Abstract
The management of groundwater flow systems in karst regions appears, at present, to be the most important procedure for solving water deficiency problems during periods of low rainfall. Faced with a lack of data for characterizing the water supply potential of karst aquifers, analyses of spring hydrographs may provide valuable indirect information regarding the structure of karst hydrogeological systems. To estimate the optimal exploitation capacities of karstic sources, a stochastic-conceptual approach was applied in case studies from the Serbian karst. Water supply potentials were initially evaluated on the basis of groundwater budgets. Further steps towards defining optimal “exploitable” regimes included analyses of storage changes in karst water reservoirs under natural conditions and calculation of the potential expansion of currently tapped sources. The results obtained through these analyses are a significant contribution to feasibility studies and aid in the avoidance of problems of overexploitation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atkinson TC (1977) Diffuse flow and conduit flow in limestone terrain in the Mendip Hills. Somerset (Great Britain), J Hydrol 35:93–103
Bonacci O (1993) Kast springs hydrographs as indicators of karst aquifers. J Hydrol Sci 38:51–62
Drogue C (1980) Essai d’identification d’un type de structure de magasions caranates, fissures. Application a l’imterpretation de certains aspects de fonctionnement hydrogeologique. Mem Soc Geol France, Paris, pp 101–108
Eisenlohr L, Bouzelboudjen M, Király L, Rossier Y (1997) Numerical versus statistical modeling of natural response of a karst hydrogeological system. J Hydrol 202:244–262
Kiraly L, Perrochet P, Rossier Y (1995) Effect of the epikarst on the hydrograph of karst springs: a number approach. Bul d’Hydrogeologie 14:199–220
Kresic N (1997) Quantitative solutions in hydrogeology and groundwater modelling. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton
Jemcov I, Ristic V, Stevanovic Z, Prohaska S (1998) Application of auto-cross regression model to the analysis and discharge simulation of some karst springs. Theoretical and Applied Karstology. Academia Romana v11/12, pp 125–132
Jemcov I, Stevanovic Z, Prohaska S (2001) A new mathematical simulation model for predicting the exploitation and regulation of karst water sources. IHP-V Technical Documents in Hydrology No 49. UNESCO, Paris vII, pp 539–546
Larocque M, Mangin A, Razack M, Banton O (1998) Contribution of correlation and spectral analyses to the regional study of a large karst aquifer (Charente, France). J Hydrol 205:217–231
Mangin A (1984) Pour ine meilleure connaisance des systèmes hydrologiques à partir des analyses corrélatoire et spectrale. J Hydrol 67:25–43
Raudkivi AJ (1979) Hydrology—an advanced introduction to hydrological processes and modelling. Pergamon Press Ltd, England
Stevanović Z, Filipović B (1994) Ground waters in carbonate rocks of the Carpathian–Balkan mountain range. Aston Holding Co., Jersey
Thornthwaite CW (1948) An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geogr Rev 38:55–94
White WB (1969) Conceptual models for carbonate aquifers. Ground Water 7(3):15–21
Zhang YK, Bai EW, Libra R, Rowden R, Liu H (1996) Simulation of spring discharge from limestone aquifer in Iowa, USA. Hydrogeol J 4(4):41–54
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jemcov, I. Water supply potential and optimal exploitation capacity of karst aquifer systems. Environ Geol 51, 767–773 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0389-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0389-8