Ninety-eight percent of water taken from the Mississippi River Shallow Alluvial Aquifer, hereafter referred to as “the aquifer” or “MRVA,” is used by the agricultural industry for irrigation. Mississippi Delta agriculture is increasingly using more water from the MRVA and the aquifer has been losing about 300,000 acreeet per year. This research expands on previous work in which a model was developed that simulates the effects of climatic variability, crop acreage changes, and specific irrigation methods on consequent variations in the water volume of the MRVA. This study corrects an identified problem by replacing total growing season precipitation with an irrigation demand driver based on evaporation and crop coefficients and changing the time scale from the entire growing season to a daily resolution. The calculated irrigation demand, as a climatological driver for the model, captures effective precipitation more precisely than the initial growing season precipitation driver. Predictive equations resulting from regression analyses of measured versus calculated irrigation water use showed R2 and correlations of 0.33 and 0.57, 0.77 and 0.88, 0.71 and 0.84, and 0.68 and 0.82 for cotton, corn, soybeans and rice, respectively. Ninetyive percent of the predicted values fall within a range of + or - about 23,000 acreeet, an error of about 10-percent. The study also adds an additional conservation strategy through the use of surface water from onarm reservoirs in lieu of groundwater. Analyses show that climate could provide the entire water need of the plants in 70-percent of the years for corn, 65-percent of the years for soybeans and cotton, and even 5-percent of the years for rice. Storing precipitation in onarm structures is an effective way to reduce reliance of Delta producers on groundwater. If producers adopted, at a minimum, the 97.5:2.5 ratio suggested management practice, this minimal management strategy could potentially conserve 48-percent, 35-percent and 42-percent of groundwater for cotton, corn and soybeans, respectively. Even in extreme drought years such as 2007, cotton, corn and soybeans produced under the 97.5:2.5 management strategy could conserve 32-percent, 46-percent and 38-percent of groundwater, respectively.

Groundwater in the Kentucky Appalachian region is constrained by physiography and lithology. Lithostratigraphy, groundwater flow, and chemistry were delineated in the alluvial aquifer along the Cumberland River at H.L. Disney Training Center. To assess groundwater-river interactions and water quality, 11 monitoring wells were installed and sampled quarterly, plus the river and an existing bedrock well. Analytical results were evaluated for temporal and spatial trends. Collected soil cores were analyzed for bulk chemistry and grain size. Solute speciation and saturation indices were calculated and hydraulic conductivity estimated from grain-size analyses. Pumping and slug tests were performed to estimate hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic head was monitored using logging transducers for river stage comparison. Site lithology consists of loamy soils underlain by silty clay, transitioning downward to clayey-fine sands on friable sandstone/shale. Alluvium becomes finer-grained and has lower hydraulic conductivities with proximity to the river (10-9–10-2 cm/s). Meteoric recharge drives local groundwater flow from ridges toward rivers. Hydraulic head fluctuates with stage and temporary gradient reversals occur. Groundwater does not appear to be impacted by current land use. Wells have elevated iron and manganese concentrations; post-treatment, the alluvial aquifer may provide sufficient quality and rates of water to support onsite military activities.

