The coastal township of Whangamata's reticulated water supply is provided by a number of groundwater bores, extracting water from local fractured rhyolite and andesite aquifers. A need has arisen to create a greater understanding of the aquifers, because of an increased demand for water abstraction. Water demand in Whangamata increases dramatically during the summer vacation period. Occupant numbers increase from 4,000 up to 50,000 during peak times, resulting in increased water demand. Over the past five years an increase in groundwater abstraction has produced an evident downward trend in bore water levels. Electrical conductivity is also increasing in several aquifers, posing a realistic threat of sea water intrusion and questioning the sustainability of current abstraction volumes. Multiple linear regression and an artificial neural network model were investigated as simple empirical forecasting tools for well drawdowns to predict the effect of future increases in groundwater demand. This approach was adopted as opposed to a groundwater numerical model because of poor time resolution of available data and the complex, fractured nature of the aquifer. By using pumping volumes as variables, seasonal bore water level variations and long term trends were predicted. The models were evaluated with independent validation data sets. The actual ability of a model to predict bore water level seasonal variation and long term trends was assessed using a comparison with a moving average of the validation data set. Multiple linear regression proved superior to the neural network in almost every bore modelled. Although neural networks proved capable of modelling seasonal bore water level variations it was not to the same degree of accuracy as the regression approach. The regression approach yielded a modified index of agreement of 0.6-0.74 when comparing a moving average of observed data with the validation data sets. The developed models were used to forecast well water levels with varying abstraction volumes aiming to prevent further long term decline in bore water levels.

Denna studie handlar om en metod som används för att lokalisera inläckage av tillskottsvatten på spillvattennät. Grunden är de praktikperioder som författaren har haft hos VA-bolaget Helsinge Vatten AB och då det utförts flera försök till att utreda inläckage i spillvattenledningarna. Metoden går ut på att analysera koncentrationen av ammonium i flödet som hämtas från brunnarna ute på nätet. Analyserna sker med hjälp av en portabel spektrofotometer tillsammans med reagenskyvetter som analyserar koncentrationen på bara 15 minuter. Detta ger en indikation på hur utspätt spillvattnet är, om det är utspätt av tillskottsvatten så visar analysen ett lågt värde vilket tyder på inläckage av dagvatten, grundvatten eller dricksvatten. Denna metod är framtagen av Norrköping Vatten och Avfall som har lyckats bra med att lokalisera inläckage med metoden. Norrköping Vatten och Avfall är en stor källa till denna studie med sin rapport ”Minskning av in- och utläckage genom aktiv läcksökning”(Uusijärvi, 2013).  I rapporten redovisas de ammoniumanalyser som har gjorts med tillhörande diagram för att tydliggöra resultaten. Eftersom spillvattennät ofta hör samman med pumpstationer och reningsverk som påverkar elförbrukning har statistik tagits fram för den pumpstation som analysområdet hör samman med. Elförbrukning har jämförts med nederbördsmätning för att se om ledningsnätet är påverkat av nederbörd, eftersom pumpstationen får arbeta mer om det är tillskottsvatten i ledningarna.  För att få fram en uppskattad mängd inläckage så har en beräkning gjorts med hjälp av en mall som Norrköping vatten och avfall har tagit fram. Där används analysvärden som tyder på inläckage tillsammans med antal abonnenter, ledningssträcka och storförbrukares avlopp. Tillsammans blir det ett värde på uppskattat inläckage i liter per dygn och meter ledning(L/D/M).  I rapporten finns det tre områden som ingår i byn Rengsjö som är utredda med ammoniummetoden. I ett testområde blev resultatet inte som önskat men lärorikt för personalen. Ett område gav resultat som visar på god kvalitet av nätet med en jämförelse av torr- och regnväder. Samt ett område där ett troligt inläckage upptäckts som kommer utredas vidare under sommaren. Detta fynd kan ge stora mängder tillskottsvatten, vilket uppfyller delar av de mål som formulerats i rapporten, dvs. att hitta inläckage för att planera vidare utredning. Tillsammans med resultaten för varje område finns en omfattande diskussion där alla aspekter som påverkar de uppmätta analysvärdena tas upp.  