Modern state and perspectives of applying ground fresh water for water supply of population

Abstract

[1]  A tendency to a greater use of ground waters for water supply is currently observed. This is explained by the well known fact that ground waters as a water source have a number of advantages compared to the surface waters. Natural resources are indicators of renewal of ground waters reflecting their main peculiarity as a renewed resource. The long-term value of ground water source minus evaporation is equal to the underground sink, therefore in the regional estimates, natural resources of ground waters are frequently expressed by the annual mean or minimal absolute values of underground sink (in liters per second from 1 km² ). The main methods of regional estimates of natural resources, their advantages and restrictions (method of genetic division of rivers hydrographs over a long-term period, estimates of the variations in the low runoff between hydrometric lines, hydrodynamic method of calculation of flow discharge including modeling, method of water balance of source regions or reload of ground waters, estimate of infiltration source of ground waters based on the regime of their levels) are described in this presentation. The choice of the specific method for calculating water resources depends on the objectives, goals, and scale of investigation and on the hydrological, hydrogeological, and anthropogenic conditions of the estimated territory.

Received 29 February 2008; accepted 22 March 2008; published 26 April 2008.

Keywords: Water supply, natural resources, operation resources, estimates and mapping, pumping of ground waters.

Index Terms: 1806 Hydrology: Chemistry of fresh water; 1829 Hydrology: Groundwater hydrology; 1831 Hydrology: Groundwater quality; 1832 Hydrology: Groundwater transport.

Citation: Zektser, I. S. (2008), Modern state and perspectives of applying ground fresh water for water supply of population, Russ. J. Earth Sci., 10, ES3006, doi:10.2205/2007ES000265.