The UJI describes a complex process of seawater intrusion within the aquifer of La Plana de Castelló



[Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&urlRedirect=http://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
[Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&urlRedirect=http://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
[English](#0)

Mobile menu

* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&urlRedirect=http://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
  [Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/&urlRedirect=http://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2016/9/aquifers/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
  [English](#0)

[# Universitat Jaume I](/)

* [# Universitat Jaume I](/)
* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Bachelor’s degrees](/estudis/)
  + [University master’s degrees](/estudis/?p_estudio=m)
  + [Doctoral studies](/estudis/oferta/doctorat/)
  + [Lifelong learning](/estudis/base/formacio-permanent/)
* [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research portal](/investigacio/)
  + [Innovation](/innovacio/)
  + [Doctoral studies](/centres/escola-doctorat/)
  + [HRS4R](/investigacio/hrs4r/)
* [International](/internacional/)
  + [International](/internacional/)
  + [International Students](/internacional/base/estudiantat/estudiantado-internacional/)
  + [Exchange Programmes](/serveis/ori/base/programes-intercanvi/)
  + [Study Abroad](/internacional/base/study-abroad/)
* [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [Get to know the UJI](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/)
  + [Structure and organisation](/institucional/estructura/)
  + [Strategy and quality](/institucional/estrategia/)
  + [Transparency](/transparencia/)
  + [Public integrity](/transparencia/liniaetica/)
  + [News](/actualitat/)
  + [Contact the UJI](/institucional/contacta/)
* [University life](/mapa/vida-universitaria/)
  + [University life](/mapa/serveis/)
  + [Library](/serveis/cd/)
  + [Campus](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/campus/)
  + [Culture](/cultura/)
  + [Sports](/esports/)
  + [InfoCampus](/serveis/infocampus/)

[UJI](/)
[News](/com/sumari/noticies/)

## The UJI describes a complex process of seawater intrusion within the aquifer of La Plana de Castelló Researchers from the University Institute of Pesticides and Water are studying how to recover salinized wells by artificial recharge and to improve the quality and quantity of groundwater flows for agricultural use

14/09/2016 |
SCP

Compartir

Compartir

×

Linkedin

BlueSky

Facebook

Mastodon

Whatsapp

Gmail

Imprimir

![Aerial view of the campus](//static.uji.es/templates/uji2016_plantillas/static/images/campusaerea.jpg)

[Accept third-party cookies](#)

[Watch the video on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/embed/5qjKPSx9BvE)

A team of researchers from the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) has described the formation, evolution and geometry of an upward migration of salt water of marine origin

A team of researchers from the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) has described the formation, evolution and geometry of an upward migration of salt water of marine origin –scientifically known as *upconing–* which is considered the largest ever detected in a Mediterranean coastal aquifer. The results of this study, conducted jointly with the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute, have been published in the journal *Environmental Earth Sciences*.

This upconing extends over an area of ​​eight square kilometres on the southern sector of one of the most overexploited aquifers of the Valencian coast (La Plana de Castelló) and is located between the towns of La Vall d'Uixò, Nules and Moncofa. "This rise of a mass of salt water occupies about eight square kilometres, which according to the literature to date, are the wider dimensions described throughout the Mediterranean basin, greatly affected by seawater intrusion following aquifer overexploitation”, states Ignacio Morell, professor of Hydrogeology and director of the University Institute of Pesticides and Water (IUPA).

This work is part of a broader research carried out during three years in order to study how to recover salinized coastal water resources, and has received funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. "We selected this aquifer in Castelló because it was a sector severely affected by saltwater intrusion, and it provides adequate infrastructure for artificial recharge. In order to supervise its operation, the aquifer has been monitored and controlled for two years, and after that an artificial recharge in depth has been carried out with very gratifying results, because the sector studied has recovered temporarily”, states Arianna Renau-Pruñonosa, researcher from the IUPA’s Research Group on Water Resources.

The technique analysed for restoring aquifers was artificial recharge, which consisted on injecting quality water during six months (coming from the surplus from Belcaire river stored in Acuamed’s pond) through deep-injection wells and the results were monitored in control wells. "For two years, we have made a thorough monitoring of how the groundwater in the aquifer behaves from the points of view of hydrodynamics (movement) hydrogeochemistry (quality) and quantity”, argues Morell, who also recalls that intensive agriculture is practiced in this area, mainly furnished by increasingly salinized groundwater.