Som slutsats konstateras ammoniummetoden som mycket framgångsrik i syfte för Helsinge Vatten att systematiskt kunna kartlägga och utreda sina spillvattennät. Det är en kostnadseffektiv och inte så resurskrävande metod som företaget själv kan använda på en lagom nivå. / This study aims to locate the intrusion of excess water in the sewage networks, analyzing the concentration of ammonium in the flow that is obtained from the wells in the network. The foundation for the work is the author’s previous attempts to investigate stormwater at the VA-company Helsinge Vatten AB. The analysis is carried out by using a portable spectrophotometer with such reagents that can measure ammonium concentration in just 15 minutes. This gives an indication of how diluted effluent is. If  it is diluted by excess water the analysis shows a low value which is indicating intrusion of possibly surface water, groundwater or drinking water. This method is developed by Norrköping vatten och avfall, who have been a major reference of this report, with their study “Minskning av in- och utläckage genom aktiv läcksökning”(Uusijärvi, 2013).  Results from the ammonium analyses have been presented with associated charts. Because the sewage networks often are associated with pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants, which effect the electricity consumption, the electricity consumption has been documented for the pump stations in the area of study. The electricity consumption increases when the pumps are working. A analysis has been made by comparing the electricity consumption and the precipitation to see if the sewage network is influenced by precipitation.  In order to obtain an estimated amount of excess water intrusion, a calculation have been made by using a template produced by Norrköping Vatten och Avfall. In the calculation, values indicating water intrusion along with the number of subscribers, management and those who discharge most wastewater have been used. Together it gives a result of estimated intrusion in liters per day and meter network (L/D/M).  In the report, three areas located in the village Rengsjö have been investigated by using this method. The first area where the outcome was not as desired, but very instructive for the staff. The second area gave results that show the good quality of the net with a comparison of dry and wet weather. And also an area where a likely intrusion is detected and will be investigated further during the summer. This finding can indicate large amounts of stormwater. Those findings compiles with parts of the objectives formulated in the report, to find the intrusion and to plan for further investigation. Together with the results for each area, include an extensive discussion in which all aspects that influence the measured analyses have been taken up.  The report shows that the ammonium method  has been proved to be successful in identifying excess water intrusion in Helsinge Vatten’s sewage networks. This method does not rely on many resources, and therefore it is suitable for companies that wish investigate excess water instruction in a cost-effective way.

This research aims to experimentally investigate the interior damage in residential buildings caused by rainwater intrusion during hurricane events. The first step, to experimentally evaluate the wind-driven rain effects on the building’s interior, is to accurately simulate the rain field associated with the hurricane. The wind-driven rain simulation was performed at the 12-fan Wall of Wind Experimental Facility at Florida International University. The characteristic of the simulated rain field was compared to a target characteristic obtained from the recorded data from past hurricanes to validate the simulation. In the next step, the large-scale models were subjected to the simulated rain field to observe the water propagation inside the models. The gable and hip roof models were prepared with three different exterior damage conditions, including the light damage state, minor damage state, and moderate damage state, to investigate the effect of envelope openings on the water propagation path. Each model was tested at three wind angles of 0˚, 45˚ and 90˚ to assess the effects of wind direction. The interior of the models was divided into 6 different room compartments separated by partition walls, as well as 6 different attic compartments divided by short divider pieces. Finally, the results were used to evaluate the share of each interior component from the total amount of water that intrudes into the building. The last phase of the research concentrated on the experimental evaluation of the sustained damage by partition walls subjected to water intrusion. The full-scale model was subjected to the simulated rain field at the Wall of Wind Experimental Facility test section. The interior of the model was built to simulate the actual interior of a residential building. The experimental results were used to evaluate the sustained damage by the partition. This research made a great step forward in clarifying the mechanism of interior damage sustained in residential buildings due to rain intrusion during hurricanes. Most important, the results can be used in Hurricane Loss Models to predict the sustained damage on residential buildings at different hurricane hazard levels.