L’objectif de la thèse vise à déterminer les facteurs et processus qui contrôlent l’origine et la qualité des eaux souterraines alluviales et ainsi à mieux comprendre le fonctionnement et la vulnérabilité des aquifères alluviaux qui occupent une place prééminente dans le paysage hydrogéologique mondial tant pour leur rôle économique - production d'eau potable, développement agricole - que pour leur rôle écologique. Des mesures hydrodynamiques, hydrochimiques (ions majeurs, traces, molécules phytosanitaires et pharmaceutiques) combinées à des déterminations isotopiques (oxygène-18, deuterium, carbone-13) ont ainsi été effectuées sur 19 points incluant puits, piézomètres et eaux de surface, de février 2011 à novembre 2012, afin d’évaluer l’origine et la qualité de l’eau souterraine dans l’aquifère alluvial de la rivière Allier, un des principaux tributaires de la Loire. La zone d’étude, située près de la ville de Clermont-Ferrand (France), joue par ailleurs un rôle socio-économique majeur, la nappe alluviale de l’Allier constituant la principale ressource en eau potable pour une population d’environ 100 000 habitants. D’un point de vue hydrodynamique, l'eau souterraine circule généralement du sud au nord, avec une alimentation naturelle à partir des coteaux adjacents, dans la partie non-pompée de l'aquifère. Dans la zone de pompage, cette circulation naturelle est modifiée par le pompage qui fait pénétrer l’eau de la rivière Allier dans l’aquifère. La recharge de l’aquifère dépend alors de quatre pôles de mélange : pluie, rivière Allier, coteaux adjacents et partie sud, non-pompée, de l’aquifère. Les résultats chimiques et isotopiques obtenus permettent de cartographier la contribution de chaque pôle de mélange. [...] Ces résultats mettent en évidence la vulnérabilité de l’aquifère face aux pollutions. Les parties méridionale et orientale du site sont affectées par des arrivées d’eaux de qualité médiocre démontrant l’importance de la définition d’un périmètre de protection adaptée. Près de l’Allier, une attention particulière doit être portée non seulement aux pollutions ponctuelles qui peuvent se produire sur le cours de la rivière, mais également aux pollutions chroniques liées notamment aux rejets des stations d’épuration pourvoyeurs de polluants tels les molécules pharmaceutiques. Toutes les informations acquises devront être incluses dans les stratégies de gestion d'eau souterraine afin protéger la durabilité de cette ressource de valeur. Les résultats s’appuient sur les investigations menées sur la nappe alluviale de l’Allier, néanmoins la méthodologie utilisée et sa transposition à des systèmes analogues est l’une des perspectives majeures de cette étude. / Hydrodynamic, hydrochemical (major ions, traces, pharmaceuticals and pesticides), and isotopic investigations (oxygen-18 and deuterium) were carried out on 19 points, including boreholes, piezometer, surface water, and springs from February 2011 to November 2012, to assess groundwater quality in the unconfined shallow alluvial aquifer of the Allier River (one of the main tributary of the Loire River). The study area, located near the city of Clermont-Ferrand (France), plays an important socio-economic role as the alluvial aquifer is the major source of drinking water for about 100 000 inhabitants. The objective of the project aims at understanding the functioning and the vulnerability of alluvial aquifers that occupy a pre-eminent position in the hydrogeologic landscape both for their economic role - production of drinking water and agricultural development - and for their ecological role. Moreover, this study also targets at determining the factors and processes controlling shallow groundwater quality and origin. The water circulates from the south, with a natural alimentation from the hills in the non-pumped part of the alluvial aquifer. In the pumping zone, this general behaviour is altered by the pumping that makes the water from the Allier River enter the system in a large proportion. Four end-members have been identified for the recharge of the alluvial groundwater: rainfall, Allier River, surrounding hills’ aquifer and the southern non-pumped part of the alluvial system. Results indicate that, despite the global Ca-HCO3 water type of the groundwater, spatial variations of physico-chemical parameters do exist in the study area. Ionic concentrations increase from the Allier River towards east due either to the increase in the residence time or a mixing with groundwater coming from the aquifer’s borders. Stable isotopes of the water molecule show the same results: boreholes close to the river bank are recharged by the Allier River (depleted values), while boreholes far from the river exhibit isotopic contents close to the values of hills’ spring or to the southern part of the alluvial aquifer, both recharged by local precipitation. One borehole (B65) does not follow this scheme of functioning and presents values attesting of a probable sealing of the Allier River banks. Based on these results, the contribution of each end-member has been calculated and the functioning of the alluvial system determined. According to this general scheme of functioning, origins of pollution (agricultural, urban) have been determined and clues to the protection of such hydrosystems defined.