**FEASIBLE LONG-TERM RECOVERY**

One of the main conclusions of this research is that Mediterranean aquifers can be recovered, in Morell’s words, "through more continuous and more intense long-term recharges, with a twenty-year horizon. The mechanism would consist on increasing fresh water contribution; at the same time, this volume would push salt water back into the sea forcing it to relapse”.

The professor of External Geodynamics a the UJI Ignacio Morell directs the University Institute of Pesticides and Water (IUPA), as well as one of its research groups, the Research Group on Water Resources. He also co-directs the Associate Research Unit for Coastal Aquifers (UNIAC) in collaboration with the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME). The main lines of research of the groups led by Morell are the management of water resources and pollution of groundwater. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers and seven books related to these issues.

García-Menéndez, O.; Morell, I.; Ballesteros, B.J.; Renau-Pruñonosa, A.; Renau-Llorens, A.; Esteller, M.V. (2016). «Spatial characterization of the seawater upconing process in a coastal Mediterranean aquifer (Plana de Castellón, Spain): evolution and controls». *Environmental Earth Sciences* 75:728. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-016-5531-7

More information: Video CiènciaUJITV

http://blogs.uji.es/cienciatv/?p=5531

Information provided by:
[Communication and Publications Service](/serveis/scp/)

About us

[Home](/com/investigacio/cienciauji/)
[UCC+I](/serveis/scp/ucc/)

Research dissemination

[Ciència TV blog](/com/investigacio/arxiu/ciencia-uji-tv/)
[Ciència UJI newsletter](/com/investigacio/arxiu/ciencia-uji/)
[Horizon Europe newsletter](/com/investigacio/docs/butlleti-horizon-europe/)
[Comboi, a trip through science](/com/investigacio/docs/podcast-comboi-viatge-per-la-ciencia/)
[Scientific news](/com/investigacio/sumari/noticies/ )
[Easy reading news](/com/investigacio/docs/noticies-de-lectura-facil)
[News magazine. Research](/com/revista/tematica/investiga/)
[Radio](http://www.radio.uji.es/programa.php?id=46 )

Scientific divulgation

[Experimenta UJI](/com/investigacio/docs/experimenta-uji/)
[Innobar, con b de bar (Espaitec)](https://espaitec.uji.es/podcast-innobar-con-b-de-bar/)
[Magazine «Humanes i Socials»](https://humanesisocials.uji.es)
[H2020 Projects](/com/investigacio/docs/butlleti-h2020/)
[Projects and papers COVID-19](/com/investigacio/docs/estudis-articles-covid-19/)
[Research pitches](/com/investigacio/research-pitches/)
[The Conversation](/com/investigacio/docs/the-conversation/)
[UJI Divulga (Onda Cero)](/com/investigacio/docs/uji-divulga-onda-cero/)
[Scientific vocabulary](/com/investigacio/docs/vocabulari-cientific/)

Projects and studies

[Projects and studies](/serveis/scp/ucc/projectes/)

Resources of interest

[Divulgateca](http://www.divulgateca.es)

External networks

[CRUE](https://www.crue.org/)
[FECYT](https://www.fecyt.es/es/info/que-son)
[RUVID](https://ruvid.org/)



Useful links

[University card](http://www.carnet.uji.es/)

[Multimedia catalogue](http://jecom.uji.es/)

[University press](/serveis/scp/publ/)

[Web map](//www.uji.es/mapa/)

[Educational model](//www.uji.es/institucional/estrategia/modeleducatiu/)

[Language Observatory](/serveis/ol/)

[Open Knowledge Portal](/serveis/cd/bib/pco/)

[UJI shop](http://www.tenda.uji.es/)

[Security and privacy center](https://www.uji.es/organs/ouag/sg/docs/politiques/gen/)
|
[Website legal notice](https://www.uji.es/comu/avislegal/avislegalicondicions/)
|
[Accessibility policy](https://www.uji.es/serveis/ura/base/accessibilitat/)

Information and queries:
[UJI suggestion box](/comu/forms/bustia)

Universitat Jaume I CIF: Q-6250003-H Av. Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n 12071
Castellón de la Plana,
España

Tel.: +34 964 72 80 00