Fluctuations in temperature and precipitation amounts due to climate change influence recharge rate of groundwater. Any variations in the amount of precipitation recharge and artificial discharge directly affect groundwater level and so the salt water intrusion rate in the aquifers, which are in contact with sea water. The purpose of this study is to determine the overall historical precipitation recharge trend in Sel&ccedil / uk sub-basin and to detect whether there is a decrease or increase in recharge amounts due to climate change since 1100 BC. Besides, it covers assessing the future position of the salt water-fresh groundwater interface as a result of possible fluctuations in climate and artificial discharge. For this purpose, numerical density dependent cross sectional groundwater flow with solute transport model was conducted using finite element approach. At first, current salt water-fresh water interface and artificial discharge related head changes in the aquifer were determined. Backward modeling was utilized to obtain concentration distribution in the year 1976 representing the last stage of the undisturbed period. Then, progradation of salt water-fresh water interface since 1100 BC to 1976 was modeled using calibrated parameters and current recharge value. As a result of sea-regression model simulations (1100 BC-1976) less degree of salt water intrusion than that of currently detected in the area was obtained. The result suggests that overall recharge amount in the last 3076 years must have been less than that of 1976. Moreover, future (2010-2099) position of the interface and head changes under the influence of both climate change and increasing water demand were determined. Future model simulations indicate that salt water-fresh water interface moves farther landward. However this movement is mostly due to increasing discharge amount rather than that of climatic changes.

Tidal freshwater marshes (TFMs) are unique ecosystems that bridge the gap between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are important in the sequestration of soil organic carbon. With the ever changing global climate, TFMs are left vulnerable to downstream effects of rising sea level and salt water intrusion due to increases in flooding by saline waters. These changes often act over large spatial and temporal scales resulting in significant impacts to local and regional environments. This multidisciplinary study assessed the amount and lability of desorbed organic carbon in tidal freshwater marsh soils from the Waccamaw River Marsh, South Carolina and Sweet Hall, a marsh on the Pamunkey River, Virginia. Soils from each marsh were extracted at 0-35 practical salinity units (psu) and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, and carbon lability of the leachates were measured. At increasing levels of salinity, soil desorption amounts were higher in the Waccamaw River marsh interior and similar between the Waccamaw River creekbank and Sweet Hall levee. A larger fraction of desorbed DOC was consumed in the more organic soils from the Waccamaw River marsh in comparison to the more mineral soil from Sweet Hall Marsh. Finally, the rate of decay of the desorbed carbon was highest in the Sweet Hall levee soils, indicating more labile desorbed carbon, while the Waccamaw River Marsh soils had lower decay rates indicating less labile desorbed carbon. By understanding how salt water intrusion affects desorption and lability of soil organic carbon, in coastal marshes, we may be able to better understand how increasing sea levels may affect carbon storage in coastal ecosystems.

A quantitative understanding of ground water flow characteristics in unconfined aquifers is important because of the prevalence of abstraction from, and pollution of these systems. The current understanding of ground water flow in unconfined aquifers is limited because of the dominance of horizontal flow modelling strategies used to represent unconfined flow processes. The application of horizontal flow principles leads to an ignorance of seepage-face formation and can not predict the complicated three-dimensional nature of the ground water flow that dominates at the ground water-surface water interface. This study aims to address some of these deficiencies by exploring the true three-dimensional nature of ground water flow including the formation of seepage faces at the ground water-surface water interface using numerical and laboratory techniques. A finite element model for simulating two-dimensional (vertical) variably saturated flow is developed and benchmarked against standard laboratory and field-scale solutions. The numerical features of the finite element model are explored and compared to a simple finite difference formulation. The comparison