Assessing the effect of urbanization on regional-scale surface water-groundwater interaction and nitrate transport

Identifying regional-scale surface water-groundwater interactions (SGI) is vital for predicting anthropogenic effects on surface water bodies and underlying aquifers. However, large-scale water and nutrient flux studies rely on surface water or groundwater-focused models. This study aims to model the effect of urbanization, which is usually accompanied by high groundwater abstraction and surface water pollution, particularly in the developing world, on a regional-scale SGI and nitrate loading. In the study area, the urban expansion increased by over 3% in the last decade. The integrated SWAT-MODFLOW model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Modular Finite-Difference Groundwater Flow (MODFLOW) coupling code, was used to assess SGI. By coupling SWAT-MODFLOW with Reactive Transport in 3-Dimensions, the nutrient loading to the river from point and non-point sources was also modeled. Basin average annual results show that groundwater discharge declined with increasing groundwater abstraction and increased with Land use/Land cover (LULC) changes. Groundwater recharge decreased significantly in the Belge season (February to May), and the river seepage and groundwater discharge decreased correspondingly. High spatiotemporal changes in SGI and nitrate loading were found under the combined LULC and groundwater abstraction scenarios. The water yield decreased by 15%. In a large part of the region, the nitrate loading increased by 17–250%. Seasonally controlled groundwater abstraction and water quality monitoring are essential in this region.