Elevated levels of arsenic (As) in Bangladesh groundwater has emerged as a massive calamity exposing a large population to the risk of As toxicity from drinking water sources and agricultural products. Holocene alluvial aquifers in the delta- and flood-plains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra- Meghna (GBM) river systems are severely affected by high levels of As in groundwater. Groundwaters abstracted from Holocene alluvial aquifers of shallow depth (<150 m) contain As at concentrations mostly above WHO provisional drinking water guideline value of 10 μg/l whereas groundwater from the Holocene deeper aquifers (usually >150 m) and the Plio- Pleistocene aquifers contain low-As (<10 μg/l) water.The study reveals that the local and regional scale variations in groundwater composition, levels of As concentrations and the redox conditions are governed by the geological attributes of the aquifers. Groundwater in the grey to dark grey argillaceous sediments where organic matter and micas are abundant contain high concentration of dissolved As. Concentrations of As is generally low in the groundwater abstracted from the light grey to yellowish brown arenaceous sediments. A major proportion of As in the dark grey sediments is bound to poorly crystalline and amorphous metal-oxyhydroxides, particularly Fe-oxyhydroxides, that are readily mobile. On the other hand, As concentrations in the light grey to yellowish brown sediments are low and predominantly bound to less mobile stable crystalline phases. Redox reactions linked to the degradation of organic matter are the potential mechanism of As mobilisation through reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxides in grey to dark grey sediments in the Holocene shallow aquifers. This is reflected in groundwater compostion that is characterised by high concentrations of As, HCO3 -, Fe and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). However, concentration of dissolved Fe is probably controlled by the precipitation of secondary Fe-minerals like siderite (FeCO3), vivianite [Fe3(PO4)2 8H2O] and pyrite (FeS2). Weathering of biotite [K (Fe, Mg)3 AlSi3O10 (F, OH)2] is one of the major sources of Fe-oxyhydroxides in the sediment and thus plays a significant role in the processes of As mobilisation in groundwater.High concentrations of As and salinity are the major constraints for groundwater development in the Holocene alluvial aquifers of the Meghna basin. The Holocene shallow aquifers (<150 m) are high in dissolved As and salinity, while the Holocene deeper aquifers (>150 m) are low in As but contains pockets of saline groundwater. Molar ratios of Cl-/HCO3 - and Na+/Cl- indicate mixing of relict seawater with the freshly recharged water in these aquifers. Groundwater abstracted from the Pliocene Dupi Tila aquifer located at relatively higher elevations along the eastern part of the Meghna basin is not affected by As and salinity. Stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes indicate relatively fast groundwater recharge rate with insignificant evaporation effect in the Meghna basin. The groundwater samples from shallow aquifers show relatively wider variations in isotopic composition than the deeper ones indicating multiple recharge regimes. Abstraction of groundwater from the Holocene deeper low-As aquifers for drinking purposes should thus be be properly guided to minimise the risk of cross-contamination and installation of high-capacity irrigation wells in the deeper aquifers must be avoided for sustainable drinking water supplies. / QC 20100809

The study focuses on an alluvial plain situated within a large meander of the Logan River at Josephville near Beaudesert which supports a factory that processes gelatine. The plant draws water from on site bores, as well as the Logan River, for its production processes and produces approximately 1.5 ML per day (Douglas Partners, 2004) of waste water containing high levels of dissolved ions. At present a series of treatment ponds are used to aerate the waste water reducing the level of organic matter; the water is then used to irrigate grazing land around the site. Within the study the hydrogeology is investigated, a conceptual groundwater model is produced and a numerical groundwater flow model is developed from this. On the site are several bores that access groundwater, plus a network of monitoring bores. Assessment of drilling logs shows the area is formed from a mixture of poorly sorted