Estimation groundwater total recharge and discharge using GIS-integrated water level fluctuation method: a case study from the Alaşehir alluvial aquifer Western Anatolia, Turkey

The estimation of groundwater recharge is an essential process for hydrogeological study. Realistic determination approach is crucial for assessing groundwater potential in an aquifer system and estimating of groundwater levels and/or changes in dry periods. Based on these matters, we employ a GIS-integrated groundwater level fluctuation method to determine the groundwater recharge for a hydrological period in the Alasehir alluvial aquifer (W. Anatolia). The method basically takes into account both increasing and decreasing of the groundwater levels due to the recharge and discharge mechanisms in the aquifer. In this study, 16 pumping and monitoring wells were drilled with a total depth of 1300 m, and water level data loggers were installed into the monitoring wells to determine the groundwater level changes. The spatial distribution of the monthly groundwater level change map was multiplied by the aquifer storage distribution map and then the accurate water volume is calculated by using the 3-D spatial analysis. According to our evaluation in the aquifer, positive volume change of the groundwater is 187 hm3 in a year, which is considered as a recharge value of groundwater. It is concluded that the GIS-integrated water table fluctuation method gave rise to estimate the total recharge amount of the groundwater in the Alasehir aquifer. The total groundwater recharge indicates that total inflow in the aquifer from precipitation, leakage from surface water and irrigation waters. It can be stated that the recharge estimation of groundwater in a surficial aquifer, like the Alasehir aquifer, is fairly easy using the GIS-integrated water table fluctuation method.