the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
The problems of overexploitation of aquifers in semi-arid areas: the Murcia Region and the Segura Basin (South-east Spain) case
Abstract. A general analysis of the problems arising from aquifer exploitation in semi-arid areas such as the Autonomous Region of Murcia, which belongs to the Segura Basin is presented, with particular reference to the Ascoy-Sopalmo aquifer, which is the most overexploited aquifer in Spain. It has suffered intense overabstraction over the last forty years, given renewable water resources of 2 Mm3 yr−1 and abstractions amounting to as much as 55 Mm3 yr−1. This has resulted in the drying of springs, continuous drawdown of water levels (5 m yr−1); piezometric drops (over 30 m in one year, as a consequence of it being a karstic aquifer); increase in pumping costs (elevating water from more than 320 m depth); abandoning of wells (45 reduced to 20), diminishing groundwater reserves, and deteriorating water quality (progressing from a mixed sodium bicarbonate-chloride facies to a sodium chloride one). This is a prime example of poor management with disastrous consequences. In this sense, a series of internal measures is proposed to alleviate the overexploitation of this aquifer and of the Segura Basin, with the aim of contributing to a sustainable future.
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RC C2445: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #1, 22 Jun 2012
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AC C3672: 'Response to Referee 1', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
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AC C3672: 'Response to Referee 1', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
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RC C2546: 'Referee comment on "The problems of overexploitation of aquifers in semi-arid areas", T. Rodríguez-Estrella', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jun 2012
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AC C3673: 'Response to Referee 2', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
-
AC C3673: 'Response to Referee 2', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
- Printer-friendly version
- Supplement
-
RC C2445: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #1, 22 Jun 2012
-
AC C3672: 'Response to Referee 1', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
-
AC C3672: 'Response to Referee 1', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
-
RC C2546: 'Referee comment on "The problems of overexploitation of aquifers in semi-arid areas", T. Rodríguez-Estrella', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jun 2012
-
AC C3673: 'Response to Referee 2', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
-
AC C3673: 'Response to Referee 2', Tomás Rodríguez-Estrella, 08 Aug 2012
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Cited
9 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Quantifying changes in groundwater level and chemistry in Shahrood, northeastern Iran K. Ajdary & G. Kazemi 10.1007/s10040-013-1042-8
- Groundwater Sustainability Strategies in the Sierra de Gador-Campo de Dalias System, Southeast Spain A. Pulido-Bosch et al. 10.3390/w12113262
- Sustainability of irrigated agriculture with overexploited aquifers: The case of Segura basin (SE, Spain) C. Rupérez-Moreno et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.12.008
- Using SWAT and Fuzzy TOPSIS to Assess the Impact of Climate Change in the Headwaters of the Segura River Basin (SE Spain) J. Senent-Aparicio et al. 10.3390/w9020149
- Telecoupled Groundwaters: New Ways to Investigate Increasingly De-Localized Resources R. Luetkemeier et al. 10.3390/w13202906
- Characterization of the Agricultural Supply of Desalinated Seawater in Southeastern Spain V. Martínez-Alvarez et al. 10.3390/w11061233
- Economic Feasibility of Underwater Adduction of Rivers for Metropolises in Semiarid Coastal Environments: Case Studies D. Albiero et al. 10.3390/w10020215
- Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador P. Carrión-Mero et al. 10.3390/w13070923