Quaternary alluvial sediments with a laterally continuous aquifer comprised of coarse sands and fine gravels that is in contact with the river. This aquifer occurs at a depth of between 11 and 15 metres and is overlain by a heterogeneous mixture of silts, sands and clays. The study investigates the degree of interaction between the river and the groundwater within the fluvially derived sediments for reasons of both environmental monitoring and sustainability of the potential local groundwater resource. A conceptual hydrogeological model of the site proposes two hydrostratigraphic units, a basal aquifer of coarse-grained materials overlain by a thick semi-confining unit of finer materials. From this, a two-layer groundwater flow model and hydraulic conductivity distribution was developed based on bore monitoring and rainfall data using MODFLOW (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) and PEST (Doherty, 2004) based on GMS 6.5 software (EMSI, 2008). A second model was also considered with the alluvium represented as a single hydrogeological unit. Both models were calibrated to steady state conditions and sensitivity analyses of the parameters has demonstrated that both models are very stable for changes in the range of ± 10% for all parameters and still reasonably stable for changes up to ± 20% with RMS errors in the model always less that 10%. The preferred two-layer model was found to give the more realistic representation of the site, where water level variations and the numerical modeling showed that the basal layer of coarse sands and fine gravels is hydraulically connected to the river and the upper layer comprising a poorly sorted mixture of silt-rich clays and sands of very low permeability limits infiltration from the surface to the lower layer. The paucity of historical data has limited the numerical modelling to a steady state one based on groundwater levels during a drought period and forecasts for varying hydrological conditions (e.g. short term as well as prolonged dry and wet conditions) cannot reasonably be made from such a model. If future modelling is to be undertaken it is necessary to establish a regular program of groundwater monitoring and maintain a long term database of water levels to enable a transient model to be developed at a later stage. This will require a valid monitoring network to be designed with additional bores required for adequate coverage of the hydrogeological conditions at the Josephville site. Further investigations would also be enhanced by undertaking pump testing to investigate hydrogeological properties in the aquifer.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-07-30T13:37:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JAQUELINE PEREIRA SALGADO -DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2016.pdf: 4613492 bytes, checksum: e2106196261e0c2eb71ee8147c208d65 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-30T13:37:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JAQUELINE PEREIRA SALGADO -DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2016.pdf: 4613492 bytes, checksum: e2106196261e0c2eb71ee8147c208d65 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-02 / Na Paraíba a utilização das águas subterrâneas tem crescido consideravelmente, de forma que essas águas estão cada vez mais suscetíveis a contaminações, tanto pelo lançamento de esgotos sem tratamento quanto por outras ações antropogênicas, especialmente atividades agropastoris. Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a influência causada pelo lançamento de esgotos na qualidade das águas subterrâneas e a viabilidade destas em usos diversos. Para realização desta pesquisa foram escolhidos 9 poços ao longo do aquífero aluvial do Rio Sucurú, no município de Sumé-PB. Os indicadores de qualidade selecionados foram: físico-químicos - alcalinidade bicarbonato, alcalinidade carbonato, cálcio, cloretos, condutividade elétrica, DBO, DQO, ferro, magnésio, nitrato, nitrito, nitrogênio amoniacal, OD, pH, potássio, salinidade, sódio, sólidos totais dissolvidos, temperatura, turbidez; e microbiológicos - coliformes termotolerantes e E. coli. Ao longo do aluvião foram identificadas diversas fontes de poluição antrópica, que exercem influência na qualidade da água do aquífero. Através da metodologia GOD, o aquífero foi classificado com nível de vulnerabilidade médio. Os indicadores relacionados à salinidade mostraram altos níveis de sais ao longo do aluvião, o que restringe o uso para irrigação. Os parâmetros mínimos para classificação das águas subterrâneas de acordo com a Resolução CONAMA 396/2008, estiveram, na maioria dos poços, acima do VMP, exceto para nitrato, qualificando, dessa forma, as águas do aquífero como Classe 4. Assim foi concluído que as águas do aquífero aluvial do rio Sucurú somente podem ser utilizadas sem tratamento, para usos menos restritivos. / In Paraíba, the usage of groundwater has increased considerably, therefore, these water resources are more susceptibles to contamination, either by the discharge of untreated wastewater, or by other anthropogenic activities, above all, agropastoral activities. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the sewage discharge on the groundwater quality and the viability of these resources for various uses. For this research 9 wells along the alluvial aquifer of Sucuru River in Sumé-PB were chosen. The water quality indicators selected were: physico-chemical - bicarbonate and carbonate alkalinity, calcium, chloride, conductivity, BOD, COD, iron, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, ammoniacal nitrogen, DO, pH, potassium, salinity, sodium, total dissolved solids, temperature, turbidity; microbiological - thermotolerant coliforms and E-Coli. Along the alluvium were indentified various fonts of anthropogenic pollution, which have influence on the aquifer water quality. Through the GOD method, the aquifer was classified with medium vulnerability level. The indicators related to salinity presented high salt levels along the alluvion, which restricts the water use to irrigation. The minimal parameters for the classification of groundwater according to the CONAMA Resolution 396/2008, have been, on most the wells, above the MVA, except for nitrate, thus qualifying the aquifer water as Class 4. Therefore it was concluded that the water from the alluvial aquifer of the Sucuru River can only be used, untreated, for least restrictive uses.

The Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a robust agricultural region in the South-Central United States, provides commodities across the United States and around the world. Water for irrigation, which is necessary due to irregular rainfall patterns during the growing season, is withdrawn largely from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial aquifer, one of the most intensely used aquifers in the United States. The groundwater-dependent region has observed recent declines in groundwater and streamflow levels, raising concerns about the availability and use of fresh-water resources. Declining water levels have prompted investigation into the current understanding of groundwater and surface-water interaction. Previous research does not adequately quantify the unobservable exchange of water between surface-water bodies and the underlying aquifer. This research was designed to advance the current understanding of the interaction between groundwater and surface water through the quantification of spatial and temporal trends in streamflow and groundwater level changes and the use of high-resolution spatial estimates of streambed hydraulic conductivity. Changes in streamflow and groundwater levels were quantified with the use of hydrograph-separation techniques and trend analyses. High-resolution estimates of streambed hydraulic conductivity were found through the correlation of waterborne continuous resistivity profiling data to hydraulic conductivity and streambed hydraulic conductivity estimates were incorporated into the existing Mississippi Embayment Regional Aquifer Study (MERAS) groundwaterlow model. Site-specific empirical relationships between resistivity and hydraulic conductivity were developed with near-stream borehole geophysical logs to improve model estimates of streambed hydraulic conductivity. Results of the quantification of changes in streamflow and groundwater levels suggested agricultural groundwater withdrawals for irrigation to be the primary source of groundwater-level declines. Results from the incorporation of high-resolution estimates of streambed hydraulic conductivity showed that the existing groundwaterlow model is sensitive to changes in streambed hydraulic conductivity, which may impact model accuracy. The incorporation of streambed hydraulic conductivity estimates derived from site-specific empirical relationships impacted MERAS model water-budget estimates. Information gained from this research will be used to improve the existing groundwaterlow model, which acts as a decision-support tool for water-resource managers at state and local levels to make informed water-use decisions for the conservation of fresh-water resources for sustainable agricultural irrigation practices.