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Modern groundwater reaches deeper depths in heavily pumped aquifer systems

Author

Listed:
  • Melissa Thaw

    (University of California)

  • Merhawi GebreEgziabher

    (University of California)

  • Jobel Y. Villafañe-Pagán

    (University of California
    University of Puerto Rico)

  • Scott Jasechko

    (University of California)

Abstract

Deep groundwater is an important source of drinking water, and can be preferable to shallower groundwaters where they are polluted by surface-borne contaminants. Surface-borne contaminants are disproportionately common in ‘modern’ groundwaters that are made up of precipitation that fell since the ~1950s. Some local-scale studies have suggested that groundwater pumping can draw modern groundwater downward and potentially pollute deep aquifers, but the prevalence of such pumping-induced downwelling at continental scale is not known. Here we analyse thousands of US groundwater tritium measurements to show that modern groundwater tends to reach deeper depths in heavily pumped aquifer systems. These findings imply that groundwater pumping can draw mobile surface-borne pollutants to deeper depths than they would reach in the absence of pumping. We conclude that intensive groundwater pumping can draw recently recharged groundwater deeper into aquifer systems, potentially endangering deep groundwater quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa Thaw & Merhawi GebreEgziabher & Jobel Y. Villafañe-Pagán & Scott Jasechko, 2022. "Modern groundwater reaches deeper depths in heavily pumped aquifer systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32954-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32954-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meredith, Elizabeth & Blais, Nicole, 2019. "Quantifying irrigation recharge sources using groundwater modeling," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 9-16.
    2. Debra Perrone & Scott Jasechko, 2019. "Deeper well drilling an unsustainable stopgap to groundwater depletion," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(8), pages 773-782, August.
    3. 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.
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