Groundwater Salinization in Hard-Rock Aquifers: Impact of Pumping and Vertical Transfers

Evolution of groundwater quality and salinization induced by exploitation of crystalline aquifers under two different climatic and socio-economic conditions, in France and India, is investigated. Irrigation return flow and high evaporation rates, or mixing with a saline fossil fluid mobilized by pumping, are shown to result in an increase in groundwater salinization.