GROUNDWATER AND OUR ENVIRONMENT

by: SAIM SURATMAN

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality + Effect Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Groundwater and its Environment

Interaction between groundwater and stream

Gaining streams receive water from the groundwater system (A). This can be determined from water-table contour maps because the contour lines point in the upstream direction where they cross the stream (B)

Losing streams lose water to the ground-water system (A). This can be determined from water-table contour maps because the contour lines point in the downstream direction where they cross the stream (B)

Interaction between groundwater and stream

If stream levels rise higher than their stream banks (C), the floodwaters recharge ground water throughout the flooded areas

Please Remember 1Water

Interaction of Groundwater and Lakes

Lakes can receive ground-water inflow (A), lose water as seepage to ground water (B), or both (C).

Interaction of Groundwater and Wetlands

(a) aquifer and wetland separated by impermeable rocks (aquiclude) no interaction; (b) aquifer and wetland separated by low permeability rocks (aquitard) small interaction; and (c) aquifer and wetland separated by high permeability rocks or not separated large interaction

Interaction of Groundwater and Wetlands

the source of water to wetlands can be from ground-water discharge where the land surface is underlain by complex groundwater flow fields (A), from ground-water discharge at seepage faces and at breaks in slope of the water table (B), from streams (C), and from precipitation in cases where wetlands have no stream inflow and groundwater gradients slope away from the wetland (D).

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Why groundwater in Malaysia?

1. Groundwater as the only option - alternative to surface water

Technically feasible, Economically viable less capital-intensive to develop and run, Quality is good, and Environmentally sustainable Accessible to a large number of users Provide individual supplies

2. Increase water security as supplementary source, conjunctive use 3. During emergency or period of drought crisis

driven

4. Offers better insurance against drought as a tool for climate change adaptation

Groundwater Quality
In general, groundwater in Malaysia is of acceptable quality. The chemical and biological character of ground water is acceptable for most uses. Problems related to quality and suitability for human consumption are managable The quality of ground water in some parts of the country, particularly shallow ground water, is changing as a result of human activities. Fe & Mn values > WHO limit ( 60 % of well) Hg, As, Pb, NO3, high in isolated wells at N. Sembilan, Terengganu, Selangor, Melaka In Kelantan, groundwater in the shallow aquifer is subjected to contamination with nitrate, ammonia, fertilisers, insecticides and microbial contamination Ground water is less susceptible to bacterial pollution than surface water because the soil and rocks through which ground water flows screen out most of the bacteria. Water is a solvent and dissolves minerals from the rocks with which it comes in contact. Ground water may contain dissolved minerals and gases that give it the tangy taste enjoyed by many people. Without these minerals and gases, the water would taste flat. Colliform, E. coli present in Kota Bharu shallow unconfined aquifer

Mineral water (groundwater) vs drinking water

Major Constituents
Na+K Ca
Cl

Na+K

Ca
Mg SO4

Mg

HCO3

Cl SO4 HCO3
Na+K Cl HCO3 Ca Mg SO4

100

1000

10000 mg/L

The most common dissolved mineral substances are sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, and sulfate. In water chemistry, these substances are called common constituents.

Graphical Representation

Piper diagram

Durov diagram

Schoeller Diagrams

Stiff diagrams

radial diagrams

pie charts

Tubewell Distribution in Selangor

Quality - Drink directly from the well

Bank Infiltration RAW Water Quality

Langat Jeli

Parameter
pH Turbidity (NTU) Conductivity S/cm N03 (mg/l) Total Coliform E. coli

Sungai Langat
6.7 328.0 211

Groundwater
7.1 14.0 94

Parameter pH Turbidity (NTU)

Sungai Jeli 6.47 447

Groundwater 5.54 7.97

9.1
>2420 MPN/100ml 1414 MPN/100ml

1.12
<1 MPN/100ml <1 MPN/100ml

Bank Infiltration RAW Water Quality

Microorganism counting (Cryptosporidium & Giardia)
Station No Sampling Site Date collected Sampled volume Concentrated volume Parasitological Analysis No of Giardia cysts counted on the slide Giardia cycts/liter No of Cryptosporidiu m oocysts on the slide Cryptosporidium oocysts /liter

SW 1 SW2 DW2

Sungai Langat Sungai Langat Product ion well

20/4/20 10 20/4/20 10 20/4/20 10

10 L 10 L 10 L

10 ml 10 ml 10 ml

29 1 0

2.9 0.1 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

Analysis of water samples from Sungai Langat and 1 production well showed that two samples from the Sg. Langat containing Giardia cyst in concentration 0.1 to 2.9 cysts per litre.

 In 2007, the number of river basin monitored by DOE was 143 Degradation of river water quality by sediments from land clearance and solid wastes Major pollutants: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N) and Suspended Solids. Pollutants: solid waste (municipals, cnstruction, etc), debris, chemicals, sewage and sediments. Diffuse source from agriculture practices: Residuals of agro-chemical, fertilizers and pesticide

Rivers

clean slightly polluted

polluted

River quality in Malaysia 2007

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality + Effect Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Over exploitation of groundwater

Over exploitation of groundwater may lead to:

ground subsidence, saltwater intrusion, threat to wetlands, and accelerates movement of pollutant.