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Os aqÃÃferos aluviais presentes na regiÃo semi-Ãrida do Nordeste brasileiro hospedam importantes recursos hÃdricos naturais para as populaÃÃes que vivem nessa regiÃo, devido a sua excelente qualidade, quando comparado aos aqÃÃferos localizados nas Ãreas de embasamento cristalino. No entanto, constituem recursos frÃgeis, sendo susceptÃveis a processos de degradaÃÃo da sua qualidade por aÃÃes antrÃpicas, variaÃÃes climÃticas ou modificaÃÃes hidrogeolÃgicas. Com o objetivo de identificar e quantificar os principais processos responsÃveis pelo aumento da salinidade observada no aqÃÃfero aluvial durante o perÃodo nÃo chuvoso usou-se, alÃm de estudos hidroquÃmicos (diagramas e estudo de razÃes iÃnicas), a anÃlise estatÃstica multivariada (agrupamento hierÃrquico e discriminante) e a modelagem geoquÃmica inversa. Os diagramas de Piper e Stiff mostraram a classificaÃÃo das Ãguas quanto à presenÃa dos Ãons dominantes, onde as Ãguas aluviais apresentaram caracterÃsticas intermediÃrias entre as Ãguas do aqÃÃfero fissural e Ãgua dos reservatÃrios. Com o diagrama de RAS obteve-se a mesma interpretaÃÃo. As relaÃÃes iÃnicas revelaram forte relaÃÃo das Ãguas aluviais com a litologia da regiÃo e a provÃvel dissoluÃÃo de aerossÃis contendo compostos de MgCl2 nos aqÃÃferos do embasamento cristalino. A anÃlise de agrupamento mostrou as similaridades entre os poÃos, enquanto a anÃlise discriminante ajudou a compreender o processo de salinizaÃÃo no aqÃÃfero aluvial. As modelagens geoquÃmicas inversas realizadas com o PHREEQC identificaram trocas catiÃnicas de CaX2, MgX2, NaX e KX, alÃm de precipitaÃÃes de K-mica e albita e dissoluÃÃes de anortita e K-feldspato, evidenciando a aÃÃo intempÃrica das Ãguas sobre as rochas. A grande dissoluÃÃo de CO2 nas Ãguas aluviais justifica a caracterÃstica bicarbonatada dessas Ãguas. A contribuiÃÃo volumÃtrica de Ãguas do aqÃÃfero fissural, como forma de justificar o aumento da salinidade nos poÃos aluviais, foi estimada entre 1,53% e 27,99% para diferentes pontos, na mÃdia foi de 15,8%. No entanto, esta contribuiÃÃo representa quase 64% da salinidade no aluviÃo. / The alluvial aquifers in the semi-arid region of Brazilâs Northeast host an important natural water resource for the populations that live in that region, owing to its excellent quality, when compared to the crystalline basement rock aquifers. However, they are fragile resources and are susceptible to processes of degradation of quality by anthropic action, climatic changes or hydrogeological modifications. The objective of this research is to identify and quantify the primary processes responsible for the increase in salinity observed in the alluvial aquifers during the dry season. Besides hydrochemical analysis (Piper and Stiff diagrams and ionic relations), multivariate statistical analysis (hierarchical clustering and discriminant analyses) and inverse geochemical modeling were also used. The Piper and Stiff diagrams presented water classification according to dominant ions, where the alluvial water showed intermediate characteristics between the hard-rock basement aquifer water and that from the reservoirs. With the SAR diagram, the same result was observed. The ionic relations revealed a strong relation of the alluvial water with the lithology of the region and the probable dissolution of aerosols containing composites of the MgCl2 type in the aquifers of the crystalline rock shield. Cluster analysis showed the similarities between the wells, whereas discriminant analysis helped to understand the process of salinization in the alluvial aquifer. The inverse geochemical modeling carried out with PHREEQC identified cationic exchanges of CaX2, MgX2, NaX and KX, as well as precipitation of K-mica and albite and dissolutions of anorthite and K-feldspar, evidencing the intemperic action of the water on the rocks. Strong dissolution of CO2 in the alluvial water justifies the bicarbonated characteristics of that water. The volume contribution from crystalline rock aquifer water was estimated as between 1.53% and 27.99% at different points with a mean value of 15.8%. However, this contribution represents nearly 64% of the salinity of the water in the alluvium.

