An aquifer management case study : the Chalk of the English South Downs

Robins, N.S.; Jones, H.K.; Ellis, J.. 1999 An aquifer management case study : the Chalk of the English South Downs. Water Resources Management, 13 (3). 205-218. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008101727356

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract/Summary

The Chalk aquifer of the English South Downs is very heavily utilised. The groundwater resources have enjoyed a formal programme of management which started in the 1950s, although a number of actions had been taken earlier in order to deal with saline intrusion and potential risk to groundwater quality from urbanisation. In the late 1950s the policy of leakage/storage boreholes was first adopted, whereby the leakage boreholes along the coast were pumped in winter to intercept fresh water discharge to the sea and to maximise the recharge potential inland, and inland storage boreholes were used, as much as possible, in the summer months only. A comprehensive monitoring programme supported by aquifer modelling has enabled a gradual increase in overall abstraction to take place without increasing groundwater degradation due to saline intrusion. There have been various pollution prevention strategies over the years, and these have been effective in protecting the groundwater despite the high population density and widespread agricultural activity within the South Downs. The management of the aquifer has clearly been successful; there are many lessons from this experience that can be applied to other regions and other aquifers.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008101727356
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Groundwater Management
ISSN:	0920-4741
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater resources, Major aquifer
Related URLs:	http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwate...
Date made live:	29 Nov 2010 17:10 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12387

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...