demonstrates how finite element formulations lead to a broader spatial averaging of material properties and a different method for the representation of specified flux boundaries. A detailed comparison analysis indicates that these differences in the finite element solution lead to an improved approximation to the partial differential equation governing two-dimensional (vertical) variably saturated flow. A laboratory analysis of unconfined ground water flow and associated solute transport characteristics was performed. The analysis focused upon unconfined flow towards a pumping well. The laboratory observations were reliably reproduced using a three-dimensional (axi-symmetric), variably saturated ground water flow model. The model was benchmarked against the ground water flow characteristics such as the seepage-face height and total flow rate. In addition, the model was shown to reliably reproduce the solute transport features such as travel times and streamline distributions. This is the first time that a numerical model has been used to reliably reproduce the solute transport characteristics near a seepage-face boundary where the three-dimensional flow effects are prevalent. The ability to reliably predict solute transport patterns in the seepage-face zone is important since this region is known to support vital microbially facilitated reactions that control nutrient cycling and contaminant attenuation. The three-dimensional travel time distribution near the seepage-face was compared to that predicted using a horizontal flow modelling approach derived from the basic Dupuit-Forchheimer equations. The Dupuit-Forchheimer based model indicated that horizontal flow modelling would under-estimate the total residence time near a seepage-face boundary, thereby introducing a considerable source of error in a solute transport analysis. For this analysis, a new analytical solution for the steady travel time distribution in an unconfined aquifer subject to a single pumping well was derived. The analytical model has identified, for the first time in the hydrogeology literature, the use of the imaginary error function. The imaginary error function is a standard transcendental function and an infinite series approach to evaluate the function was successfully proposed. The two-dimensional (vertical) ground water flow model was extended to handle the case where the flow is driven by density gradients near the ground water-surface water interface. The unsteady, two-dimensional, Galerkin finite element model of density-dependent ground water flow in variably saturated porous media is rigorously presented and partially benchmarked under fully saturated (confined) conditions. The partial benchmarking involved reproducing solutions to the standard Henry salt-water intrusion and the Elder salt-convection problems. The model was used in a standard density-coupled and a new density-uncoupled mode to elucidate the worthiness of the Henry and Elder problems as benchmark standards. A comparison of the coupled and uncoupled solutions indicates that the Henry salt-water intrusion problem has limited worthiness as a benchmark as the patterns of ground water flow are relatively insensitive to density-coupled effects. Alternatively, the Elder problem is completely dependent upon a correct representation of the density-coupled flow and solute transport processes. The coupled versus uncoupled comparison is proposed as a new test of the worthiness of benchmark standards. The Henry salt-water intrusion problem was further analysed in an attempt to alleviate some of the difficulties associated with this benchmark problem. The numerical model was tested against a re-evaluated version of Henry's semi-analytical solution for the coupled solute concentration distribution. The numerical model was used to propose a modified version of the Henry problem where the importance of density-coupled processes was increased. The modified problem was shown to have an improved worthiness as compared to the standard solution. The numerical model results were benchmarked against a new set of semi-analytical results for the modified problem. Certain advantages in using the modified problem as a test case for benchmarking the results of a numerical model of density-dependent ground water flow are identified. A numerical investigation of the patterns of density-driven ground water flow at the ground water-surface water interface was undertaken. The numerical model is shown to produce grid-independent results for a finely discretised domain. The pattern of discharge is controlled, in part, by two parameters. One describes the recharge applied to the aquifer, and the second describes the magnitude of the density differences between the fresh recharging fluid and the saline receiving fluid. The influence of dense intrusions upon the formation of seepage-face boundaries at the ground water-surface water interface under steady-state conditions was also investigated. Dense intrusions are shown to dominate the pattern of ground water flow only under mild recharge conditions, while seepage faces dominate the outflow pattern under strong recharge conditions. Therefore, the formation of seepage-face boundaries and dense intrusions are unlikely to coincide under the conditions examined in this study.

