Uncertainty and urban water recharge for managing groundwater availability using decision support

Area of Science:

• Hydrology and Hydrogeology
• Water Resource Management
• Environmental Modeling

Background:

• Accurate quantification of groundwater availability is essential for sustainable water resource management.
• Scientific uncertainty, particularly regarding anthropogenic recharge, significantly impacts groundwater availability assessments.
• Urbanization introduces complexities in understanding recharge processes due to land use changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of uncertainty in recharge interpretations on modeled groundwater availability.
• To assess the influence of scientific uncertainty on water management and policy recommendations in an urban Texas case study.
• To demonstrate the utility of geospatial methods in resolving recharge uncertainty related to urbanization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Groundwater Decision Support System, an integrated modeling research code-base.
• Developed spatially and temporally resolved recharge interpretations using NEXRAD precipitation and detailed land use data.
• Applied geospatial methods to account for spatial and temporal components of recharge.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated how scientific uncertainty in recharge interpretations affects modeled available water balances.
• Highlighted the implications of this uncertainty for urban water management and policy decisions.
• Showcased the replicability of geospatial methods for analyzing recharge in other urban systems.

Conclusions:

• Scientific uncertainty in recharge significantly influences groundwater availability assessments.
• Geospatial methods are effective tools for resolving recharge uncertainty, especially in urbanized areas.
• Informed water management and policy require explicit consideration of recharge uncertainty.