Le but de ce travail est de tester une approche multi-traceurs permettant de caractériser l'origine (éléments majeurs, Sr, Br, 87Sr/86Sr, δ18O, δ2H) et les temps de résidence (3H/3He, CFC, SF6) des eaux, pour identifier l'origine et évaluer le devenir des contaminants dans une nappe alluviale superficielle et peu profonde, la nappe de la Vistrenque. Les molécules étudiées sont les triazines, le métolachlore, le diuron, la carbamazépine, le sulfaméthoxazole, le diclofénac et l'ibuprofène. L'aquifère étudié est alimenté par une recharge directe, occasionnant le lessivage des pesticides des sols, et une recharge latérale provenant de l'aquifère karstique adjacent entraînant une dilution des eaux de la nappe en triazines. Localement, une contribution des eaux de surface (cours d'eau locaux, eau importée du Rhône) à la recharge de la nappe est mise en évidence entraînant également une dilution des eaux de la nappe en triazines mais au contraire une contamination en COE, quoique, en faibles concentrations. Les âges apparents des eaux alluviales échantillonnées, déterminés principalement par le couple 3H/3He, varient entre 1.4 et 22 ans. Le couplage de l'âge des eaux à leurs teneurs en triazines montre une persistance de ces molécules dans le milieu souterrain, et une atténuation de leur signal d'entrée soulignant l'efficacité de leur interdiction en 2003. Finalement, les eaux de la nappe alluviale montrent des rapports de dégradation des triazines variant entre 0,3 pour les eaux influencées par les eaux de surface et 4,8 pour celles montrant des âges apparents de 22 ans, suggérant une augmentation de ce rapport avec le temps de transfert des pesticides dans le système. / The aim of this work is to test a multi-tracer approach allowing the characterization of groundwater origin and residence time in a shallow alluvial aquifer, the Vistrenque aquifer, in order to identify the origin and the fate of contaminants therein. The selected compounds for the study are triazines, metolachlor, diuron, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, and ibuprofen. The studied aquifer is mainly fed by 1) a direct recharge inducing pesticides leaching from soil layers and unsaturated zone and 2) by a lateral recharge from the karst adjacent aquifer, which induces triazines dilution in the alluvial aquifer. A local contribution of surface water (local streams and imported Rhône River water) was evidenced in the alluvial groundwater inducing also triazines dilution but EOCs contamination nevertheless at low concentrations. The apparent age of the alluvial groundwater samples varies between 1.4 and 22 years. Linking groundwater age to triazines contents allowed to highlight, first, the persistence of these compounds in the alluvial groundwater and, second, the decreasing of their input signal in relatively recent groundwater samples in accordance with their forbidding in 2003. Finally, the Vistrenque alluvial groundwater showed triazines degradation ratios varying from 0.3 for groundwater influenced by surface water infiltration to 4.8 for groundwater characterized by relatively older apparent residence time on the order of 22 years. This suggests an increasing ratio with the transfer time of these compounds in the alluvial aquifer system.

