The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Ronny Berndtsson

Professor, Dep Director, MECW Dep Scientific Coordinator

Profile photo of Ronny Berndtsson

Prediction of groundwater drawdown and quality at Kyzylzharma well field in the arid Syr Darya Basin, Kazakhstan

Author

  • Malis Absametov
  • Yermek Murtazin
  • Kairat Ospanov
  • Valentina Rakhimova
  • Ronny Berndtsson

Summary, in English

The geologically complex Kyzylzharma groundwater field is located in the south-central part of Kazakhstan in the lower Syr Darya Basin. It supplies the 243,000 population of Kyzylorda City by drinking and agricultural water needs. Numerical modeling was used to predict the consequences of increased groundwater withdrawal for future water supply needs. The results displayed a mean squared error for the groundwater simulations of about 0.6 m and was thus acceptable. The validated transmissivity was between 2 × 10−7 and 2 × 10−5 m/d. These parameters showed that the planned groundwater withdrawal will result in a depression cone reaching 90–100 m below present levels in 2040. Maximum groundwater level drawdown may reach 130 m below present levels. This drawdown increases risks for brackish saltwater intrusion into the main groundwater aquifer. The results point at the depletion of groundwater resources in the Syr Daria Artesian Basin and the risks for groundwater quality, particularly increase in mineralization. The key outcome is the recognition that effective joint management of the Syr Daria Artesian Basin’s groundwater resources, involving both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, necessitates development and operation of a joint numerical aquifer model. Building this model is a crucial tool for assessing the sustainable groundwater resources in the region.

Department/s

  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Division of Water Resources Engineering
  • LTH Profile Area: Water

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Publication/Series

Cogent Engineering

Volume

11

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Cogent OA

Topic

  • Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Keywords

  • Agriculture & Environmental Sciences; Earth Sciences; Civil, Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering
  • Sanjay Kumar Shukla, Edith Cowan University, Australia
  • Sustainable groundwater
  • Syr Darya Artesian Basin
  • transboundary groundwater
  • Uzbekistan

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2331-1916