Over exploitation of groundwater

Permits or licences are required for the abstraction of groundwater to control over exploitation of the resource, and at the same time to encourage efficient use and raise revenue.

saltwater intrusion
In coastal areas a natural balance exists between salt and freshwater; if over-pumped, salt water up-coning occurs, with mixing fresh and sea water. This is irreversible.

intensive ground-water pumping can cause saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers

Langat Basin: Model

10 m

Output

- Variant 5 Drawdown in Model Layer 5

Dry Cells Inactive Cells

Dredge Ponds (Paya Indah, Imuda)

0.2 m Active Pumping Wells 0m

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources

Illustrative map of future climate change impacts related to freshwater which threaten the sustainable development of the affected regions. 1: Bobba et al. (2000), 2: Barnett et al. (2004), 3: Dll and Flrke (2005), 4: Mirza et al. (2003), 5: Lehner et al. (2005), 6: Kistemann et al. (2002), 7: Porter and Semenov (2005). Background map, see Figure 2.10: Ensemble mean change in annual runoff (%) between present (19801999) and 20902099 for the SRES A1B emissions scenario (based on Milly et al., 2005). Areas with blue (red) colours indicate the increase (decrease) of annual runoff. [Based on WGII Figure 3.8 and SYR Figure 3.5] (after PICC)

CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTION

Monthly Rainfall Anomaly (April) Monthly Rainfall Anomaly (May)

27

CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTION

Simulated Mean Monthly River Flow
Selangor
Historical Period 80 Future Period (2025-2034,2041-2050)

Periodic monthly flow (cms)

60

40

20

Groundwater offers better insurance against drought as a tool for climate change adaptation
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Month

0 Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources

There is a growing evidence of that climate change could potentially affect Malaysia water resource systems. Projections of these climate change conditions imply with high certainty increases in temperature and the associated earlier or late timing of rainfall runoff, Maximum monthly rainfall is projected to be 51% higher for east coast states Minimum monthly rainfall down by 61% for the west coast states Due to the significant reduction in minimum monthly rainfall , the low flow in rivers in Selangor dan Johor could be lowered by 31-93%.

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality + Effect Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Groundwater contamination sources

point-source contamination - seepage into drinking water wells because of accidental spills, poor well construction, or improper practices in storing and handling pesticides or fertilizers Non-point-source contamination - occurs over large areas, such as agricultural regions and watersheds, and is mainly caused by the slow downward movement of agrochemicals through the soil profile and into the groundwater underlying farmland.

Point Source
Originated from single location;
disposal of oils, solvents & chemical waste leachate from waste disposal sites herbicide use along railways, roads and airfields (line sources)

Point source pollution: a small collection of buried drums or a single underground tank

Point and Non-point Source

Plume movement

LNAPL & DNAPL

Density effects how contaminants move through an aquifer. Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids LNAPL such as gasoline float on water

Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids DNAPL such as dry-cleaning solvents sink in water.

Groundwater Monitoring
What are we looking for? salt water intrusions contaminations from agricultural, industrial and any human activities leakage from brackish to fresh water aquifers water level drawdown/fluctuation as a result of pumping Subsidence as a result of over-pumping

TYPE OF GROUNDWATER MONITORING POINT

Groundwater level monitoring

Monitoring results
600.0

E.Coli (Source: JMG)

500.0

400.0 MPN/100ml

300.0

200.0

100.0

0.0

Occurrence of the Total-coliform and E. coli mainly in shallow aquifer In Bachok area, the average depth of the tubewells and dugwells are about 6m Main sources of contamination:

1.
2. 3.

improper sewage treatment plant Animal husbandary landfilling

Impact of Landfill To Surface Water And Groundwater Quality

Landfills
1. Sg. Kembong Class III

Surface water

Leachate

Groundwater
Not available Minimal pollution intensity and was not seriously polluted. Fe and As exceeded the standard in most of the wells. Slightly polluted (based on the current study) Groundwater is contaminated. High COD, Cd, Pb, Fe, in BH1 (downstream) of the landfill compared to BH3 (upstream of the landfill) Not available Most parameters were above background data. Not contaminated (below environmental standard and background data)

2. Kelana Jaya

3. Air Hitam

4. Ampar Tenang

5. Sg Sedu 6. Jeram 7. Bukit Tagar

Only Cr exceeded the standard Class III COD and BOD in 1 from 12 (Suspected contamination samples were over the from leachate by high standard number of coliform) (overall - ok) Sulphide, BOD, COD, Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe, TSS, oil and grease were higher than Parameters Limits of Standard B Class III: Surface water was Most parameters were less contaminated by leachate than the Standard B except that flows straight into the for As (in L6), Cr (in all Sg Labu river samples), Fe in L4 and Zn in L3. Class III Below the Standard B except for Cr, Fe, and Cd. Not available Not available Below Standard B Not contaminated

Geochemistry and Solute Transport Simulation

Code: MINTRAN (U.W)

Source: Blowes et al.

Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Groundwater its Environment Groundwater: Quality Groundwater: Impact of Overexploitation Groundwater: Climate Change Groundwater: Contamination Groundwater: Protection

Types of data required for groundwater management

Capture zone analysis

44

WHPA = Wellhead Protection Area

Zone I
(50 days)

II
(1 year)

IIIa
(10 year)

IIIb
(20 year)

Restricted activities, processes and installations vehicle and pedestrian traffic fertiliser and manure pesticides road and railway animal husbandry cemeteries fuel and oil storage waste pipeline dying and printing facilities septic/cesspool tank car parking facilities and car wash large wet market motor workshop construction plant and facilities petrol and service station urbanisation groundwater injection new cemeteries sewage treatment facilities hospital airport military facilities light industrial zone mining golf course waste and wastewater discharge large transfer station waste disposal site waste water injection underground storage of toxic substances heavy industrial zone oil refineries chemical and nuclear plants

Other restrictions and all mentioned restrictions of Zone II, IIIa and IIIb

and all mentioned restrictions of Zone IIIa and IIIb

and all mentioned restrictions of Zone IIIb

Kelantan River Basin: 1-year WHPA

WHPA = Wellhead Protection Area

Kelantan River Basin: 20-year WHPA

Avoid Crisis Driven Groundwater Development