Comparative Influences of Precipitation and River Stage on Groundwater Levels in Near-River Areas

TLDR

Groundwater level variations alter soil stress, thereby affecting the performance of foundations and infrastructure. The study investigates how precipitation and river stage influence groundwater levels and proposes a moving‑average model for low‑paved, low‑permeability regions. Using a six‑year hydrological database, the authors compared daily precipitation, river stage, and groundwater data across five regions, accounting for seasonal, geographic, and surface‑condition differences, and developed a moving‑average prediction model. Results show that in urban areas near large rivers, river stage dominates groundwater level changes, while in rural low‑paved, low‑permeability areas, a moving‑average of precipitation better predicts groundwater levels.

Abstract

The sustainable performance of foundations of various urban buildings and infrastructures is strongly affected by groundwater level (GWL), as GWL causes changes in the stress state within soil. In the present study, the components affecting GWL were investigated, focusing on the effects of precipitation and river stage. These components were analyzed using a six-year database established for hydrological and groundwater monitoring data. Five study regions for which daily measured precipitation, river stage, and GWL data were available were compared. Different periods of precipitation, geographical characteristics, and local surface conditions were considered in the analysis. The results indicated that key influence components on GWL are different depending on the hydrological, geological, and geographical characteristics of the target regions. River stage had the strongest influence on GWL in urban areas near large rivers with a high ratio of paved surface. In rural areas, where the paved surface area ratio and soil permeability were low, the moving average showed a closer correlation to GWL than river stage. A moving average-based method to predict GWL variation with time was proposed for regions with a low ratio of paved surface area and low permeability soils.