L'étude des milieux hétérogènes carbonatés et karstifiés trouve aujourd'hui de nombreuses applications dans les problématiques environnementales, comme la description fine de la structure d'un réservoir côtier, support d'un aquifère affecté par une intrusion d'eau salée. Au sud de l'ile de Majorque (Baléares, Espagne), la plate-forme carbonatée de Llucmajor représente un site privilégié pour ce type d'étude.La caractérisation des hétérogénéités ne peut être réalisée sans une description préalable des propriétés des réservoirs carbonatés et des facteurs modifiant la structure du réservoir. Un des paramètres clés définissant la structure hétérogène est la porosité. Au regard de la large gamme de tailles d'hétérogénéités allant du micromètre à la centaine de mètre, l'utilisation de méthodes multi-échelles est nécessaire.Ce travail de thèse a porté sur la détermination multi-échelles de la porosité, allant de la microporosité à la porosité karstique, et l'établissement de relations entre les changements d'échelles d'observation de ces propriétés. Dans un premier temps, l'application de la microtomographie à rayons X extrait la microporosité et la connectivité des réseaux microporeux. Puis, la tomographie a été utilisée avec une résolution plus faible afin d'étudier le réseau micro- et macroporeux à l'échelle de la carotte. A l'échelle du puits, les images de paroi de puits permettent de déterminer la porosité allant des macropores centimétriques aux karsts. Enfin, la géophysique de surface a permis d'observer l'extension des karsts et hétérogénéités dans une grande partie du site.Ainsi, la structure poreuse du site étudié a été intégrée dans la géologie régionale de la plate-forme. L'observatoire installé sur le site pour surveiller la propagation de l'eau salée dans l'aquifère peut être replacé dans son contexte géologique et pétrophysique, afin d'affiner l'interprétation de ses mesures de variations de salinité. / The study of heterogeneous and karstified carbonates is important in many environmental issues, like the detailed description of a coastal reservoir structure containing an aquifer affected by saline intrusion. At the south of the island of Mallorca (Spain), the Llucmajor carbonate platform represents a typical site for such researches. Characterization of heterogeneities requires a better knowledge of the carbonate reservoir properties and the various factors affecting the structure. One of the key parameters defining the heterogeneous structure is the porosity. According to the wide range of heterogeneity sizes from micrometer to hundreds of meters, the use of multiscale methods is required.This thesis focused on the determination of multiscale porosities from the microporosity to karstic porosity, and of relationships between observation scale changes of these properties. Firstly, the application of X-ray microtomography allows to extract the microporosity and the microporous network connectivity. Then, X-ray tomography was used with a lower resolution to study the micro- and macro-porous network at the core scale. At the borehole scale, the borehole wall images are used to determinate macrostructures from centimeter pores to karsts. Finally, surface geophysics allows to observe the extension of karst and heterogeneities at the site scale.Finally, the porous structure of the study site is integrated into the regional geology of the platform. A hydrogeophysical observatory was installed on site to monitor the spreading of salt water in the aquifer. The interpretation of its salinity measurements can take into account the geological and petrophysical context.

