Origin, Characterization, and Protection of Spring Water
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2023) | Viewed by 8437
Special Issue Editors
Interests: environmental geology; hydrogeology; hydrogeochemistry; contamination; vadose zone; water quality; water resources management
Interests: environmental geology; hydrogeology; hydrogeochemistry; contamination; vadose zone; water quality; water resources management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Groundwater is an essential global resource that provides the largest reserve of freshwater, and current total withdrawals account for 26% of drinking water that supply more than a third of the world’s population. Furthermore, it is the only viable and affordable way to expand basic access to water for rural populations. In these territories, where the need to have access to water is not only related to human consumption needs but also to production issues, the population generally depends on different sources of groundwater, but mainly on springs.
There are various classifications of springs that generally derive from hydrogeological characteristics, being factors for their classification, the discharge flow and its uniformity, the nature of the hydraulic potential that originates the discharge (descending or gravity or ascending or artesian springs), the geological and geomorphological structure that controls the discharge (depression, contact, barrier and submerged springs) and the quality (physicochemical and microbiological parameters) and temperature of the water.
These springs are sources of supply that have a relatively simple catchment, but are very vulnerable to the loss of their flow and to contamination, and much more under scenario of climate change and increased anthropogenic pressure. Given this scenario, the evaluation of this water resource, both in terms of its origin and its characterization, and protection in terms of quantity (flows) and quality, are current problems; therefore, it is necessary to establish adequate and timely measures to preserve the good condition of groundwater captured through the springs. There are different approaches for the protection of springs, some of which are similar to those used to wellhead protection, but other methods based on tracers, vulnerability, numerical models, and even methods stochastics can be applied.
Therefore, we would like to call for submission of manuscripts to disseminate and share findings on origin, characterization, and protection of spring water. Original research or review manuscripts are invited in the following and related areas:
- geological origin of springs (karst media, fractured media, detrital media);
- monitoring systems;
- cold and hot (thermal) springs;
- water quality and flow under the impact of anthropic activities;
- springs vulnerability of climate change and anthropogenic impact;
- technologies and policies that can mitigate the impacts on spring water quality and flow;
- protection methods of springs;
- other related research issues.
Prof. Dr. María V. Esteller
Dr. José L. Expósito
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- spring
- evaluation
- classification
- protection
- vulnerability
- management
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