Predicting the effect of dam construction on the quantity and quality of the aquifer downstream of the dam (case study: Ardak Dam in Mashhad Plain catchment, Iran)

Sanagar  Darbani, Farshad; Moghaddam, Alireza; Omranina Khorasani, Hamid; Hosseini, Amirhossein; Seyed Alhoseyni, Seyed Javad

doi:10.22077/jaaq.2025.7821.1073

Predicting the effect of dam construction on the quantity and quality of the aquifer downstream of the dam (case study: Ardak Dam in Mashhad Plain catchment, Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Farshad Sanagar Darbani ¹

Alireza Moghaddam ²

Hamid Omranina Khorasani ³

Amirhossein Hosseini ⁴

Seyed Javad Seyed Alhoseyni ⁵

¹ MSc graduated in Civil Engineering, Khayyam University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

² Assistant professor, Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Gonabad, Gonabad, Iran.

³ MSc graduated in Water Resource Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ MSc graduated in Civil Engineering and Water Resources Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

⁵ M.Sc. Graduated of Water Irrigation and Drainage, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22077/jaaq.2025.7821.1073

Abstract

Water resources that humans can use have faced limitations due to asymmetric distribution and uncertainties caused by climate change. To deal with these challenges, humans have resorted to various measures. One of these measures is to reduce uncertainty in water access by constructing reservoir dams and creating water storage sites. Although the dam's construction is considered one of the most important human achievements and has brought many benefits, it has also had negative effects on the hydrology of the regions. One of these negative effects is the reduction of aquifer nutrition. In this research, the effect of the Ardak dam on the Mashhad plain aquifer condition has been investigated. The Mashhad plain aquifer is the main source of drinking, agricultural and industrial water supply for the metropolis of Mashhad, as well as the cities of Chenaran, Golbahar and Qochan. There are limited studies on the impact of dams on aquifers; However, in this research, an effort has been made to carefully examine the effect of the Ardak dam construction on the quantity and quality of the Mashhad plain aquifer. For this purpose, the amount of water entering the Ardak River before the construction of the dam was investigated and analyzed. Then, the amount of aquifer drop was analyzed using VENSIM software. The results showed that by increasing the influence radius of the Ardak dam to the place of Shir Hesar piezometer, it is possible to observe the amount of drop caused by the construction of the dam.

Keywords

Mashhad plain aquifer

Ardak dam

VENSIM software

Subjects

ًQanat and aquifer

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