Η περιοχή μελέτης εκτείνεται στο βόρειο και παραλιακό τμήμα του νομού Κορινθίας μεταξύ των πόλεων Κιάτου και Κορίνθου και καταλαμβάνει έκταση 65km2. Η νέα εθνική οδός Κορίνθου – Πατρών αποτελεί το νότιο όριο της περιοχής ενώ προς βορρά περιορίζεται από τον Κορινθιακό κόλπο. Το τοπογραφικό ανάγλυφο είναι ήπιο με το υψόμετρο να κυμαίνεται από 0 – 50 μέτρα. Ο ποταμός Ασσωπός και οι χείμαρροι Ραχιάνης και Ζαπάντης δομούν το υδρογραφικό δίκτυο της περιοχής. Το γεωλογικό υπόβαθρο της περιοχής αποτελείται από ανθρακικά ιζήματα των ζωνών Τρίπολης και Πίνδου, των οποίων υπέρκεινται μετα-ορογεντικά ιζήματα Πλειο-πλειστοκαινικής ηλικίας. Ο υδροφόρος ορίζοντας που μελετήθηκε αναπτύσσεται σε αλλουβιακά ιζήματα, κυρίως άμμους, κροκάλες, λατύπες, και λεπτομερή αργιλοαμμώδη και πηλοαμμώδη ιζήματα που εμφανίζουν υψηλό βαθμό ετερογένειας. Το πάχος του υδροφόρου κυμαίνεται από λίγα μέτρα έως 60 m και χαρακτηρίζεται ως ελεύθερος. Η ρηξιγενής ζώνη που εμφανίζεται κατά μήκος της Ν.Ε.Ο. Κορίνθου – Πατρών αποτελεί υδρογεωλογικό όριο προς νότο για τον υπό μελέτη υδροφόρο. Η εμφάνιση μαργών στην περιοχή του Κιάτου είναι το δυτικό υδρογεωλογικό όριο, ενώ ανατολικά περιορίζεται από την επέκταση των Τυρρήνιων αναβαθμίδων στη θάλασσα. Η κύρια τροφοδοσία του υδροφόρου προέρχεται από τη διήθηση των επιφανειακών υδάτων του ποταμού Ασωπού και των παρακείμενων χειμάρρων, ενώ κατά δεύτερο λόγω από την απευθείας κατείσδυση των ατμοσφαιρικών κατακρημνισμάτων. Για την προσομοίωση της υπόγειας ροής του αλλουβιακού υδροφόρου έγινε χρήση του κώδικα MODFLOW της USGS. Από την εφαρμογή του μοντέλου εξήχθησαν ικανοποιητικά αποτελέσματα που έδωσαν τη δυνατότητα υπολογισμού ενός αξιόπιστου ισοζυγίου, το οποίο μπορεί να αποτελέσει ένα εργαλείο στην εφαρμογή ενός σχεδίου ορθολογικής διαχείρισης των υδατικών πόρων της Κορινθίας. Για την υδροχημική έρευνα χρησιμοποιήθηκε πυκνό δίκτυο δειγματοληψίας νερού σε 35 υδροσημεία της περιοχής μελέτης. Ο υδροφόρος έχει επηρεαστεί από φαινόμενα υφαλμύρινσης και ανταλλαγής ιόντων κυρίως στις βόρειες παράκτιες ζώνες. Οι συγκεντρώσεις των NO3-, NH4+ και των SO4-2 ιόντων παρουσιάζονται υψηλότερες από τα ανώτατα επιτρεπόμενα όρια ποσιμότητας. Η εφαρμογή της παραγοντικής ανάλυσης ανέδειξε τις παραπάνω υδροχημικές διεργασίες. / The study area forms the northern coastal part of Corinth’s prefecture, between the towns of Kiato and Corinth and has an area extend of 65 km2. To the south it is bounded by Athens - Patras National road, whilst to the north it is bounded by Corinthian Gulf. The topographic relief is quite gentle and varies from 0 to 50 m. A considerable hydrographic network develops across the studied region and is represented mainly by the river Asopos and the less important torrents Rachianis and Zapantis. The region can be characterized as an agro tourism center. The land is used mainly for the cultivation and of citrus fruits, olives, apricots and vineyards. Regional environment is subject to numerous pressures most important of which are intensified uses of land and water resources. Water demands have considerably increased over the last 15 years and mainly are covered by groundwater abstract from the alluvial aquifer system. The geological bedrock of the study area consists of the carbonate sediments of Tripolis and Pindos isopics zones and a transitional zone between Pindos and Pelagonial Zone. The plain north of the national zone is covered by post orogenetic sediments of Pliocene to Holocene age which unconformably overlay the bedrock formations. The studied aquifer is formed of recent unconsolidated material consisting of sands, pebbles, breccias and fine clay to silty sand deposits, characterized by high degree of heterogeneity and anisotropy. The thickness of the aquifer varies from a few meters to 40 m. From a hydrogeological point of view the system consists of an unconfined phreatic aquifer. A fault zone along the national highway delineates the southern edge of aquifer system, which is bounded by the Gulf of Corinth to the north. To the east, the system is bounded by the Tyrrhenian deposits extended to the sea. The marl series which, as an entity, is considered an aquitard, slopes to the north and forms the bedrock of the studied coastal alluvial aquifer system. The basic recharge of the phreatic aquifer is from the fluviotorrential deposits, especially those of the Asopos River and also from the Tyrrhenian deposits across the southern edge of the basin. In addition to that the aquifer recharged from direct infiltration of precipitation and river bed indirect infiltration. The simulation of ground water flow of the alluvial aquifer is based on the MODFLOW model of the USGS. The application of the mathematical model had very satisfactory results which is a reliable hydrogeological balance. Estimation of hydraulic conductivity distribution was optimized by using trial and error inverse method. The ground water hydrochemical study was carried out, by an extensive network of 35 samples. The use of inorganic fertilizers in cultivations has a great pollution effect in ground water. The coastal aquifer has been affected, by sea water intrusion and as a result catio-exchange phenomena took plase along the coastline mainly at Lechaio area. The concentration of NO3- , NH4+, and SO4- ions are higher than the maximum allowed drinking limits. The application of R-mode factor analysis helped to delineate the major hydrochemical process of the area.

