Surface water - groundwater interactions: development of methodologies suitable for South African conditions

[摘要] English: Winter (1999) succinctly, made a profound statement to the effect that understanding thebasic principles of the interaction between surface water and groundwater is needed foreffective management of water resources. Hence, the research investigation was aimed atidentifying appropriate methodologies for assessment of surface water - groundwaterinteraction, thus enhancing the understanding thereof. The methodology used entailed areview of national and international literature on related previous and current models,systems and methods used in assessment and quantification of water exchange betweengroundwater and surface water. This was then followed by relevant case study analyseswhere distinct areas where chosen based on availability of relevant data and information byprevious investigators. The findings were that various methods and classification systemsare widely available but the applicability thereof under the South African conditionsdepends on the conceptual understanding of the area or system under investigation,availability of data and the basic assumptions associated with the particular model ormethod. The surface water - groundwater interaction cannot easily be quantified withconfidence without requisite data available. The other finding is that use of multipletechniques to reduce uncertainties and to confirm or verify the existence or non-existenceof the interaction is essential. Preferably, at least one method should be utilised to traceflow or qualitatively establish the water exchange while the alternative method is used forquantitative estimation of the interaction between surface water and groundwater. Someof the products emerging from this research investigation include decision tables forchoosing applicable analytical method, applicable numerical method and the framework forguiding the selection of appropriate methodologies for assessing or quantifying theinteraction between surface water and groundwater. Knowledge generated is applicableto water resource management, resource protection, water allocation and monitoring.

[发布机构] University of the Free State