URBAN GROUNDWATER MODELING SCENARIOS TO SIMULATE BUCHAREST CITY LAKE DISTURBANCE

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM Vol. 1; no. 2; pp. 834 - 840
• Main Authors: Gogu, Constantin Radu, Serpescu, Trina, Perju, Sorin, Gáitánaru, Dragos, Bica, Loan
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Aquifer recharge; Aquifer systems; Aquifers; Boreholes; Cities; Climate change; Climate models; Dewatering; Electric contacts; Environmental degradation; Field investigations; Field tests; Geology; Groundwater; Groundwater flow; Groundwater levels; Groundwater quality; Groundwater recharge; Human influences; Hydraulics; Hydrogeology; Hydrologic cycle; Hydrological cycle; Hydrology; Infrastructure; Lake water; Lakes; Land use; Modelling; Precipitation; Pumping tests; Sewer systems; Soundings; Subway tunnels; Surface water; Surface-groundwater relations; Three dimensional flow; Tunnels; Urban areas; Urbanization; Water conveyance; Water level fluctuations; Water levels; Water quality; Water scarcity; Water shortages; Water supply; Water supply systems; Bucharest Romania; Romania
• ISSN: 1314-2704

The urbanization impact on the groundwater system gradually became an important subject due to the continuous expansion of cities, climate change and water scarcity, and water quality degradation. In urban areas, significant man-made disturbance on the water cycle is produced by: 1) the change of land use that reduces natural aquifer systems recharge from precipitation, 2) man-made sinks induced by groundwater abstraction, drains, subway tunnels, sewer systems, and others; 3) urban infrastructure elements acting as groundwater recharge sources, as for example the water supply network losses and leaky sewer systems. Furthermore, human activity affects the natural hydraulic connection between groundwater and surface water. In the last decade a slow decrease of the water level has been observed in one of the Bucharest city lakes, Circului Lake. Even though, the lake has a man-made origin, it is naturally recharged by the upper shallow aquifer of the Bucharest city. Several analysis scenarios have been studied in order to derive the real cause of this phenomenon. The urban aquifer system behavior, showing a strong relationship with the underground infrastructure changes since 2006, has been studied. These changes included the water supply network losses reduction of the area, the sewer network interaction, the barrier-effect produced by the existing subway tunnels, and potential temporary and permanent dewatering systems. A pseudo-3D groundwater model, simulating the urban area groundwater behavior, has been set up by using MODFLOW software. The model has been developed on the basis of a previously developed 3D hydrogeological model assessing the groundwater flow for the entire Bucharest city. Complementary field investigations (borehole logs, electrical soundings and profiling, as well as groundwater leveling and pumping tests) have been conducted to better delineate the geology and to focus on the groundwater dynamics of the area. Together with the recorded history of diminishing the water supply system losses, dewatering systems information, existing interaction with the sewer network and subway tunnels and supposed contact with the other water surface elements, the field test results have been further used to build up the area groundwater model. Considering that before 2004, the lake water level showed a steady behavior, groundwater scenarios have been developed following 2004, taking into account the infrastructure elements changes over time. Modeling results outlined a clear connection between the decrease of the lake water level and the existing permanent dewatering systems.