Lieu de développement économique et démographique intense, les zones littorales font l'objet de pressions importantes sur l'environnement et, en particulier, sur les ressources en eau. Bien que la gestion des eaux souterraines côtières bénéficie de nombreux résultats issus de la recherche scientifique, une des problématiques majeures reste la connaissance de la géométrie des aquifères. Des interprétations géologiques de la genèse du bassin Plio-Quaternaire du Roussillon, issues de la stratigraphie séquentielle, sont confrontées, par l'intermédiaire d'une base données, à l'hydrogéologie de cet hydrosystème complexe localisé sur la partie littorale des Pyrénées-Orientales. L'étude statistique des points de prélèvement (distribution des crépines, productivité des forages...), l'analyse fonctionnelle (traitement du signal des chroniques piézométriques), l'hydrochimie et la géophysique électrique ont été utilisées afin d'élaborer un modèle conceptuel hydrogéologique des écoulements à l'échelle du bassin et de son prolongement vers le domaine offshore. La présence de la mer, de zones à salinité résiduelle et de cours d'eaux littoraux contribue à augmenter la salinité d'un aquifère libre supérieur (Quaternaire) sus-jacent aux différents aquifères captifs (Pliocène) exploités pour l'eau potable dans la zone littorale. La vulnérabilité face aux intrusions salines de cette ressource de bonne qualité, tant sur le point de vue quantitatif que qualitatif est appréhendée par modélisation. Dans le domaine offshore, le rôle protecteur des formations géologiques à faible et moyenne perméabilité est mis en évidence vis-à-vis de la préservation de la qualité de l'eau potable.

Στην περιοχή του ΒΔ Λασιθίου απαντώνται οι γεωλογικοί σχηματισμοί των πλακώδων ασβεστόλιθων και των ασβεστόλιθων της ζώνης Τρίπολης. οι σχηματισμοί αυτοί είναι έντονα καρστικοποιημένοι και αποτελούν τους κύριους υδροφόρους της περιοχής έρευνας. Μεταξύ των δύο υδροφόρων, στις περιοχές Νεάπολης και Ποτάμων παρεμβάλλονται τα αδιαπέρατα στρώματα των Φυλλιτών-Χαλαζιτών. Ο υδροφόρος που αναπτύσσεται στους ανθρακικούς σχηματισμούς της ζώνης Τρίπολης κατηγοριοποιείται σε τρεις ζώνες σύμφωνα με τον υδροχημικό χαρακτήρα του υπόγειου νερού. η πρώτη ζώνη αποτελείται από τις περιοχές τροφοδοσίας του υδροφόρου (Δράσι, Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος και Ποτάμοι) με εξαίρετη ποιότητα νερού, η δεύτερη ζώνη συνιστάται από τις περιοχές των Λακωνίων και Κριτσάς, όπου το νερό του υδροφόρου έχει επηρεαστεί από τη διείσδυση του θαλασσινού νερού. Τέλος, η τρίτη ζώνη αποτελείται από τις παράκτιες περιοχές του Αγίου Νικολάου και Αλμυρού με έντονη επιρροή από την διαδικασία της υφαλμύρινσης Ο υδροφόρος που αναπτύσσεται στους Πλακώδεις ασβεστόλιθους είναι ανοικτός στην θάλασσα και επηρεάζεται στο σύνολο του από την διείσδυση του θαλασσινού νερού. Με τη χρήση των κανονικοποιημένων διαγραμμάτων των σπάνιων γαιών, τόσο σε δείγματα πετρωμάτων όσο και σε δείγματα νερού προέκυψε ότι οι δύο καρστικοί υδροφόροι επικοινωνούν υδραυλικά στην περιοχή του Δάμακα Β-ΒΔ του Αγίου Νικολάου. / The region of NW Lasithi is dominated by plattenkalk and Tripoli’s zone limestones. These geological formations are characterized by karst and host the main aquifers of study area. Impermeable layers of phyllite-quartzite formation occur between these limestone formations, in the areas of Neapolis and Potami. The aquifer hosted by the carbonate formations of Tripoli’s zone is divided in three zones based on the hydrochemical characteristics of the underground water. The first zone includes the areas Drasi, Agios Konstantinos and Potami that are the sources of the aquifer, with excellent water quality. The second zone consists of the areas Lakonia and Kritsa, in which the underground water have been infiltrated by sea water. Finally the third consists of the coastal zones of Agios Nikolaos and Almyros, which have been affected by the process of brackish water. The aquifer hosted by the plattenkalk limestones is open to the sea and is affected by the intrusion of sea water. It can be shown, using normalized rare earth element diagrams of analyses of both rocks and underground waters, that the two karstified aquifers communicate hydraulically in the area of Damakas, N-NW of city Agios Nikolaos.