Effect of Groundwater Extraction and Artificial Recharge on the Geophysical Footprints of Fresh Submarine Groundwater Discharge in the Western Belgian Coastal Area

Human activities, such as managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and groundwater pumping, are influencing the natural flow in coastal areas. This might induce saltwater intrusion impact fresh submarine discharge (FSGD). The use of resistivity methods (electrical tomography continuous profiling) studies is very effective to investigate salt–freshwater distribution, but it can be difficult interpret quantitatively. In this study, Western Belgian coast investigated with methods, image appraisal tools systematically used quantitatively inversion models. Synthetic models, which reflect existing situation at coast, first created assessed by means model resolution matrix, cumulative sensitivity depth investigation index. They reveal that no quantitative interpretation possible FSGD, although lateral qualitative changes deduced from field data show freshwater outflow lower beach below low water line, they indicate MAR has a positive on while extraction reduces North Sea. A comparison models indicates their inability reproduce actual FSGD footprints.