Many of the world's megacities depend on groundwater from geologically complex aquifers that are over-exploited and threatened by contamination. Here, using the example of Dhaka, Bangladesh, we illustrate how interactions between aquifer heterogeneity and groundwater exploitation jeopardize groundwater resources regionally. Groundwater pumping in Dhaka has caused large-scale drawdown that exten...

Microbial populations in 16 groundwater samples from six Fennoscandian Shield sites in Finland and Sweden were investigated. The average total cell number was 3.7x10(5) cells ml(-1), and there was no change in the mean of the total cell numbers to a depth of 1390 m. Culture media were designed based on the chemical composition of each groundwater sample and used successfully to culture anaerobi...

The groundwater is an important source of drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley, and is presently fulfilling about forty five percent of the total demand of water supply. However, the deteriorating groundwater quality is an emerging issue of concern. In this study attempt has been done to characterize the groundwater for the fate of arsenic and nitrate contaminations. Physico-chemical paramete...

The exploitation of shallow geothermal energy through a groundwater heat pump (GWHP) is always limited to thick and deep aquifers containing abundant water with a relatively stable temperature. Unfortunately, aquifers in hilly regions which occupy two thirds of China are usually thin and shallow. The boundary conditions in those hilly areas affect the groundwater flow that is used for geotherma...

The rapid rise of shale gas development through horizontal drilling and high volume hydraulic fracturing has expanded the extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the U.S. The rise of shale gas development has triggered an intense public debate regarding the potential environmental and human health effects from hydraulic fracturing. This paper provides a critical review of the potential risks tha...

A groundwater, sediment and soil chemistry and mineralogical study has been performed to investigate the sources and mobilization process of Arsenic (As) in shallow aquifers of Bangladesh. The groundwater from the shallow aquifers is characterized by high concentrations of Arsenic (47.5–216.8 μg/L), iron (0.85–5.83 mg/L), and phosphate, along with high electrical conductivity (EC). The groundwa...

Locally nuanced community-based shallow groundwater management interventions have proven important in saline and sodic monsoonal regions. A mixed methods approach characterizes achievement of regeneration the formerly degraded socio-ecological system Laporiya village semi-arid Salt Lake region Rajasthan state (India), with a focus on locally adapted chauka systems. Local people are key particip...