APRONA : an observatory of the Alsace Groundwater (France)

by | Oct 21, 2022

APRONA

An observatory of the Alsace Groundwater (France)

APRONA

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People in charge of the innovative practice :

Philippe SCHOTT – contact@aprona.net

Aprona is an observatory of the Alsace groundwater in France. This partnership project brings together all the water stakeholders and has a dual objective of sharing knowledge and assisting decision-making. The approach is also open to the German and Swiss transboundary territories of the Rhine plain, according to the data and information available on certain bordering sectors. APRONA is in charge of the animation, coordination, and development.
Surface water and groundwater are monitored by several organizations on the territory. The waters of these 2 systems are almost in permanent interaction. Through a mutualisation of existing tools, a GIS portal offers an access to water data in Alsace and allows to display indicators and dashboards providing a synthetic vision of the desired information.
The observatory contributes to: (i) cross-referencing, facilitating the exchange of data from the various stakeholders and valorizing them in different forms; (ii) improving knowledge of groundwater and surface water and their interactions to promote a better understanding of the water cycle and aquatic environments; (iii) disseminating information on the situation and issues related to water in Alsace for water professionals, the general public and decision-makers; (iv) providing unbiased content on the quantity and quality of water in Alsace
The users of the platform are mainly engineering companies, local authorities who can benefit from a dedicated access, the general public, the farmers, and finally the private companies such as the gravel pit managers.

Responsible entity

The association for the protection of the groundwater of the Alsace plain (APRONA) is in charge of managing the regional observation networks related to the quantity and quality of groundwater in Alsace and of making information available to the various water stakeholders. APRONA gathers representatives of the Rhine-Meuse Basin Committee, local authorities as well as users, private companies, farmers or nature protection associations. Competent personalities are also associated, in particular a representative of the Ministry of the Environment of Baden-Württemberg (Germany).

Institutional setting

APRONA was created on March 28, 1995 and its founding members are: the French State, the Regional Council of Alsace, the General Council of the Lower Rhine, the General Council of the Upper Rhine, the Rhine-Meuse Water Agency. APRONA is composed of: a board of directors, an office, active members, associate members and honorary members. Active members must be approved by the board of directors and have a deliberative vote at the General Assembly. Associate members participate in the work of the association, but do not have the right to vote. Finally, honorary members can be appointed by the general assembly on the proposal of the executive committee and the board of directors.

Geographical setting

The Rhine water table (water mass CG001 – Pliocene of Haguenau and Alsace water table) is one of the most important underground water reserves in Europe. It extends, in Alsace, on 3200 km² of which 400 for the pliocene of Haguenau. The quantity of water stored, for this part of Alsace alone, is estimated at 35 billion m3. The supply of the water table is ensured:

  • directly from precipitation on the plain (effective rainfall);
  • by infiltration of the Vosges rivers whose flow is also dependent on precipitation;
  • by infiltration of water from the Rhine, depending on the section and the development;
  • by lateral contributions at the edge of the Vosges or the Black Forest, by the water tables of the Doller, Thur, Lauch and Fecht rivers in particular.

The water withdrawals from the aquifer are mainly due to:

  • exchanges with the rivers and the Rhine which can drain the water table;
  • withdrawals by pumping for domestic, industrial or agricultural uses.

The fluctuations of the water level are not without consequences on the natural environment and the human activities: drying up of the wetlands, water rising in the individual houses or the public buildings, incidences on the importance and the propagation of the pollution (appearance of the new vectors of water pollution from the ground or the surface water poorly protected by permeable soils and located at a low depth), the water table is subject to degradation due to multiple pollution, diffuse and/or punctual, of industrial, agricultural, domestic origin or pollution of surface water which infiltrates into the water table.
The Sundgau is the part of the Haut-Rhin department located south of Mulhouse. From a geographical point of view, it is a landscape of gentle hills continuing towards the west with the hills of Belfortain. The region is bordered to the north by the Doller valley and the Alsace plain, and to the east by the Rhine plain, known as the “Sierentz ditch” between Basel and Mulhouse. In the south it stops on the Swiss Jura chains, of which the Ferrette limestone massif represents the first buttress.

nappes du fossé Rhénan
nappes du fossé Rhénan

Detailed explanation

Measuring network
APRONA manages a piezometric network of 170 points on the Alsace water table, which can be used to: (i) carry out a global statistical analysis and characterize the functioning of the water table, (ii) carry out hydrodynamic and transfer modelling at the scale of the water table or more locally, (iii) establish reference conditions and analyze the representativeness of the monitoring networks, (iv) defining and monitoring vulnerable sectors within the framework of drought decrees, (v) mapping areas at risk of flooding by rising water table or preferential infiltration, and (vi) evaluating water table-river exchanges and monitoring remarkable wetlands.

Live monitoring
Live monitoring of the water table is possible for 27 reference points of the network. For each station, graphs established with updated data (refreshed every 12 hours) present the evolution of the water table over the last 15 days and over the 12 months and the measurements are automatically put online on the APRONA website. The monthly situations are represented with the help of the standardized piezometric indicator (SPI) which allows to qualify the water table levels in relation to the whole chronicle and the evolution of the levels in relation to the previous months.

State of the the art
The state of the art is frequently published to act in favor of the recovery of the quality of groundwater. These assessments are carried out every 6 years. Through a follow-up of historical pollution and the search for emerging molecules, these assessments help to anticipate, redirect and/or size the actions to be implemented to recover and preserve the quality of the water resource. This work also contributes to the transboundary declination of periodic inventories of the most important aquifer in Europe by associating the German and Swiss partners on their territories concerned.

nappes du fossé Rhénan

Historical overview

1995: Creation of APRONA (Association for the protection of the groundwater of the Alsace plain) on the initiative of the Alsace Region, the Rhine-Meuse Water Agency, the General Councils and the Alsace Regional Prefecture.

1997: First inventory on a transboundary scale of the quality of the groundwater of the Rhine water table (Project manager: Alsace Region).

1999: Organization of the first APRONA day on nitrate pollution in the Vosges foothills.

2002-2006: Modelling of groundwater pollution by nitrates in the Upper Rhine Valley, setting up of monitoring indicators for actions to protect the Rhine water table in the Upper Rhine Graben, carrying out the 2nd Transboundary Inventory of groundwater quality in the Rhine water table.

2009: Completion of the 3rd Transboundary Groundwater Quality Inventory of the Rhine Groundwater.

2012: Signature of the framework agreement for cross-border cooperation. Setting up of the LOGAR network (Operational Link for the Management of the Rhine Aquifer). Start of the construction of a water observatory.

2015: Launch of the Alsace water observatory.

Evidence of benefits from implementation

Monitoring has shown, for example, that between 2003 and 2010, little change has been observed in the quality of groundwater, with potability limits often exceeded at certain measurement points.

Replication potential in SUDOE region

The Alsace water table is a special case because in France, it is the BRGM that manages the piezometers. Alsace is a particular case which is linked to the historical context.
7 people are dedicated to the daily management of this practice (which can sometimes rise to 13 depending on the nature of the projects underway).
The observatory benefits from subsidies from the Water Agency and the Grand-East Region up to 90%, within the framework of multi-year contracts on the basis of actions proposed by APRONA. The rest is financed by studies and calls for tender.

Future outlook

In the short term, the perspectives set are:
The reform of APRONA’s statutes;

  • Technical support for the implementation of territorial solution contracts in priority catchment areas with the objective of supporting local authorities and evaluating trends in concentrations in order to establish a link with the actions undertaken.
  • The construction of the new ERMES Alsace/Rhine 2022 project with the objective of assessing the sensitivity of the Rhine water table to the transfer of these micropollutants via watercourses, taking into account the impacts of wastewater treatment plant discharges.

The orientations taken in the long term aim in particular to be coherent with the environmental challenges identified in recent years and more particularly the adaptations to be undertaken in the face of climate change. This will further consolidate APRONA’s status as a reference for stakeholders in the water sector.

It is therefore planned to:

  • To perpetuate the provision of decision-making tools and forecasts for public decision-makers, both on the quantity and quality of water resources;
  • To extend the expertise in groundwater quality monitoring, knowledge of groundwater recharge conditions and interactions with surface waters;
  • To deliver an adapted and independent communication to the public and to reinforce the awareness of the actors for a better shared management of the resource and the recovery of its quality.

Key points of the innovative method

Monitoring and visualization of a piezometric network in real time
> Modeling the functioning of the water table
> Inventory and mapping of pollution
> Governance organized in Observatory

Acknowledgements

The innovative practice was suggested by Yvan KEDAJ (Aqua-Valley), and Philippe SCHOTT (APRONA) participated in the interview.

References

APRONA (2003). Inventaire de la qualité des eaux souterraines dans la vallée du Rhin supérieur 2002/2003. Rapport final. https://www.aprona.net/uploads/pdf/qualite/Inventaire%202003/Rapport_Bericht_Inventaire_2003.pdf
APRONA (2009). Inventaire 2009 de la qualité des eaux souterraines dans le fossé rhénan supérieur. https://www.aprona.net/uploads/pdf/qualite/Inventaire%202009/inv-2009-complet-light.pdf
APRONA (2010). Inventaire 2010 de la qualité des eaux des aquifères du Sundgau. Comparaison avec les résultats des mesures 2003. https://www.aprona.net/uploads/pdf/qualite/Sundgau/region_alsace_rapport_sundgau_2010.pdf

INTERNET REFERENCES:

APRONA : https://www.aprona.net/

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GICRESAIT

by | Aug 25, 2022

GICRESAIT

Integrated and concerted management of water resources of the aquifer systems of Iullemeden, Taoudéni/Tanezrouft and the Niger River

GICRESAIT

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People in charge of the innovative practice :

Not known

GICRESAIT is a replication of the Geo-Aquifer project which focuses on the integrated and concerted management of water resources of the Iullemeden, Taoudéni/Tanezrouft and Niger River aquifer systems. The project, led by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and conducted between 2010 and 2016, focused on the entire basin of the Iullemeden-Taoudéni-Tanezrouft Aquifer System (SAIT) which forms a single transboundary aquifer system. The objective of the project was to significantly improve the concerted and sustainable management of the water resources of the SAIT as well as that of the Niger River in a context of climate change.

The GICRESAIT project was based on a participatory approach with all stakeholders and has three components:

  1. Improving the knowledge of the SAIT;
  2. Assessment of the vulnerability of SAIT and the establishment of a consultation framework;
  3. Capacity building, awareness and communication.

The main steps in this project were:

  • The collection of data related to hydrogeology, the water cycle and reservoirs from technical services in charge of water resources management in the seven riparian countries, international and sub-regional research organizations as well as from internationally recognized experts;
  • The setting up of a Geographic Information System (GIS) and of a structured and homogeneous database for the whole basin;
  • The use of Earth observation data and Digital Terrain Models (DTM) to help model recharge and crop water withdrawals;
  • Spatial modeling of the aquifer system.

Responsible entity

The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) is an international organization that operates in the arid, semi-arid, sub-humid and dry areas of the Sahara-Sahel region. Created in 1992, the OSS has been based in Tunis (Tunisia) since 2000. OSS has 26 African countries, 7 non-African countries, and 13 organizations among its members. OSS initiates and facilitates partnerships around common challenges related to shared water resources management, implementation of international agreements on desertification, biodiversity and climate change in the Sahara and Sahel region.
The main actions carried out by the OSS are

  • The implementation of multilateral agreements on desertification, biodiversity and climate change;
  • The promotion of regional and international initiatives related to environmental challenges in Africa;
  • The definition of concepts and harmonization of approaches and methodologies related to sustainable land and water resources management and climate change.

OSS necessarily relies on knowledge transfer, capacity building and awareness raising of all stakeholders.
OSS activities and projects are financed respectively by voluntary contributions from member countries, and by grants and donations from development partners. With effective governance mechanisms and a competent, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, OSS makes a high value-added contribution to the international and African institutional landscape.

Detailed explanation

The management practice implemented in the GICRESAIT project is based on different steps.

Hydrogeological investigations
Investigations were used to highlight the presence of areas that appear to have particular potential for groundwater exploitation: (i) either a connection with surface water, which ensures a regular supply that sustains the water resource, even during episodes of rainfall deficit due to climate variations. These are:

  • The interior delta of the Niger River in Mali;
  • The downstream sector of the Dallols in Niger and Nigeria;
  • The Mouhoun basin upstream of the Gondo plain in Burkina Faso;
  • The Gao Gap in Mali and Niger.

Either (ii) the high strength of the aquifer formations and their permeability, which lead to the possibility of high unit flows in the catchment works. These are:

  • The Tahoua sector in Niger;
  • The southern sector of the Dhar de Néma in Mauritania;
  • The Nara ditch in Mali.

Data base
The objective here was to create a simple and user-friendly tool to allow the database managers (OSS and partner countries) to consult and valorize the data from the water points in a transboundary context. The database has made it possible to integrate information on approximately 123,000 water points (time series of levels for the available piezometers), rainfall data (monthly rainfall levels from 1960 to 2011 for 50 stations), hydrological data (quarterly average ratings and monthly average flows from 1960 to 2012 for 5 stations on the Niger River).
Among the water points integrated in the database, some points have no altitude information, and for others it is uncertain. Thus, a specific tool was developed based on the use of a DTM (Digital Topographic Model) to compensate for this deficiency. The altitudes of the water points allow to have a unique reference and can be used to elaborate geo-referenced piezometric sections and maps.

Use of geo-spatial data
An assessment of the available geo-spatial data for the area was conducted and the data was selected to provide a comprehensive and undisturbed representation of the SAIT area. The geo-spatial data selected were:

  • MODIS for land cover mapping at 1:2,000,000 scale;
  • GlobCover data (ESA GlobCover project) in support;
  • LANDSAT for land cover mapping at a scale of 1:200,000 on a South-North transect as a pilot area;
  • SRTM v4.1 data for the DTM in order to have a homogeneous and continuous topography on the intervention area.

Modeling of the SAIT system
The Aquifer Systems of Iullemeden, Taoudéni-Tanezrouft have therefore been modeled according to two distinct mathematical models. However, in order to guarantee geological continuity, the western part of the SAI model has been extended to the eastern part of the SAT, over a 125,000 km2 strip with identical hydrodynamic characteristics (Gao Graben).
The mathematical model was developed to establish the water balance of the entire SAIT: (i) to define the hydraulic relationships between groundwater and the Niger River flows, and (ii) to simulate the behavior of groundwater resources in the face of climatic variations, particularly in the event of a decrease in rainfall.

Vulnerability assessment
Two main axes were studied by the managers, namely: (i) the drop in aquifer levels caused by climatic stress and increasing exploitation of the resource, and (ii) chemical and bacteriological pollution of aquifers by human activities.
A risk information system, built from the SIRIS (Scores Interaction Risk Information System) method, integrated both the “physical” constraints of the aquifer systems and their environment (recharge, permeability, water depth, free/captive) as well as the anthropic pressures (populations, water demand, well density). The results of the studies have led to a mapping of vulnerable and at-risk areas, which are therefore priority sectors for management.

Monitoring and evaluation indicators
Monitoring and evaluation indicators have been proposed in order to: (i) better understand the social and development dynamics in the SAIT area, (ii) monitor the effects of these dynamics on the environment and on the aquifer systems, (iii) identify the actions to be taken in terms of development and preservation.

The indicators proposed for monitoring were:

  • Driving force indicators: population, agricultural areas, census of wells, boreholes and dams, industrial activities, livestock;
  • Pressure indicators: quantity of pesticide, volume of production of factories, etc. 

Institutional setting

The stakeholders of the GICRESAIT project are:

The OSS as project owner, and the technical services of the seven riparian countries:

  • The National Agency for Hydraulic Resources (ANRH, Algeria);
  • The General Directorate of Water (Benin);
  • The General Directorate of Water Resources (Burkina Faso);
  • The National Directorate of Hydraulics (Mali);
  • The National Centre for Water Resources (Niger);
  • The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Nigeria);

Project partners and financiers:

  • The Niger Basin Authority;
  • The AGRHYMET Regional Center;
  • The African Water Facility;
  • The French Global Environment Facility.

Geographical setting

The study area of the GICRESAIT project covers an area of 2.6 million km² shared by 7 countries:

  • Algeria (450,952 km²; 17%)
  • Benin (57,338 km²; 2%)
  • Burkina Faso (130,174 km²; 5%)
  • Mali (1 089 407 km²; 41%)
  • Mauritania (256,374 km²; 10%)
  • Niger (524,813 km²; 20%)
  • Nigeria (120 272 km²; 5%)

The system studied is the Iullemeden, Taoudéni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (SAIT) and the Niger River, which is a collection of several groundwater aquifers located in geological formations dating from the Primary to the Quaternary period. The groundwater resources considered are those of the intercalary continental aquifers dated from the Upper Cretaceous and the terminal continental aquifers dated from the Tertiary to the Quaternary. The main course of the Niger River crosses the aquifer system over nearly 2,480 km, 1,700 km of which are in Mali (forming a floodplain called the interior delta), 540 km in Niger, 140 km in Benin in the form of the border with Niger, and nearly 100 km in Nigeria (crossing the Sokoto basin). The SAIT system basin is characterized by several climates, from north to south: arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid. Annual rainfall fluctuates from over 1,000 mm in the south to less than 100 mm in the north of the basin.

Historical overview

The first studies of the Iullemeden Aquifer System (IAS; 2004-2009) led to the adoption of a memorandum of understanding creating a consultation mechanism for the management of the Iullemeden Aquifer System by the Ministers in charge of water in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.
In 2013, a diagnostic study on the general, legal, and institutional framework of the countries was conducted during the GICRESAIT project.
Its results were the subject of a meeting of the ministers in charge of water resources of the SAIT, held in Abuja in March 2014, which resulted in an agreement in principle on the protocol for the creation of a consultation mechanism, with a legal personality, for the integrated and concerted management of water resources of the SAIT.

Evidence of benefits from implementation

The project has identified the presence of sectors that have a particular potential for groundwater exploitation due to either:

  • A connection with surface water, which ensures a regular supply that supports the water resource, even during episodes of rainfall deficit;
  • Important and very permeable aquifer formations.

Figure 2 : Map of areas identified as having high groundwater potential.

Replication potential in SUDOE region

The practice has the potential to be reproduced if that sufficient data (piezometric, rainfall) are available to feed the mathematical model.

It should be noted that this type of project applies preferentially to transboundary aquifers and their governance and resource sharing issues. This type of project presents an interesting potential for replication in the context of a downscaling for transregional management issues.

This type of project also requires significant financial support since the project has received financial support from the African Water Facility (AWF) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) for 1.7 M€.

Future outlook

The work carried out within the framework of the GICRESAIT project is a first step on the scale of the transboundary basin and complementary work is necessary to deepen the knowledge of the sectors with strong potential identified.

The indicators developed within the framework of the project are intended to be expanded as national IWRM progresses in the SAIT areas and integrated into a monitoring framework for this integrated management strategy.

As a result of the project findings, OSS has proposed the development of a regional master plan containing planned actions for the resources of the Niger River, included in the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP).

The planned actions are:

  • To establish a regional diagnosis on the current and future water needs of the countries by 2030 and 2040 in terms of drinking, agricultural and industrial water supply, in relation to adaptation to climate change;
  • Identify the potential for agricultural, mining and industrial development by country;
  • Plan water allocation from high potential areas by 2030 and 2040 and related investments;
  • Strengthen the role and action of a consultation mechanism.

These actions are aimed at:

  • The progressive satisfaction of the water needs of the populations;
  • The development of the basin’s arable land, estimated at over 137 million hectares;
  • The improvement of the quantitative and qualitative food security of the countries;
  • The establishment of a transboundary regional infrastructure promoting economic development;
  • The creation of jobs and increased income for farmers.

However, capacity building of staff and technical services is needed to contribute to the development of a regional master plan for the allocation of shared water resources.

Key points of the innovative method

> Integrated management of a transboundary aquifer
> Identification of areas with high groundwater exploitation potential
> Concerted management mechanism

Acknowledgements

The innovative practice was suggested by Yvan KEDAJ (Aqua-Valley) and Abdel Kader DODO, Lamine BABA SY, and Nabil BEN KHATRA (OSS) participated in the interview.

References

OSS (2014). Gestion intégrée et concertée des ressources en eau du système aquifère Iullemeden – Taoudéni – Tanezrouft. Plaidoyer GICRESAIT : http://www.oss-online.org/sites/default/files/OSS-GICRESAIT-plaidoyer.pdf – consulté en ligne le 14 janvier 2022.

OSS (2017). Note aux décideurs. La mobilisation des eaux souterraines du Système Aquifère d’Iullemeden-Taoudéni/Tanezrouft, un élément de solution ? : http://www.oss-online.org/sites/default/files/OSS-GICRSAIT-Note-Decideurs_Fr.pdf – consulté en ligne le 14 janvier 2022.

OSS (2017). Gestion Intégrée et Concertée des ressources en eau du système aquifère d’Iullemeden Taoudéni-Tanezrouft et du fleuve Niger. Synthèse finale : http://www.oss-online.org/sites/default/files/OSS-GICRESAIT-SynthFinale_Fr.pdf – consulté en ligne le 14 janvier 2022.

OSS (2017). Atlas des ressources en eau du système Aquifère transfrontalier d’Iullemeden, Taoudéni-Tanezrouft : http://www.oss-online.org/sites/default/files/OSS-GICRESAIT-Atlas.pdf – consulté en ligne le 14 janvier 2022.

INTERNET REFERENCES:

Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel : http://www.oss-online.org/
GICRESAIT-fiche projet : http://www.oss-online.org/gicresait/ – consulté en ligne le 14 janvier 2022.

aquifer
news

Discover more on the Aquifer project news and on aquifer management

aquifer news

Description and objectives of the project

The scientific community recommends a substantial improvement in the knowledge of aquifers, the establishment of reliable monitoring networks and a greater involvement of the administration and users to achieve a sustainable management of aquifers. The main objective...

read more

Information on the project

The Llobregat Delta Water Users' Community has designed recharge basins in Molins de Rei to recharge the Baix Llobregat aquifer. View of one of the reloading basins during the test phase The Llobregat Delta Water Users' Community is one of the nine partners in the...

read more

Success stories in groundwater management

Compilation of groundwater management success stories completed. Throughout April, the 30 cases of innovative practices in groundwater management have already been selected by the clusters participating in the project: PPA, CWP and AV. The task started with the...

read more
See all news

PROPOSE AN
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE

You are in charge of an innovative practice regarding aquifer management and you want to referenced it on the Aquifer platform ?

Fulfill the form and propose it to the Aquifer partners.

let's go

THE EBOOK

Aquifer offers a range of innovative water management practices. You can download all our fact sheets here.

e-book of innovative practices

DOCUMENTATION

To go further on information related to the management of aquifers

To go further