Land subsidence in Rafsanjan Plain, Iran as a result of excessive groundwater extraction and future adaptations to sustainable water management techniques

In the Rafsanjan plain, Iran, the excessive use of groundwater for pistachio irrigation has resulted in a severe water level decline, a major reason for land subsidence. An abrupt decrease in groundwater level results in soil compaction and gradual land sinking, leading to land subsidence, an alarming environmental problem for infrastructure, agriculture, roads, houses, and water supply systems. But which factors are explicitly affecting the substantial depletion of groundwater? And how can sustainable groundwater management and managed aquifers address this issue? Firstly, this study will broadly discuss these topics in the context of the Rafsanjan plain. Secondly, various causes of the Rafsanjan plain’s land subsidence will be presented, including overuse of groundwater, a semi-arid climate with little precipitation, uncontrolled abstraction, and a slower rate of aquifer recharge. Lastly, feasible solutions (i.e., modern irrigation techniques) that may decrease land subsidence in the study area up to 50% by 2050 will be discussed. In this study, a broad collection of academic peer-reviewed articles was studied to present credible data to qualify each problem and discuss solutions.