Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Management of Karst Groundwater Resources

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Karst Management

Abstract

Karst aquifers are especially difficult to exploit, manage, and protect because of the extreme variability of their hydraulic properties which are almost impossible to determine at a local scale. Moreover, their functioning may be influenced by non-linearities and threshold effects. Considering long-term aquifer exploitation, karst system complexity does not allow for easy behavioral modeling, such as using the classical isochrone method for determining a protection zone. However, because karst aquifers may offer great storage capacity and high local hydraulic conductivity, high flow rates can be pumped from single sites, allowing for effective management of an aquifer. After outlining the main characteristics of karst aquifers, the management of their groundwater is examined from both quantity and quality viewpoints in order to highlight benefits and problems with this resource. Finally, some new avenues of research are proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abdulkarim M, Bildgen P, Bildgen A et al (2003) Les systèmes d’alimentation en eau au voisinage et dans les terroirs des villages antiques du Gebal Zawiye. Ann archéol arabes syrie 45–46:359–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Aigrefeuille C (1877) Histoire de la ville de Montpellier depuis son origine jusqu’à notre temps. C. Coulet, Montpellier

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Charideh AR (2007) Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical study of water in the karst aquifer and submarine springs of the Syrian coast. Hydrogeol J 15:351–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Fares W, Bakalowicz M, Guérin R et al (2002) Analysis of the karst aquifer structure of the Lamalou area (Herault, France) with ground penetrating radar. J Appl Geophys 51(2–4):97–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aller L, Bennett T, Lehr JH et al (1987) DRASTIC: a standardized system for evaluating ground water pollution potential using hydrogeologic settings. EPA, Washington DC, EPA-600/2- 87–035

    Google Scholar 

  • Arfib B, Ganoulis J, de Marsily G (2006) Locating the zone of saline intrusion in a coastal karst aquifer using springflow data. Ground Water 45:28–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avias JV (1995) Gestion active de l’exsurgence karstique de la source du Lez (Hérault, France) 1957–1994. Hydrogéologie 1995(1):113–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayoub G, Khoury R, Ghannam J et al (2002) Exploitation of submarine springs in Lebanon: assessment of potential. J Water Supply Res Technol AQUA 51:47–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M (2006) Causses Majeurs. In: Roux JC (ed.) Aquifères et eaux souterraines en France. BRGM Éditions & CFH-AIH, Orléans

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M (2004) The epikarst, the skin of karst. In: Jones WK, Culver DC, Herman JS (eds.) The epikarst conference. Karst water institute special Publication n°9. The Karst Water Institute, Shepherdstown

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M (2005) Karst groundwater: a challenge for new resources. Hydrogeol J 13(1):148–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M, Mangin A, Song L et al (1993) Structure, functioning and evolution of aquifers and landforms in conical karst (Guizhou, China). Sino-French Karst Hydrogeology Collaboration Project Group CNRS – Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M, Fleyfel M, Hachache A (2002) Une histoire ancienne: le captage de la source de Ras el Aïn et l’alimentation en eau de la ville de Tyr (Liban). Houille Blanche 4–5:157–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakalowicz M, Daher W, El-Hajj A et al (2008) Coastal carbonate aquifers in the Levantine countries require a great care and specific management of their groundwater resources. MENA Seminar: “Innovations in Groundwater Management in the MENA Region”, The World Water Week, 20 Aug 2008, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalera T, Arfib B, Gilli E (2006) Ressource karstique côtière en méditerranée : les sources sous-marines de Port Miou et du Bestouan (Marseille – France). In: Proceeding 8th conference on Limestone hydrogeology Neuchâtel Switzerland Presses universitaires Franche-Comté, Besançon

    Google Scholar 

  • Collin JJ (2004) Les eaux souterraines. Connaissance et gestion. Hermann & BRGM Éditions, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Daher W (2010) Analyse de la rechargeabilité d’un aquifère karstique côtier. Application au site de Damour, Liban. PhD Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier

    Google Scholar 

  • de Grissac B, Larocque M, Razack M (1996) Le karst de La Rochefoucauld. Un exemple de gestion prévisionnelle d’un aquifère karstique Séminaire, “Pour une gestion active des ressources en eau d’origine karstique”. BRGM, Montpellier, pp 75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon P (2005) Future management of aquifer recharge. Hydrogeol J 13(1):313–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doerfliger N, Jeannin PY, Zwahlen F (1999) Water vulnerability assessment in karst environments: a new method of defining protection areas using a multi-attribute approach and GIS tools (EPIK method). Environ Geol 39(2):165–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Hajj A (2008) L’aquifère carbonaté karstique de Chekka (Liban) et ses exutoires sous-marins. Caractéristiques hydrogéologiques, fonctionnement et modélisation. PhD université Montpellier 2, Montpellier

