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The Problem of Integrating Ground‐Water and Surface Water Use a
Author(s) -
Bittinger M. W.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1964.tb01770.x
Subject(s) - groundwater , surface water , aquifer , streams , environmental science , water resources , water resource management , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , computer science , engineering , geotechnical engineering , computer network , ecology , biology
The problem of integrating or coordinating surface water and ground‐water use is becoming serious in many areas where the two supplies are hydraulically connected. Because surface waters were generally developed first in the West, later development of connected ground‐water supplies has tended to devaluate the prior appropriations on the streams. Legally, those withdrawing such ground water may be in jeopardy. However, the highest beneficial use of the total water resources can only be obtained through a combined or integrated use of both surface and ground water. A simple hypothetical stream‐aquifer situation is used to illustrate the influence of ground‐water pumping upon surface flows and water available for diversion. One example of a possible solution is presented. Legal and economic factors must also be considered in designing the best physical situation.