ sources and pollution characteristics, constraining the groundwater resources protection. This study investigated the spatial-seasonal distribution and origin of NO₃⁻ in 39 shallow groundwater wells across diverse land-use types during both wet and dry seasons in Xiamen, a typical coastal city in China. Results showed 48.7 % of groundwater samples exceeded the WHO guideline of 11.3 mg/L NO₃⁻-N. High NO₃⁻ concentration greatly affected the hydrochemical types, with 32 % of samples classified as NO₃⁻-N (meq % ≥ 25) dominant groundwater. Significant spatiotemporal variations in NO₃⁻ concentrations were observed across various land-use types. Notably, all samples exceeding the 11.3 mg/L NO₃⁻-N threshold clustered within a 10 km coastal zone of high population density. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed positive correlations (p &lt; 0.05) among NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, suggesting a clear anthropogenic impact on groundwater quality. Nitrate and sulfate stable isotope analysis indicated sewage and manure (MS) as the primary NO₃⁻ sources. The Bayesian mixing model further quantified the MS contributions (69.7 % ± 11.7 % in wet season, 90.9 % ± 11.5 % in dry season), followed by soil nitrogen and chemical fertilizers. Nitrification was the predominant microbial process responsible for NO₃⁻ accumulation in groundwater. This study demonstrates that integrating land-use patterns with hydrochemical and isotopic data provides an effective strategy for identifying the origins of NO₃⁻ pollution in urbanized coastal aquifers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101582"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater depletion and sustainability of water-intensive agriculture in the Cuatro Ciénegas region, Coahuila, Mexico","authors":"Adrián Pedrozo-Acuña ,&nbsp;Marco Rodrigo López-López ,&nbsp;José Agustín Breña-Naranjo ,&nbsp;Edgar Yuri Mendoza-Cázares","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to investigate the relationship between groundwater depletion and intensive agricultural practices in the Cuatro Ciénegas region, a water-scarce area in Mexico. Data from an extensive field campaign along with remotely sensed data is utilised. Focus is given on regional groundwater flow and the hydrogeological interconnectivity of aquifers in and around Cuatro Ciénegas, alongside the temporal variations in water levels, agricultural frontiers, and projected water consumption for the main crops in the region. Isotope analysis of water samples reveals hydrological connectivity between the Cuatro Ciénegas-Ocampo and Cuatro Ciénegas aquifers, suggesting that agricultural activities above these aquifers threaten aquatic ecosystems. Temporal variations in water levels, obtained from in-situ measurements and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, indicate a decline in groundwater across all aquifers: Cuatro Ciénegas-Ocampo (−37.45 m from 2001 to 2023), Cuatro Ciénegas (−24.23 m from 2005 to 2023), and El Hundido (−20.17 m from 2005 to 2023). The agricultural frontier in the Cuatro Ciénegas-Ocampo and El Hundido aquifers increased by 63 % and 68 %, respectively, from 2003 to 2023. Agricultural activity in the Cuatro Ciénegas aquifer, which contains the nature reserve, decreased by 7.6 %. Groundwater depletion is associated with water-intensive agriculture in the area. Since 2011, the relationship between cropland expansion and groundwater use has exacerbated water stress. Groundwater withdrawals from the three aquifers for primary crop production have surpassed their recharge capacity, leading to groundwater depletion. An urgent need exists for sustainable groundwater extraction and aquifer restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101583"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping uncertainty in managed aquifer recharge potential across unconfined and confined aquifers of the Murray-Darling Basin","authors":"Dennis Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Joseph H.A. Guillaume ,&nbsp;Luk Peeters","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global decline in groundwater levels, particularly in agricultural regions, underscores the imperative for sustainable management practices augmented through managed aquifer recharge (MAR). This study evaluated the potential for MAR in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), identifying substantial areas conducive to recharge across regions experiencing long-term groundwater decline. Novel methods were developed to quantitatively assess potential recharge in unconfined and confined aquifers based on aquifer properties and account for uncertainty presenting a contrast to deterministic, weight-based spatial multi-criteria analyses. This investigation revealed that specific areas, including the Lower Namoi Alluvium and Goulburn-Murray Sedimentary Plain, exhibit higher recharge potential with 5–20 ML/ha feasible in unconfined aquifer systems at high confidence. Furthermore, this study found extensive areas at high confidence where the injection potential in confined aquifers ranged from 2.5–20 ML/d. The findings suggest that resource units characterized by high potential recharge areas and elevated resource stress values may benefit from MAR implementation, thereby mitigating stress and supporting more sustainable groundwater use. The economic viability of MAR is contingent upon various factors highlighting the need for tailored project design and site-specific assessments to ensure successful implementation. These results have significant implications for informing MAR implementation and future management strategies in the MDB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101579"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic controls of phosphate and sediment heterogeneity on arsenic fate in karst aquifers: Experimental and modeling insights using a two-site kinetic attachment model","authors":"Song Wei ,&nbsp;Huimei Shan ,&nbsp;Yong Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongbin Zhan ,&nbsp;Hailing Du","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphate (PO₄³⁻) influencing arsenic (As) transport in groundwater has been deeply studied, but quantitative simulation for their co-transport and interactions under the complex heterogeneous conditions characteristic of karst aquifers remains poorly understood. To bridge the critical gap, this study designed column experiments by embedding the natural sediments collected from the karst wetland (presented as lenses, and the number was designed to be 0, 1, and 2) into sand columns. Solutions containing various concentrations of PO₄³⁻ and As were simultaneously pumped into heterogeneous columns and then eluted, and the effluent solutions were regularly collected to monitor their concentrations and the changes in As species within 108 days. The obtained 3-cycle of adsorption-desorption data were quantitatively analyzed using the two-site kinetic attachment model (TSKAM). Key results indicate that (1) The competitive adsorption of PO₄³⁻ significantly enhanced As transport ability. When the PO₄³⁻ concentration increased from 0 to 10 mg/L, the As breakthrough time decreased markedly, with the maximum difference reduced from 16.3 d to 1.0 d in the 1-lens column. Correspondingly, the total As adsorption rate declined from 4.1 h⁻¹ to 2.7 h⁻¹, and the maximum adsorption capacity dropped from 10.1 μg/g to 0.8 μg/g (2) Simultaneously, increasing PO₄³⁻ concentration promoted the reduction of As(V) to As(III), leading to a higher proportion of As(III) in the effluent. The As(III)/Total As ratio increased from 2.63 % to 4.44 % (0-lens), from 6.70 % to 10.05 % (1-lens), and from 8.48 % to 11.74 % (2-lens columns), respectively. (3) Lenticular bodies retarded As mobility through additional adsorption sites, but high PO₄³⁻ levels counteracted this effect. (4) Significant As release from the solid phase occurred during elution stages, with a theoretical constraint (<span><math><mrow><mfrac><msub><mi>k</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><msub><mi>k</mi><mrow><mn>1</mn><mi>d</mi></mrow></msub></mfrac><mo>≥</mo><mfrac><msub><mi>M</mi><mi>e</mi></msub><mrow><mi>P</mi><mi>V</mi><mo>·</mo><msub><mi>C</mi><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>F</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></mfrac><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span>) for the reversible adsorption/desorption rate derived from TSKAM, where most of the fitted parameters satisfied this relationship (excluding tailing scenarios). These findings elucidate synergistic controls of PO₄³⁻ concentration and sediment heterogeneity on As migration in karst aquifers, providing practical strategies for regional As pollution mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101576"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145982114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-isotopic evaluation of hydraulic barriers and water rights in mine tailing impoundments with altitude-offset water sources","authors":"Dídac Navarro-Ciurana ,&nbsp;Laura Culí ,&nbsp;Clara Torrentó ,&nbsp;Neus Otero ,&nbsp;Nicolás Iturra ,&nbsp;Albert Soler","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable water management in porphyry copper tailings storage facilities (TSFs) is essential for environmental protection and regulatory compliance, particularly in Chile, which ranks third globally in TSF numbers. This study applies a multi-isotope framework (<em>δ</em>²H-H₂O, <em>δ</em>¹⁸O-H₂O<em>, δ</em>³⁴S-SO₄²⁻ and <em>δ</em>¹⁸O-SO₄²⁻) to trace the fate of tailings seepage towards groundwater and to evaluate hydraulic barriers effectiveness in porphyry Cu TSFs, demonstrating its applicability to systems characterized by complex mixing of multiple water sources with contrasting recharge conditions. Unlike previous studies where water sources shared similar recharge altitudes, this work addresses an “altitude-offset” scenario in which tailings water originates from high-altitude recharge zones while downstream aquifers are located at much lower elevations, creating additional isotopic end-members. To illustrate the usefulness of this approach, the Carén TSF (Chile) serves as case study. Isotopic data indicate that tailings waters are strongly evaporated, enriched in elevated SO₄²⁻ concentrations on the order of thousands of mg L⁻¹ (≈2,000 mg L⁻¹), mainly derived from sulfide ore oxidation (60–80 %), and recharged at high altitude (∼2,000 masl). In contrast, surrounding freshwater is recharged at lower altitude (∼220 masl) and shows significantly lower SO₄²⁻ concentrations on the order of tens of mg L⁻¹ (≈20 mg L⁻¹). Groundwater downstream of the TSF reflects variable mixing between these sources. Using Cl⁻/SO₄²⁻, <em>δ</em>²H-H₂O/<em>δ</em>¹⁸O-H₂O, <em>δ</em>³⁴S-SO₄^2-/<em>δ</em>¹⁸O-SO₄^2- and <em>δ</em>³⁴S-SO₄^2-/ln(SO₄²⁻) mixing models, the contribution of mine tailing water was quantified to be generally lower than 20 % but reaching 30–40 % in some groundwater samples located close to the TSF. In addition, <em>δ</em>³⁴S-SO₄^2- and <em>δ</em>¹⁸O-SO₄^2- results suggest that bacterial sulfate reduction may occur in deeper zones of the TSF, promoting natural attenuation of dissolved metals. These findings highlight the usefulness of stable isotopes for tracing water sources, assessing hydraulic barrier efficiency, and estimating the proportion of pumped water exempt from water rights in TSFs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101581"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater quality, isotopic fingerprints, and health risks in the Bengal floodplain","authors":"Md Moniruzzaman ,&nbsp;Shamim Ahmed ,&nbsp;Hafiz Al- Asad ,&nbsp;Ratan Kumar Majumder","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sustainability of the world's largest aquifer systems is threatened by the complex interplay of geogenic and anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates this critical challenge through an integrated isotopic and hydrogeochemical appraisal of groundwater security across the agriculturally vital Jamuna (JF) and Ganges (GF) floodplains of Bangladesh. Total 105 water samples from shallow, intermediate, and deep aquifers and river for major ions, trace metals, and stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H). Hydrochemical facies are predominantly Ca-HCO₃ and Ca-Mg-HCO₃, controlled by rock-water interaction, ion exchange, and silicate weathering. Multivariate statistics and binary diagrams, however, delineate significant anthropogenic contributions from agricultural and domestic waste, elevating critical contaminants (NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, and trace metals). Isotopic signatures confirm a meteoric origin for the recharge. The application of an Integrated Water Quality Index (IWQI) reveals that 35.53 % of samples in the JF and 6.9 % in the GF are of “poor” to “extremely poor” quality, a phenomenon severely concentrated in shallow aquifers. Pollution indices (HPI, HEI, Cd) quantitatively affirm this shallow zone contamination. A health risk assessment quantifies unacceptable carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for the local population, with hazard indices significantly higher for children and markedly elevated in the JF due to intensive industrial and agricultural inputs. Crucially, deep aquifers consistently present a safe hydrological compartment. These findings mandate an immediate policy shift towards depth-specific management: protecting deep aquifers as a strategic resource, enforcing stringent pollution mitigation at the source, and initiating public health outreach. This research provides a transboundary framework for securing vulnerable aquifer systems globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101578"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isotope techniques for sustainable water resources management in mining-related settings: A state-of-the-art review","authors":"E. Sacchi ,&nbsp;A. Cardona Benavides ,&nbsp;C.A. De Carvalho Filho ,&nbsp;Y. Dong ,&nbsp;A. Ghaffar ,&nbsp;S.K. Gurmessa ,&nbsp;M.J. Hendry ,&nbsp;F. Huneau ,&nbsp;S.T. Jiménez-Oyola ,&nbsp;A. Mhizha ,&nbsp;R.A. Oyarzún Lucero ,&nbsp;M. Panasiuk ,&nbsp;M. Qurtobi ,&nbsp;S.P. Rai ,&nbsp;V. Ramaroson ,&nbsp;J. Samaniego ,&nbsp;T. Vitvar ,&nbsp;R. Trabelsi ,&nbsp;U. Saravana Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mining activities can significantly alter surface and groundwater systems. Therefore, sustainable water resources management has become a central requirement and strategic necessity for responsible mining. This requires tools capable of characterizing water sources, flow paths, and contaminant dynamics to support informed and responsible decision-making. Stable and radioactive isotopes are powerful tracers of the origin, age, movement, and transport of water and its constituents, as well as indicators of the water-rock interactions affecting groundwater and surface water quality. This paper reviews publications from 2022 to 2024 that discuss advancements in isotopic techniques and their applications, with the goal to promote the adoption of integrated isotopic and geochemical methods in mining-related assessments. The review is organized into three sections: 1) the understanding of hydro(geo)logical circuits: water sources and circulation, mixing processes, hydro(geo)logical alteration, river-groundwater interactions and groundwater age; 2) the assessment of mining-related contamination processes: contamination by S or by N compounds, discrimination between mining and other contamination sources, the use of minor and trace element isotopes, the salinity issues, and the identification of gas production and exchange; and 3) the application of isotope approaches for monitoring the impact of mining and assessing remediation measures, whether natural or engineered. Finally, the intrinsic strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and limitations to the application of isotopic approaches are discussed. The review summarizes the commonly encountered sources and processes in mining settings and provides graphical outputs to assist with interpreting new experimental data, highlighting environmental isotopes as “sustainable investigation tools”.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101577"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of nitrate sources in surface and groundwater within a karst watershed utilizing nitrogen and oxygen isotopes","authors":"Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhongfa Zhou ,&nbsp;Hui Dong ,&nbsp;Shengjun Ding ,&nbsp;Yong Xiong ,&nbsp;Jijuan Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Huang ,&nbsp;Ye Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoduo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2026.101580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrate pollution seriously threatens water security in karst areas. In these areas, surface water and groundwater systems are highly interconnected, and pollution migration mechanisms are complex. Currently, the spatiotemporal variations of nitrate sources driven by agricultural and tourism activities and their response to seasonal anthropogenic disturbances remain unclear. This study selected the Chiwuxi Basin, a typical karst agricultural-tourism composite watershed in southwestern China, as the study area. Various methods, including hydrochemical analysis, nitrate dual isotopes (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O) tracing, and the Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR), were used to systematically and quantitatively analyze the sources, transformation processes, and contribution patterns of nitrate in surface water and groundwater. The results indicate that: (1) The average nitrate concentration in groundwater (9.73 mg/L) was significantly higher than that in surface water (6.08 mg/L). This reflects that the “preferential flow” formed by karst fissure-conduit systems promoted the subsurface migration and accumulation of pollutants. (2) Both hydrochemical and isotopic indicators suggest that nitrification is the dominant nitrate transformation process. (3) The MixSIAR model quantitatively reveals that soil nitrogen was the primary source (63.9 % in surface water, 61 % in groundwater). Chemical fertilizer was secondary, with a greater contribution to groundwater (28.2 %) than to surface water (23.5 %). This highlights the importance of agricultural non-point source inputs through subsurface pathways. (4) The contributions of pollution sources showed significant seasonal dynamics. Soil nitrogen dominated in the dry season, while chemical fertilizer and domestic sewage contributed more in the wet season. This pattern responds to agricultural fertilization cycles and variations in tourist