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Hakim M, Bakalowicz M (2007) Significance and origin of very large regulating power of some karst aquifers in the Middle East. Implication on karst aquifer classification. J Hydrol 333:329–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleury P (2005) Sources sous-marines et aquifères côtiers méditerranéens. Fonctionnement et caractérisation. PhD Université Paris 6, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleury P, Bakalowicz M, de Marsily G (2007a) Submarine springs and coastal karst aquifers: a review. J Hydrol 339:79–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleury P, Plagnes V, Bakalowicz M (2007b) Modelling of the functioning of karst aquifers and flow-rate simulation: Fontaine de Vaucluse. J Hydrol 345:38–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleury P, Bakalowicz M, de Marsily G, Cortes JM (2008) Functioning of a coastal karstic system with a submarine outlet, in southern Spain. Hydrogeol J 16(1):75–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleury P, Ladouche B, Conroux Y, Jourde H, Dörfliger N (2009) Modelling the hydrologic functions of a karst aquifer under active water management – the Lez spring. J Hydrol 365:235–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford DC, Williams PW (1989) Karst geomorphology and hydrology. Unwin Hyman Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kattan Z (1997) Environmental isotope study of the major karst springs in Damascus limestone aquifer systems: case of the Figeh and Barada springs. J Hydrol 193:161–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khawlie M, Shaban A, Abdallah C (2000) Evaluating the potentials of submarine springs: an unconventional groundwater source for coastal area – Lebanon. Conference on groundwater rehabilitation for water resources protection and conservation, ESCWA, Beirut, Lebanon

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiraly L (1998) Modelling karst aquifers by the combined discrete channel and continuum approach. Bull Hydrogéologie CHYN 16:77–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladouche B, Maréchal JC, Dörfliger N, Lachassagne P, Bakalowicz M, Valarié I, Le Noir P (2006) Simulation of the future exploitation of the Cent Fonts karst system (Hérault, South France) on the basis of hydrographs, chemographs and pumping tests. Darcy 2006 International symposium, Dijon 31 May to 1 June 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangin A (1974) Contribution à l’étude hydrodynamique des aquifères karstiques. 2ème partie. Concepts méthodologiques adoptés. Systèmes karstiques étudiés. Ann Spéléol 29(4):495–601

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangin A (1984) Pour une meilleure connaissance des systèmes hydrologiques à partir des analyses corrélatoires et spectrales. J Hydrol 67:25–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mangin A (1994) Karst hydrogeology. In: Stanford J, Gibert J, Danielopol D (eds.) Groundwater ecology. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Margat J (2008) L’eau des Méditerranéens. Situation et perspectives. Prospective. Prospective appliquée. L’Harmattan, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsaud B (1997a) Structure et fonctionnement de la zone noyée des karsts à partir des résultats expérimentaux. Documents BRGM 268. BRGM, Orléans

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsaud B (1997b) Une démarche d’interprétation des essais de pompage adaptée aux aquifères karstiques. Hydrogéologie 1997(3):31–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Milanovic P (2000) Geological engineering in karst. Zebra, Belgrade

    Google Scholar 

  • Mroueh M (1997) Geological and hydrogeological study of the borehole project at Wadi Jilo, South Lebanon (in Arabic). Ministry of hydraulic and energy resources, Republic of Lebanon, Beirut

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer AN, Palmer MV, Sasowsky ID (eds.) (1999) Karst modeling. Karst Waters Institute, Charlestown

    Google Scholar 

  • Parizek RR (2007) Opportunities to enhance management of karstic aquifers. Environ Geol 51:731–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petelet-Giraud E, Doerfliger N, Crochet P (2000) RISKE: méthode d’évaluation multicritère de la cartographie de la vulnérabilité des aquifères karstiques. Application aux systèmes des Fontanilles et Cent-Fonts (Hérault, Sud de la France). Hydrogéologie 2000(4):71–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulido Bosch A, Castillo Martin A, Padilla Benitez A (eds.) (1989) La sobreexplotacion de acuiferos. Almeria. Instituto Tecnologico GeoMinero de Espana, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulido Bosch A, Lopez Geta JA, Ramos Gonzalez G (eds.) (2007) TIAC’07. Coastal aquifers: challenges and solutions.. Spain IGME, Madrid, Proceeding Conference Almeria

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouchy JM, Suc JP, Ferrandini J, Ferrandini M (2006) The Messinian salinity crisis revisited. Sediment Geol 188–189:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderzalm J, Sidhu J, Bekele E et al (2009) Water quality changes during aquifer storage and recovery. Web Report #2974 Water Research Foundation Denver USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwahlen F (ed.) (2005) Vulnerability and risk mapping for the protection of carbonate (karst) aquifers. COST-Action 620 Final report. European Commission, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. HydroSciences, Université Montpellier 2, cc MSE, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Michel Bakalowicz

Authors
  1. Michel Bakalowicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michel Bakalowicz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Geography, University of South Florida, Tampa, 33620, Florida, USA

    Philip E. van Beynen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bakalowicz, M. (2011). Management of Karst Groundwater Resources. In: van Beynen, P. (eds) Karst Management. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1207-2_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation