Influence Groundwater Production and Exploitation on Ecosystem Changing in Azerbaijan

Abstract

The Azerbaijan Republic is located in the arid climatic zone and due to this feels deficit of general water balance. The production and utilization of the groundwater caused negative consequences that affected on natural conditions of different regions. For example, in Qanikh-Ayrichay fields we can notice abnormally high hydraulic interrelation between ground and surface waters, and underground component of the river drain in the natural conditions forms approximately 55-65%. When infringing given conditions by production the groundwater the decrease of their average level forms approximately 50-60 meters. The appeared depression funnels cause tightening of the additional volume of river run-off to the groundwater intake wells, that is damage river run-off. Given volume of the river run-off must not be calculated twice when assessing the common water balance of the region. And another fact, the decrease of the groundwater level in a part of Gusar region has created some ecological problems. In the region of development of the relict forests the dynamic levels of the groundwater decreased on 25-30 meters. This affected root-inhabitable stratum and as a result led to abrupt aggravation of the ecological situation of the regions. It was required to optimize the production of the groundwater. Opposite situation is observed in the Absheron Peninsula where there are almost no fresh water resources. The water demands are met by surface water resources of Samur river and groundwater transfer from Guba-Gusar region of the Republic (more than 200 km from the demand areas). These sources are augmented with water from Kura river in the Ali-Bayramli region (more than 180 km from the demand area), at rates of up to 30 m'/sec. Due to the specific hydrogeological conditions, absence of sewerage system and etc., it leads to land subsidence, landslide processes, flooding, and other environmental and social phenomena and abrupt aggravation of the geoecological situation of the peninsula, in the whole. As it has already been mentioned a big part of groundwater in Azerbaijan is utilized for irrigation of agricultural crop. Mostly we notice fresh (up to1.0 g/l) or weakly saltish (up to 3.0 g/l) hydrocarbonate-sulphate and sulphate - hydrocarbonate waters with different cationic composition. The combination of cations form irrigation factors of the groundwater and as a result forms opportunity to utilize it for irrigation of concrete soils. Incorrect calculation of given qualitative parameters in the "water-rock" system has led to salinization of the soils of irrigated areas of Mil and Mugan-Salyan plains and accordingly led them to exit from the crop rotation. At present time, melioration of these areas is realizing. Thus, we can certify that production and utilization of the groundwater is essential anthropogenic factor, which influence on geoeco-logical situation of the republic. This factor must be taken into account when forecasting water-related activities in the whole and concerning exploitation of the groundwater, in particular. Keywords: water-bearing horizons, aquifer, water-saturated series, water-economy balance, gravel-pebble sedimentation, depression funnel, Mil and Mugan-Salyan plains, exploitative reserves.