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Application of multi-method approach to assess groundwater–surface water interactions, for catchment management

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Abstract

Globally, the dependence of river systems to delayed discharge of subsurface water to augment flows during dry seasons is well documented. Discharge of fresh subsurface water can dilute concentrated river flow quality during reduced flow. Observed and reported results on the Berg River’s declining water quantity and quality are a concern to the regions socio-economic growth and environmental integrity. Understanding the role of subsurface water discharges on the quantity and quality of receiving surface water courses can improve their management during dry periods. A case study was designed and implemented in the upper Berg River catchment in the Western Cape Province of South Africa to assess the influence of groundwater–surface water interaction on water quantity and quality. This study aimed to quantify and characterize the quality of subsurface water available in the upper catchment to improve observed declining water quality downstream. Hydrograph separation provided estimates of water fluxes during 2012–2014 low and high flow periods, while hydrochemical analysis provided insights on impacts of major land use activity in this catchment on water resources. Hydrograph separation analysis indicated that the Berg River is 37.9% dependent on subsurface water discharges annually. Dominant Na–Cl-type water indicates the quality of water from the upper Berg River is largely affected by natural processes including short residence times of aquifer water, rock–water interactions and atmospheric deposition of NaCl ions. These results provide insights for suggesting management options to be implemented to protect subsurface water for continued dilution and water resources management in the lower catchments.

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Source: Parsons (2003)

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Department of Water and Sanitation officials from the Bellville office, Western Cape, Researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, and staff and fellow students at the Department of Earth Science at the University of the Western Cape, for helping with the groundwater and surface water sampling and drafting of this manuscript. The authors want to thank the African Union, the Applied Center for Climate and Earth Systems Science for provision of funding. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the unknown referees for their critical reviews of the manuscript and suggesting changes to improve the manuscript.

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Correspondence to T. Madlala.

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Madlala, T., Kanyerere, T., Oberholster, P. et al. Application of multi-method approach to assess groundwater–surface water interactions, for catchment management. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 2215–2230 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1819-3

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