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Estimation of regional-scale groundwater flow properties in the Bengal Basin of India and Bangladesh

Estimation des proriétés régionales des écoulement souterrains dans le bassin du Bengale en Inde et au Bangladesh

Estimación de las propiedades de flujo de agua de agua subterránea a escala regional en la cuenca de Bengala en India y Bangladesh

印度和孟加拉国孟加拉盆地区域尺度上地下水流性质评估

Estimativa das propriedades do escoamento subterrâneo à escala regional na bacia de Bengal da India e do Bangladesh

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Abstract

Quantitative evaluation of management strategies for long-term supply of safe groundwater for drinking from the Bengal Basin aquifer (India and Bangladesh) requires estimation of the large-scale hydrogeologic properties that control flow. The Basin consists of a stratified, heterogeneous sequence of sediments with aquitards that may separate aquifers locally, but evidence does not support existence of regional confining units. Considered at a large scale, the Basin may be aptly described as a single aquifer with higher horizontal than vertical hydraulic conductivity. Though data are sparse, estimation of regional-scale aquifer properties is possible from three existing data types: hydraulic heads, 14C concentrations, and driller logs. Estimation is carried out with inverse groundwater modeling using measured heads, by model calibration using estimated water ages based on 14C, and by statistical analysis of driller logs. Similar estimates of hydraulic conductivities result from all three data types; a resulting typical value of vertical anisotropy (ratio of horizontal to vertical conductivity) is 104. The vertical anisotropy estimate is supported by simulation of flow through geostatistical fields consistent with driller log data. The high estimated value of vertical anisotropy in hydraulic conductivity indicates that even disconnected aquitards, if numerous, can strongly control the equivalent hydraulic parameters of an aquifer system.

Résumé

L’évaluation quantitative de stratégies de gestion pour la fourniture à long terme d’eau souterraine salubre pour la consommation humaine, à partir de l’aquifère du bassin du Bengale (Inde et Bangladesh), nécessite une estimation des propriétés hydrogéologiques à grande échelle qui contrôlent l’écoulement. Le basin se compose d’une séquence de sédiments hétérogènes stratifiés, où des aquitards peuvent localement séparés des aquifères, mais les éléments connus ne vont pas dans le sens de la présence d’un toit imperméable à l’échelle régionale. Examiné à grande échelle, le bassin peut être pertinemment décrit comme un aquifère unique dont la conductivité hydraulique horizontale est plus forte que la verticale. Même si les données sont éparses, l’estimation des propriétés aquifères à grande échelle est possible à partir de trois types d’information: les charges hydrauliques, les concentrations en 14C, et les logs de forage. L’estimation est réalisée au moyen d’une modélisation inverse à partir des piézométries mesurées, le calage s’appuyant sur les âges estimés à partir du 14C, et de l’analyse statistique des logs de forage. Les trois types de données conduisent à des estimations comparables des conductivités hydrauliques; il en résulte une valeur caractéristique de l’anisotropie verticale (ratio de la conductivité horizontale sur la verticale) de 104. La simulation de l’écoulement au travers de grilles géostatistiques cohérentes avec les données des logs de forage soutient cette évaluation. La valeur élevée de l’estimation de l’anisotropie verticale de conductivité hydraulique indique que même des aquitards déconnectés, s’ils sont nombreux, peuvent fortement contrôler les paramètres hydrauliques équivalents d’un système aquifère.

Resumen

La evaluación cuantitativa de estrategias de gestión para el suministro seguro de aguas subterráneas a largo plazo para bebida del acuífero de la Cuenca de Bengala (India y Bangladesh) requiere la estimación de las propiedades hidrogeológicas que a gran escala controlan el flujo. La cuenca está compuesta por una secuencia de sedimentos estratificados heterogéneos con acuitardos que pueden separar localmente a los acuíferos, pero no existen evidencias de la existencia de unidades confinantes regionales. La cuenca, considerada en una gran escala, puede ser adecuadamente descripta como un acuífero simple con la conductividad hidráulica horizontal más alta que la vertical. Aunque los datos son escasos, la estimación de las propiedades del acuífero a escala regional es posible realizarla a partir de tres tipos de datos existentes: las cargas hidráulicas, las concentraciones de 14C y los registros de perforaciones. La estimación es llevada a cabo con la modelación inversa de las aguas subterráneas usando las cargas hidráulicas medidas, por la calibración del modelo usando las edades del agua estimadas en 14C, y por el análisis estadístico de los registros de perforaciones. Estimaciones similares de las conductividades hidráulicas resultan de los tres tipos de datos; un valor típico de la anisotropía vertical (cociente entre la conductividad horizontal y la vertical) es 104. La anisotropía vertical estimada es sostenida por la simulación del flujo a través de campos geoestadísticos consecuentes con los datos de los registros de perforaciones. Los valores altos estimados de anisotropía vertical en la conductividad hidráulica indican que incluso acuitardos desconectados, si son numerosos, pueden controlar fuertemente los parámetros hidráulicos equivalentes de un sistema acuífero.

