Table of Contents
What is intrusion of salt water?
Saltwater intrusion is the induced flow of seawater into freshwater aquifers primarily caused by groundwater development near the coast.
What is saltwater intrusion and why is it a problem?
Saltwater intrusion, the technical name for the problem, occurs when too much groundwater is pumped from coastal aquifers, thereby upsetting the subterranean balance between inland freshwater and the relentless ocean. When the rate of groundwater pumping increases, the equilibrium shifts.
What is Salt invasion?
Salinization on the coast, also called saline intrusion, is the increase of sodium ions in soil and water. As the number of salt ions in the surrounding environment increase, water will naturally flow out of an organism toward the greater concentration of particles, causing dehydration and death.
What is salt water intrusion and how can it be prevented?
To prevent saltwater intrusion, some of the rules for well operation should be followed: Reduce water use Reduce pump depth Pump less water more frequently Coordinate the pumping in a multi-well system so it is not simultaneous If the well is pumping saline water due to saltwater intrusion, stop using it for a period …
Is salt water intrusion natural?
Saltwater intrusion can naturally occur in coastal aquifers, owing to the hydraulic connection between groundwater and seawater. Certain human activities, especially groundwater pumping from coastal freshwater wells, have increased saltwater intrusion in many coastal areas.
Is saltwater intrusion reversible?
Many coastal communities rely on groundwater to satisfy their drinking and farming water needs. But removing too much of that groundwater can change the fluid pressure of underground aquifers, drawing seawater into coastal aquifers and corrupting water supplies. Saltwater intrusion is often irreversible.
What causes saltwater intrusion?
As sea levels rise along the coasts, saltwater can move onto the land. Known as saltwater intrusion, this occurs when storm surges or high tides overtop areas low in elevation. It also occurs when saltwater infiltrates freshwater aquifers and raises the groundwater table below the soil surface.
What do you do in saltwater intrusion?
Best management practices in areas at high risk of saltwater intrusion: Well drilling: Well siting: Avoid drilling in locations immediately adjacent to the coast e.g. within 50 m. Well depth: Avoid drilling excessively deep within areas proximal to the coast.
How do you mitigate saltwater intrusion?
Therefore, this issue has attracted much attention over the last decades, and several countermeasures have been proposed: (1) reducing pumping (Sherif et al., 2012), (2) changing extraction arrays (Cai et al., 2015), (3) enhanced natural and/or artificial recharge (Sophiya and Syed, 2013), (4) direct reuse of treated …
What is the effect of saltwater intrusion?
Saltwater intrusion can result in the need for water utilities to increase treatment, relocate water intakes, or development of alternate sources of fresh water. Saltwater intrusion, through surface or ground water sources, may diminish the availability or quality of source waters for drinking water utilities.
How do you deal with salt water intrusion?
Beach dewatering, construction of buildings in a safe distance from the water, ban of mining activities, and maintaining plant cover are some examples of ways to reduce coastal erosion. Coping with saltwater intrusion involves three major steps: monitoring and assessment, regulation, and engineering structures.
What are the main causes of salt water intrusion into land?
Seawater intrusion is caused by decreases in groundwater levels or by rises in seawater levels. When you pump out fresh water rapidly, you lower the height of the freshwater in the aquifer forming a cone of depression. The salt water rises 40 feet for every 1 foot of freshwater depression and forms a cone of ascension.