River Sand Mining and Groundwater Systems: Mechanisms, Impacts, and Pathways to Sustainable Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/ijsc.v53.i3.205Keywords:
Groundwater recharge, Groundwater quality degradation, Hydrogeological impacts, River sand mining, Sustainable groundwater managementAbstract
Sand mining is a common practice that provides vital resources for economic development and infrastructure development, but it also has adverse effects on the environment and social activities worldwide. However, its unregulated practices pose significant threats to the groundwater system. This review examines the impact of river sand mining on groundwater recharge, quality, and availability. Excessive sand mining alters riverbed morphology, reducing infiltration capacity and lowering the water table in adjacent aquifers. The sand acts as a natural filter; removing it can degrade groundwater quality by causing turbid water and contamination from surface pollutants. The over-extraction of sand disrupts hydraulic connectivity between rivers and aquifers, exacerbating groundwater depletion and threatening water scarcity for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use. This review paper consolidates the findings of the impact of sand mining on groundwater recharge, storage capacity, and sustainable water management practices. Strategies to mitigate adverse effects, including implementing a regulatory framework, adopting sustainable mining practices, and using alternative materials such as M-sand, quarry stone dust, and crushed rock, were suggested. This review highlights the need to balance developmental demands with the preservation of groundwater resources to ensure longterm environmental sustainability.
References
Akankali, J. A., Idongesit, A. S., & Akpan, P. E. (2017). Effects of sand mining activities on water quality of Okoro Nsit stream, Nsit Atai local government area, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 6(7), 451-462.
Akanwa, A. O. (2021). River Sand Mining and Its Ecological Footprint at Odor River, Nigeria. Agroecological Footprints Management for Sustainable Food System, 473-514. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9496-0_16
Aliyu, H. I., Garba, T., Gital, I. V. I., & Mado, H. K. (2021). Impact of Sand Mining on River Channels Physical Changes of River Morphological Characteristics: Impact of Sand Mining on River Channels Physical Changes of River Morphological Characteristics. Gombe Journal of Geography and Environmental Studies, 2(2).
Ashraf, M. A., Maah, M. J., Yusoff, I., Wajid, A., & Mahmood, K. (2011). Sand mining effects, causes and concerns: A case study from subsidence. Catena, 214, 106303.
Bestari Jaya, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Scientific Research and Essays, 6(6), 1216-1231.
Bai,Gilsha,EB., Rema, K.P., Sajeena, S., Sasikala, D., 2022. Simulation of groundwater flow using visual MODFLOW: A case study for the command area of Chalakudy river diversion scheme. Indian J. Soil Cons 50(1) 29-37 DOI : 10.59797/ijsc. v 50.i1.156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59797/ijsc.v50.i1.156
Barman, B., Kumar, B., & Sarma, A. K. (2019). Dynamic characterization of the migration of a mining pit in an alluvial channel. International Journal of Sediment Research, 34(2), 155–165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2018.10.009
Gavriletea, M. D. (2017). Environmental impacts of sand exploitation. Analysis of sand market. Sustainability, 9(7), 1118.
Barman, B., Kumar, B., & Sarma, A. K. (2019). Impact of sand mining on alluvial channel flow characteristics. Ecological Engineering, 135, 36-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.05.013
Bhattacharya, R. K., Das Chatterjee, N., & Das, K. (2020). Impact of instream sand mining on habitat destruction or transformation using coupling models of HSI and MLR. Spatial Information Research, 28(1), 67-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-019-00271-3
Booth, D. B. (2005). Challenges and prospects for restoring urban streams: a perspective from the Pacific Northwest of North America, Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 24(3), 724-737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1899/0887-3593(2005)024\[0724:CAPFRU\]2.0.CO;2
Booth, C. J. (2007). Confined-unconfined changes above longwall coal mining due to increases in fracture porosity. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, 13(4), 355-367. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.13.4.355
Bozeman, M. T. (2002). Underground hard-rock mining: subsidence and hydrologic environmental impacts. Center for Science in Public Participation.
Candeias, C., Avila, P., Coelho, P., & Teixeira, J. P. (2018). Mining activities: health impacts. Reference module in earth systems and environmental sciences, 1-21.
Ciszewski, D., & Sobucki, M. (2022). River response to mining-induced subsidence. Catena, 214, 106303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106303
Chakraborty, S. K. (2021). Geo-hydrological perspectives of riverine flows. In Riverine Ecology Volume 1: Eco-functionality of the Physical Environment of Rivers (pp. 375-476). Cham: Springer International Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53897-2_6
Choudhary, A., Kumar, P., Pradhan, C., Sahu, S. K., Chaudhary, S. K., Joshi, P. K., & Mohanty, A. (2023). Evaluating air quality and criteria pollutants prediction disparities by data mining along a stretch of urban-rural agglomeration includes coal-mine belts and thermal power plants. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 1132159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1132159
Dodds, James. Ground water Modelling Projects. Mining Environmental Management, Sept. 1999. pp18-20.
