Assessing the surface water - groundwater interaction and its influence on the water quality from headwaters to lowlands

Abstract

The connections between surface water and groundwater systems remain poorly understood in many catchments throughout the world and yet they are fundamental in effectively managing water resources. Managing water resources in an integrated manner is not straightforward, particularly if both resources are being utilized. Groundwater-surface water interactions are difficult to observe, measure, and have commonly been ignored in water management considerations and policies. Thus, it is important to understand the interaction between the two water bodies as it can have significant impacts on both water quantity and quality. The current study assessed groundwater – surface water interaction in order to understand how the interaction influences the available water resource in the Nuwejaars Catchment