Groundwater resources exploitation management in response to water scarcity challenges in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Water scarcity in Khuzestan Province, Iran, has attracted growing concerns despite the region's abundant water resources. The province predominantly relies on surface water, prompting an assessment of groundwater's potential to supplement water supplies during surface water shortages. This study assesses the province's groundwater availability and quality under increased exploitation conditions. Between 2008 and 2018, data on groundwater quantity and quality were collected from 204 exploration wells and 70 piezometric wells across 19 aquifers. The analysis revealed that 53% of aquifers in the eastern and northeastern regions experienced declining groundwater levels. Hydrochemical assessments indicated low concentrations of major ions in the northeastern, while high levels were observed from the central region towards the southeast. These variations were attributed to agricultural and industrial activities, seawater intrusion, and the influences of evaporation and geological factors. The dominant hydrochemical facies identified were of the Ca-Cl type. Water quality classification showed that 48% of groundwater samples fell within the C4S4-C4S1 category, primarily in the western, central, and southern regions, while 27% were classified as C3S2, C3S1, and 25% as C2S1, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. The Irrigation WWater Quality (IWQ) index indicated that many samples were suitable for irrigation. Additionally, the analysis potable groundwater was primarily found in the northern, northeastern, and eastern aquifers, with quality declining toward the south. The study highlights that certain aquifers in the northern and eastern regions offer greater potential for sustainable groundwater exploitation during water shortages. These findings provide valuable insights for on how to implement effective land and water management strategies to mitigate future water crises.