Dold, B. (2014). Evolution of acid mine drainage formation in sulphidic mine tailings. Minerals, 4(3), 621-641. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min4030621
Doloksaribu, D. C. N., Barus, T. A., & Sebayang, K. (2020). The impact of marine sand mining on sea water quality in Pantai Labu, Deli Serdang Regency, Indonesia. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 454, No. 1, p. 012086). IOP Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/454/1/012086
Gavriletea, M. D. (2017). Environmental impacts of sand exploitation: Analysis of sand market. Sustainability, 9(7), 1118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071118
Ghose, A. K., & Dhar, B. B. (Eds.). (2000). Mining, Challenges of the 21st Century. APH publishing.
Grbes, A., Dokoza, V., Lukac, G., & Bilic, S. (2024). Potential for restoration of biodiversity in karstic mining regions with small scale mining sites: birds and pits. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00488-1
Hemalatha, Ravanashree M, Rajesh G M, Karthika V, Arunkumar N, Narmadha R, Agila C, and Suresh R. 2025. “Water Quality Index Based Groundwater Assessment for Irrigation and Drinking Purposes in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India”. Archives of Current Research International 25(9): 219-29. https://doi.org/10.9734/acri/2025/v25i91489. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/acri/2025/v25i91489
Kajtoch, ., Leso, P., Aubrechtova, E., Bydzovska, T., & Horak, J. (2024). The transformation of river ecosystems caused by mining affects bird breeding in indigenous riparian habitats. Science of The Total Environment, 912, 169286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169286
Khoi, D. N., Dang, T. D., Pham, L. T., Loi, P. T., Thuy, N. T. D., Phung, N. K., & Bay, N. T. (2020). Morphological change assessment from intertidal to river-dominated zones using multiple-satellite imagery: A case study of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 34, 101087. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101087
Kolymbas, D. (2010). The Importance of Sand in Earth Sciences. In: Albers, B. (eds) Continuous Media with Microstructure. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11445-8_27
Koehnken, L., Rintoul, M. S., Goichot, M., Tickner, D., Loftus, A. C., & Acreman, M. C. (2020). Impacts of riverine sand mining on freshwater ecosystems: A review of the scientific evidence and guidance for future research. River Research and Applications, 36(3), 362-370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3586
Kondolf, G. M. (1994). Environmental planning in regulation and management of instream gravel mining in California. Landscape and Urban planning, 29(2-3), 185-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-2046(94)90027-2
Kumar, J., Rajesh, G. M., Singh, G., Sambasiva Rao, P., Kumar, P., & Ankit. (2024). Monitoring Land Use Dynamics and Agricultural Land Suitability in Samastipur District, Bihar Using Landsat Imagery and GIS. Journal of Climate Change, 10(4), 43-53.
Lekomo, Y. K., Ekengoue, C. M., Douola, A., Lele, R. F., Suh, G. C., Obiri, S., & Dongmo, A. K. (2021). Assessing impacts of sand mining on water quality in Toutsang locality and design of waste water purification system. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 2, 100045. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100045
Li, P. (2018). Mine water problems and solutions in China. Mine Water and the Environment, 37(2), 217-221. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-0543-z
Liang, H. C., & Thomson, B. M. (2010). Minerals and mine drainage. Water Environment Research, 82(10), 1485-1533. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2175/106143010X12756668801491
Mace, R., & Jones, C. (2023). Frac sand facilities and their potential effects on the groundwater resources of the Monahans-Mescalero Sand Ecosystem, Permian Basin, Texas. Texas Water Journal, 14(1), 62- 80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v14i1.7132
Mia, M. M. M., Karikar, B. A. K. B. A., Mohibul, S. M. S., Ali, M. I. A. M. I., Khanam, N. K. N., & Siddiqui, L. S. L. (2024). Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of River Sand and Gravel Mining: A Review. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4942545/v1
Mining Environmental Handbook. Marcus, Jerrold J. Imperial College Press, London. 1997.
Mirzaee, M. S., Mirfakhredini, S. H., Nasser Sadrabadi, A., & Morovati Sharifabadi, A. (2020). Compiling the strategies of alfa mining company and prioritizing them by waspas method. LogForum, 16(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.17270/J.LOG.2020.473
Mishra, A., & Lal, B. (2024). Fate of Potentially Toxic Elements Derived from Coal Mining in Soil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 235(5), 298. Nabegu, A. B. (2012). Morphologic alterations to Jakara channel due to urbanization. Elixir Geoscience 50, 10307, 10311. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07116-2
Naganna, S. R., Deka, P. C., Ch, S., & Hansen, W. F. (2017). Factors influencing streambed hydraulic conductivity and their implications on stream–aquifer interaction: a conceptual review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(32), 24765- 24789. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0393-4
Orr, I., & Krumenacher, M. (2015). Environmental impacts of industrial silica sand (frac sand) mining. Heartland Policy Study, 137. Padmalal, D., & Maya, K. (2014). Sand mining: environmental impacts and selected case studies. Springer.
