Determining the groundwater potential recharge zone and karst springs catchment area: Saldoran region, western Iran

Determining the groundwater potential recharge zone and karst springs catchment area: Saldoran region, western Iran | Détermination de la zone potentielle de recharge des eaux souterraines et des bassins d’alimentation de sources karstiques: région de Saldoran, Ouest de l’Iran Determinación de la zona potencial de recarga de agua subterránea y del área de captación de manantiales kársticos: región de Saldoran, oeste de Irán 确定地下水潜在补给带及岩溶泉汇水区:伊朗西部Saldoran地区 Determinação da zona de recarga potencial das águas subterrâneas e área de nascentes de bacias cársticas: região de Saldoran, oeste do Irã

2016

Assessing the groundwater recharge potential zone and differentiation of the spring catchment area are extremely important to effective management of groundwater systems and protection of water quality. The study area is located in the Saldoran karstic region, western Iran. It is characterized by a high rate of precipitation and recharge via highly permeable fractured karstic formations. Pire-Ghar, Sarabe-Babaheydar and Baghe-rostam are three major karstic springs which drain the Saldoran anticline. The mean discharge rate and electrical conductivity values for these springs were 3, 1.9 and 0.98 m³/s, and 475, 438 and 347 μS/cm, respectively. Geology, hydrogeology and geographical information system (GIS) methods were used to define the catchment areas of the major karstic springs and to map recharge zones in the Saldoran anticline. Seven major influencing factors on groundwater recharge rates (lithology, slope value and aspect, drainage, precipitation, fracture density and karstic domains) were integrated using GIS. Geology maps and field verification were used to determine the weights of factors. The final map was produced to reveal major zones of recharge potential. More than 80 % of the study area is terrain that has a recharge rate of 55–70 % (average 63 %). Evaluating the water budget of Saldoran Mountain showed that the total volume of karst water emerging from the Saldoran karst springs is equal to the total annual recharge on the anticline. Therefore, based on the geological and hydrogeological investigations, the catchment area of the mentioned karst springs includes the whole Saldoran anticline.

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