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Groundwater level observations in 250,000 coastal US wells reveal scope of potential seawater intrusion

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Jasechko

    (University of California at Santa Barbara)

  • Debra Perrone

    (University of California at Santa Barbara)

  • Hansjörg Seybold

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Ying Fan

    (Rutgers University)

  • James W. Kirchner

    (ETH Zürich
    Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
    University of California)

Abstract

Seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers can increase groundwater salinity beyond potable levels, endangering access to freshwater for millions of people. Seawater intrusion is particularly likely where water tables lie below sea level, but can also arise from groundwater pumping in some coastal aquifers with water tables above sea level. Nevertheless, no nation-wide, observation-based assessment of the scope of potential seawater intrusion exists. Here we compile and analyze ~250,000 coastal groundwater-level observations made since the year 2000 in the contiguous United States. We show that the majority of observed groundwater levels lie below sea level along more than 15% of the contiguous coastline. We conclude that landward hydraulic gradients characterize a substantial fraction of the East Coast (>18%) and Gulf Coast (>17%), and also parts of the West Coast where groundwater pumping is high. Sea level rise, coastal land subsidence, and increasing water demands will exacerbate the threat of seawater intrusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Jasechko & Debra Perrone & Hansjörg Seybold & Ying Fan & James W. Kirchner, 2020. "Groundwater level observations in 250,000 coastal US wells reveal scope of potential seawater intrusion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17038-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17038-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Jina Yin & Frank T.-C. Tsai & Chunhui Lu, 2022. "Bi-objective Extraction-injection Optimization Modeling for Saltwater Intrusion Control Considering Surrogate Model Uncertainty," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(15), pages 6017-6042, December.
    2. Merhawi GebreEgziabher & Scott Jasechko & Debra Perrone, 2022. "Widespread and increased drilling of wells into fossil aquifers in the USA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Chong Sheng & Jiu Jimmy Jiao & Xin Luo & Jinchao Zuo & Lei Jia & Jinghe Cao, 2023. "Offshore freshened groundwater in the Pearl River estuary and shelf as a significant water resource," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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