Pant, R. R., Varol, M., Phuyal, S., Bhattarai, S., Awasthi, M. P., Thakur, T. K., & Afandi, G. E. (2025). How sand mining is shaping the Trishuli River in the Himalayas of South Asia. Earth Systems and Environment, 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-025-00569-3
Parameswari, P., Belagalla, N., Singh, B. V., Abhishek, G. J., Rajesh, G. M., Katiyar, D., ... & Paul, S. (2024). Nanotechnology-based sensors for real-time monitoring and assessment of soil health and quality: a review. Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 10(2), 157-173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajsspn/2024/v10i2272
Paustian, K., Collier, S., Baldock, J., Burgess, R., Creque, J., DeLonge, M., ... & Jahn, M. (2019). Quantifying carbon for agricultural soil management: from the current status toward a global soil information system. Carbon Management, 10(6), 567-587. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2019.1633231
Poonia, K., Kansara, P., & Choudhary, P. Environmental Impacts of Sand Mining: AComprehensive Review.
Raghavendra, N. S., & Deka, P. C. (2015). Sustainable development and management of groundwater resources in mining affected areas: a review. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 11, 598-604. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeps.2015.06.061
Rajesh, G. M., Gomadhi, M. G., Namdeo Nehul, J., & Krishnaveni, A. (2019). Innovative Pathways in Environmental Monitoring and Advanced Technologies for Sustainable Resource Management. Environmental Reports: An International Journal, 1(1), 17-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51470/ER.2019.1.1.17
Rajesh, G. M., Shaharudeen, S., Hasher, F. F. B., & Zhran, M. (2025). Hydrological Response Analysis Using Remote Sensing and Cloud Computing: Insights from the Chalakudy River Basin, Kerala. Water, 17(19), 2869. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w17192869
Ravanashree, M., Nagarajan, M., & Rajesh, G. (2025). Climate Trend Analysis and Implications for Water Management in the Upper Bhavani Region, Coimbatore (1995-2021). Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 31(5), 460-469. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2025/v31i53044
Rentier, E. S., & Cammeraat, L. H. (2022). The environmental impacts of river sand mining. Science of the Total environment, 838, 155877. Rovira, A., Batalla, R. J., & Sala, M. (2005). Fluvial sediment budget of a Mediterranean river: the lower Tordera (Catalan Coastal Ranges, NE Spain). Catena, 60(1), 19-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2004.11.001
Sajeena, S., and Kurien, E.K., 2019. Studies on groundwater resoruces using visual MODFLOW- A case study of Kadalundi river basin, Malappuram, Kerala. Indian J. Soil. Cons. 47(1): 21-29.
Saviour, N. M., and Stalin, P. 2012, Soil and Sand Mining: Causes, Consequences and Management, IOSR Journal of Pharmacy (IOSRPHR) ISSN: 2250-3013, Vol. 2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/3013-242016
Saviour, M. N. (2012). Environmental impact of soil and sand mining: a review. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology, 1(3), 125-134.
Siddharam, Aiswarya, L., Rajesh, G. M., Gaddikeri, V., Jatav, M. S., Dimple, & Rajput, J. (2024). Assessment and Development of Water Resources with Modern Technologies. In Recent Advancements in Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Harnessing Technology for Water Resources, Irrigation and Environmental Management (pp. 225-245). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2155-9_12
Skousen, J. G., Ziemkiewicz, P. F., & McDonald, L. M. (2019). Acid mine drainage formation, control and treatment: Approaches and strategies. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6(1), 241-249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2018.09.008
SME Mining Engineering Handbook (1992). Hartman, Howard L. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. Port City Press, Baltimore.
Soni, M., Shrimali, P., Kumar, P., Rajpurohit, Y. S., & Choudhary, P. (2020) Mitigating the Groundwater Impacts of Sand Mining: Strategies for Sustainable Extraction and Site Rehabilitation
Talukder, P., Ray, R., Sarkar, M., Das, A., & Chakraborty, S. (2024). Adverse effects of mining pollutants on terrestrial and aquatic environment and its remediation. Environmental Quality Management, 33(4), 595-610. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.22121
Ussiri, D. A., Jacinthe, P. A., & Lal, R. (2014). Methods for determination of coal carbon in reclaimed minesoils: A review. Geoderma, 214, 155-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.09.015
Wang, F., Li, W., Wang, H., Hu, Y., & Cheng, H. (2024). The leaching behavior of heavy metal from contaminated mining soil: The effect of rainfall conditions and the impact on surrounding agricultural lands. Science of the Total Environment, 914, 169877. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169877
Zhu, R., Zhang, Z. J., & Lin, B. (2024). Impact of technological innovation on China's mining industry: Perspectives of energy and environmental performance. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 108, 107586. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107586