flow. This study clarifies the spatiotemporal differentiation mechanisms of nitrate sources and the seasonal regulatory role of human activities in the surface water–groundwater system of karst agricultural-tourism composite watersheds. The findings can provide a scientific basis for implementing coordinated “surface–subsurface” pollution control, precise interception of agricultural non-point source pollution, and enhanced management of seasonal tourism wastewater in such regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101580"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioaugmented graphene sand composite for manganese and pollutants removal in groundwater","authors":"Nur Raihan Ahmad Nahrawi ,&nbsp;Wei Lun Ang ,&nbsp;Ebrahim Mahmoudi ,&nbsp;Ahmad Razi Othman ,&nbsp;Abdul Wahab Mohammad","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the graphene sand composite (GSC) as both a biofilm supports medium and an adsorbent for removing contaminants from groundwater. GSC synthesized with 10 % sugar molasses achieved a uniform coating and optimal bacterial survivability (6.55 × 10¹¹ CFU/mL), making it highly suitable for microbial attachment. In phase I, GSC promoted early biofilm formation (by day 5) and maintained manganese removal efficiencies consistently above 80 %, outperforming bioaugmented river sand. Phase II evaluated GSC with different bacterial inoculations under real groundwater conditions. Among all configurations, the native strain-inoculated GSC (B2 column) exhibited the most effective performance, achieving 90 % removal of manganese and iron within 24 h and 90 % nitrate removal within 3 h. All GSC columns achieved &gt;90 % tetracycline removal, while pesticide removal ranged between 60 and 70 %. These results highlight GSC's potential ability as a dual functionality to integrate microbial oxidation and adsorption for multi-contaminant removal. The enhanced performance of native bacterial inoculation underscores the importance of strain selection in optimizing bioaugmented filtration systems. GSC offers a scalable and sustainable platform for environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing groundwater storage response to snow cover dynamics in large Moroccan river basins over the last decades using remote sensing data","authors":"Mostafa Bousbaa ,&nbsp;Abdelghani Boudhar ,&nbsp;Mohammed Hssaisoune ,&nbsp;Haytam Elyoussfi ,&nbsp;Ismail Karaoui ,&nbsp;Bouchra Bargam ,&nbsp;Karima Nifa ,&nbsp;Abdessamad Hadri ,&nbsp;Siham Acharki ,&nbsp;Gemine Vivone ,&nbsp;Christophe Kinnard","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101574","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater reserves face increasing pressure from human activities and climate variability. Increased domestic, industrial, and agricultural demand has led to unsustainable dependence, disrupting natural replenishment, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. This study examines how snow cover, a key factor in groundwater recharge, influences groundwater reserves in Morocco's main basins, focusing on assessing the relative importance of snowmelt and rainfall. Remote sensing data from MODIS for snow cover area (SCA), the Global Gravity-based Groundwater Product (G3P) for groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA), and the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) for rainfall were used for this purpose from September 2002 to August 2023. Trend analysis, correlation metrics, and a regression-based framework were used to assess temporal variability and quantify recharge sources. Results showed that G3P-derived GWSA accurately captured groundwater level variations, achieving high correlation (up to 0.93) and low error (as low as 0.72), confirming its reliability. During the study period, most basins showed significant GWSA declines, closely related to decreasing SCA. A 6 to 8-month lag was observed between SCA and GWSA peaks. Furthermore, SCA depletion and GWSA change rates revealed distinct hydrological responses across basins. In Oum Er-Rbia and Draa, their strong correlation highlighted the significant role of snowmelt in groundwater recharge. In contrast, moderate correlations in other basins indicate additional influences. On average, snowmelt contributed 5 %–50 % to groundwater recharge, highlighting its important, yet secondary, role in seasonal snow regions. These results highlight the role of snowmelt in groundwater recharge and the vulnerability of groundwater to variations in snow cover and precipitation. Our results further underscore the need for adaptive water management, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101574"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}