摘要

摘要 定量评价孟加拉盆地含水层 (印度和孟加拉国) 安全饮用地下水长期供应的管理策略, 需先评估控制地下水流动的大尺度水文地质条件。这个盆地由层状的, 非均质沉积序列和可局部分隔含水层的弱透水层组成, 但无证据支持区域性隔水单元的存在。从较大尺度上考虑, 这个盆地更适合描述为一个水平渗透性比垂向渗透性好的单一含水层单元。虽数据稀疏, 区域尺度含水层性质的评估仍可从已有的三种数据进行 : 水头, 14C浓度和钻井记录。评估应用地下水反演模拟, 根据测量水头、地下水14C校正年龄和钻井记录的统计分析进行。基于三种数据对渗透系数进行了类似评估, 得到垂向各向异性的典型值 (水平与垂向渗透系数的比值) 为104。该结果为地质统计场水流模拟与钻井数据相一致所支持。渗透系数较大的垂向各向异性值表明, 即使不连续的弱透水层, 若大量存在, 也可强烈地控制含水层系统的等效水力参数。

Resumo

A avaliação quantitativa das estratégias de gestão para abastecimento a longo prazo de água subterrânea potável proveniente do aquífero da bacia de Bengal (India e Bangladesh) requer a estimativa das propriedades hidrogeológicas a grande escala que controlam o escoamento. A bacia consiste numa sequência de sedimentos estratificada e heterogénea, com aquitardos que podem localmente separar os aquíferos, mas a evidência não apoia a existência de unidades confinantes regionais. Considerada em grande escala, a bacia pode ser adequadamente descrita como um aquífero único, com condutividade hidráulica horizontal superior à vertical. Apesar dos dados serem esparsos, a estimativa das propriedades do aquífero à escala regional é possível a partir daexistência de três tipos de dados: potenciais hidráulicos, concentrações de 14C, e perfis de sondagens. A estimativa é feita através da modelação inversa de águas subterrâneas utilizando os potenciais medidos, através da calibração de modelo utilizando idades estimadas das águas com base no 14C, e pela análise estatística dos perfis das sondagens. Estimativas semelhantes das condutividades hidráulicas resultam dos três tipos de dados; um valor típico de anisotropia vertical (razão entre a condutividade horizontal e vertical) é 104. A estimativa da anisotropia vertical é apoiada pela simulação de escoamento através de campos geoestatísticos consistentes com dados de perfis de sondagens. O valor estimado elevado para a anistotropia vertical da condutividade hidráulica indica que mesmo os aquitardos não conectados, quando numerosos, podem controlar fortemente os parâmetros hidráulicos equivalentes de um sistema aquífero.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to K.M. Ahmed (University of Dhaka), A. Zahid (Bangladesh Water Development Board and University of Dhaka), M.A. Hoque (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), S.P. Sinha Ray (Centre for Groundwater Studies), P. Sikdar and P. Sahu (Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management) and S. Chakraborty (Bengal Engineering and Science University) for technical advice and ongoing cooperation; to J. Whitney and D. Clark (US Geological Survey) for initiating and supporting this project; to G. Howard, R. Johnston, and R. Nickson for their support; to M. Allison (Tulane University) and S. Goodbred (Vanderbilt University) for insights into Bengal Basin geology; to R. Ababou (Institut de Mecanique des Fluides de Toulouse) and A. Boucher (Stanford University) for discussions on geostatistics; to L.N. Plummer (US Geological Survey) for providing 14C corrections; and to C. West, A.H.M. Shamsuddin, and J. Coleman of UNOCAL for geologic information. The project was funded by UNICEF, the Arsenic Policy Support Unit of the British Department for International Development, the US Agency for International Development, and the US Geological Survey. Thanks are also due to the Government of Bangladesh through the Department of Public Health and Engineering and the Bangladesh Water Development Board. We also thank the technical reviewers of this manuscript. This work was conducted in part while H.M. was a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate at the US Geological Survey (2005–2006).

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  1. Department of Geological Sciences, College of Marine and Earth Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Holly A. Michael

  2. US Geological Survey, 431 National Center, Reston, VA, 20192, USA

    Holly A. Michael & Clifford I. Voss

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Michael, H.A., Voss, C.I. Estimation of regional-scale groundwater flow properties in the Bengal Basin of India and Bangladesh. Hydrogeol J 17, 1329–1346 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0443-1

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