La nappe superficielle de la plaine d’Avignon, située entre le Rhône et la Durance, présente les caractéristiques d’une nappe péri urbaine, avec un secteur agricole étendu, mais dont la surface se réduit rapidement sous l’effet de l’extension urbaine et du développement économique. Peu profonde et proche de la surface, cette nappe est directement sous l’influence des eaux de surface. En particulier, l’eau de la Durance participe fortement à la recharge soit directement soit indirectement via les nombreux canaux d’irrigation et donc localement de manière décalée par rapport au régime hydrologique méditerranéen. L’occupation des sols, et en particulier l’urbanisation, joue donc un rôle important sur le fonctionnement hydrodynamique. En particulier le recul des terres agricoles et la diminution parallèle des volumes d’irrigation tendent à réduire la recharge de la nappe.Pour essayer d’anticiper les conséquences de cette évolution, la présente étude vise à proposer un modèle de fonctionnement hydrogéologique de la zone intégrant le rôle du sol et de son usage. Il fallait pour cela compléter les connaissances sur le fonctionnement de la nappe préciser les conditions aux limites et établir un bilan en eau au pas de temps mensuel. Ce travail repose sur une démarche multi-approches utilisant, en particulier, la complémentarité entre le suivi piézométrique et la technique du traçage naturel de l'eau (traceurs chimiques et isotopiques). Les différentes approches ont permis de localiser et de quantifier les trois principales composantes de la recharge : la Durance ou la recharge latérale, l’irrigation et la pluie ou la recharge verticale. Cette dernière est contrôlée surtout par la nature et l’usage du sol. Très clairement, la majeure partie de cette recharge se trouve dans des zones encore irriguées qui apportent un volume moyen annuel de 19 Mm3. Avec une moyenne annuelle de 135 mm, la recharge par la pluie joue un rôle secondaire. Son impact sur la nappe est visible en dehors des zones irriguées en particulier en amont de la plaine sur les versants des collines qui bordent la plaine à l’Est. Cet apport de la pluie n’est plus visible dans la partie médiane, fortement diluée par les eaux d’irrigation. Plus à l’ouest en zone urbaine, l’effet de la pluie est réduit et discontinu à cause des surfaces imperméabilisées ; il subit en outre une dilution par l’apport des eaux de la Durance. L’importance de la recharge par la Durance a été confirmée par une modélisation hydrodynamique et du transfert du signal isotopique. Elle constitue l’entrée principale du système avec un volume moyen de 70 Mm3/an. Les résultats de différents scénarios du modèle numérique valident les ordres de grandeur de différentes composantes et les caractéristiques de l’écoulement (direction, vitesse…) et montrent que dans le cas d’un abandon de l’irrigation, la baisse piézométrique serait de l’ordre de 3 m sous les périmètres irrigués. La nappe retrouverait alors les fluctuations piézométriques naturelles sous la dépendance de la pluie d’une part et de la Durance d’autre part. En fonction de son régime futur, l’alimentation par la Durance pourrait augmenter et compenser une partie de la baisse vers l’intérieur de la plaine. / The groundwater system of the alluvial plain of Avignon, located between the Rhone and the Durance rivers, is characterized by an expanded agricultural area, whose surface is rapidly shrinking due to urban sprawl and economic development. This shallow aquifer is directly under the influence of surface water. In particular, the Durance water is heavily involved in the recharge process either directly or indirectly via the numerous irrigation canals and therefore with a time shift according to the Mediterranean hydrological regime. Land use, particularly urbanization, plays an important role on the hydrodynamic occurrence. In particular, the loss of agricultural land and accordingly the reduction in irrigation volumes tend to reduce groundwater recharge. To anticipate the consequences of these developments, this study aimed at proposing a hydrogeological model of the area including the role of land use. First of all, This required a better understanding of the aquifer system, namely specify boundary conditions and establish a monthly water balance An experimental investigation was carried out using different approaches including water level monitoring and environmental tracing of water (chemical and isotopic tracers). This work enabled us locating and quantifying the three main components of recharge: Durance or lateral recharge, irrigation and rainfall or vertical recharge. This recharge proved to be controlled primarily by the soil nature and land use. Clearly, much of this recharge occur in irrigated areas which provide an average annual volume of 19 millions m3. With an annual average of 135 mm, recharge by the rainfall plays a secondary role. Its impact on the groundwater was observed out of the irrigated lands especially, on the eastern boundaries of the plain. This contribution of rainfall was no longer detected downwards, where irrigation water was getting predominant in the recharge process. In urban areas down west, the effect of rainfall drops owing to the increase of impervious surfaces and the rising of Durance influence.. The importance of the recharge from the Durance was confirmed by hydrodynamic and isotope transfer modeling. It is the main input to the system with an average volume of 70 millions m3 / year.