Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes

The impact of the damming of the Sava river for the Brežice hydroelectric power plant on the rise of the groundwater level was studied in the intergranular aquifer of the Krško field and the Vrbina area, Slovenia. The study is based on the application of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (18O, 2H and 3H)...

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Main Authors: Branka Trček, Beno Mesarec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/412
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author Branka Trček
Beno Mesarec
author_facet Branka Trček
Beno Mesarec
author_sort Branka Trček
collection DOAJ
description The impact of the damming of the Sava river for the Brežice hydroelectric power plant on the rise of the groundwater level was studied in the intergranular aquifer of the Krško field and the Vrbina area, Slovenia. The study is based on the application of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (18O, 2H and 3H). Parameters were determined for precipitation, surface water, and groundwater for periods before and after the filling of the accumulation basin, with the aim of evaluating the groundwater–surface water interaction and to elucidate the impact of the hydroelectric dam on aquifer recharge processes. The results show the proportions of the surface water component in groundwater sampled from four wells at high and low water conditions, separately for the period before and after the filling the accumulation basin. After filling the accumulation basin, the proportion of the Sava river component at high water conditions increased from 60% to 80% in the Brege and Drnovo wells (drinking water resources), from 50% to 80% in the Cerklje well and to almost 100% in the near-river NEK well. Combined with previous studies, the results provide important information about the direction of groundwater flow in the aquifer and improve the conceptual model of the study site.
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spelling doaj.art-53ffba2dbf0644f7bfd000a11e7c12522023-11-16T18:22:16ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-01-0115341210.3390/w15030412Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen IsotopesBranka Trček0Beno Mesarec1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor, SI 2000 Maribor, SloveniaFaculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor, SI 2000 Maribor, SloveniaThe impact of the damming of the Sava river for the Brežice hydroelectric power plant on the rise of the groundwater level was studied in the intergranular aquifer of the Krško field and the Vrbina area, Slovenia. The study is based on the application of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (18O, 2H and 3H). Parameters were determined for precipitation, surface water, and groundwater for periods before and after the filling of the accumulation basin, with the aim of evaluating the groundwater–surface water interaction and to elucidate the impact of the hydroelectric dam on aquifer recharge processes. The results show the proportions of the surface water component in groundwater sampled from four wells at high and low water conditions, separately for the period before and after the filling the accumulation basin. After filling the accumulation basin, the proportion of the Sava river component at high water conditions increased from 60% to 80% in the Brege and Drnovo wells (drinking water resources), from 50% to 80% in the Cerklje well and to almost 100% in the near-river NEK well. Combined with previous studies, the results provide important information about the direction of groundwater flow in the aquifer and improve the conceptual model of the study site.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/412stable isotopestritiumdamsurface watergroundwater
spellingShingle Branka Trček
Beno Mesarec
Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
Water
stable isotopes
tritium
dam
surface water
groundwater
title Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
title_full Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
title_fullStr Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
title_full_unstemmed Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
title_short Impact of the Hydroelectric Dam on Aquifer Recharge Processes in the Krško Field and the Vrbina Area: Evidence from Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes
title_sort impact of the hydroelectric dam on aquifer recharge processes in the krsko field and the vrbina area evidence from hydrogen and oxygen isotopes
topic stable isotopes
tritium
dam
surface water
groundwater
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/3/412
work_keys_str_mv AT brankatrcek impactofthehydroelectricdamonaquiferrechargeprocessesinthekrskofieldandthevrbinaareaevidencefromhydrogenandoxygenisotopes
AT benomesarec impactofthehydroelectricdamonaquiferrechargeprocessesinthekrskofieldandthevrbinaareaevidencefromhydrogenandoxygenisotopes