Exploitation management of potable groundwater in a desert region of northeast Iran: multi-influencing factors

The potable groundwater crisis has escalated in Davarzan crucial alluvial aquifer due to over-exploitation and poor management, though it acts as a reliable resource during the drought situations. Davarzan crucial aquifer is located near the salty playa and ophiolite complex in a desert area at northern Iran. The main aims of the paper were determining groundwater potential zoning and exploitation management of potable groundwater using the quality instruments associated with implementing multi-quantity-hydrogeology criteria. The trend of increasing EC values and groundwater flow direction are from the northern to the southern adjacent desert. Based on the GIS modeling, the two potable groundwater potential zone maps were produced using the qualitative (pollution and salinity) and quantitative layers. Both layers have made most of the groundwater unsuitable in the central and southern parts of the area. Although most of the north and northwest parts of the area falls under the good groundwater potential zone for potable usage, overexploitation of the groundwater has caused the groundwater level to decline and salinity increase towards the aquifer. Therefore, for exploitation management of potable groundwater without causing additional storage loss in this desert region, sustainable yield is advised and it could be turning potable water wells into agricultural wells. The results of this research have significant implications in exploitation management of potable groundwater in desert regions.