University of Tehran Press Town and Country Planning 2008-7047 11 2 2019 09 23 The Spatial Impact of Socio-Economic Structure of Rural Areas on Groundwater Resources Drawdown (Case Study: Rural Settlements of Lordegan) The Spatial Impact of Socio-Economic Structure of Rural Areas on Groundwater Resources Drawdown (Case Study: Rural Settlements of Lordegan) 337 360 73603 10.22059/jtcp.2019.289258.670023 FA Ali Taghipoor Javi Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Seyed Eskandar Seidaiy Associate Professor, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Faramarz Barimani Professor, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran Journal Article 2019 08 01 As the most essential element of life, water has long been regarded as an indicator of development because it is inextricably linked to the sustainability of human societies, especially the socio-economic function of rural settlements. The main purpose of this study is to explain and root out the causes of groundwater resource draw-down in relation to the socio-economic structure of rural areas. The main issue is that as population growth and demand have increased (to meet the needs of rural communities), excessive exploitation and pressure on groundwater resources have been on the rise. The research data were collected through document analysis and field study. Next, the longitudinal statistics of 40 observational wells (1984-2014) were combined with quantitative observations and interviews with subject matter experts. These were then analyzed through descriptive-analytical methods using inferential statistics and GIS software. Research findings show that the implementation of land reform program, the increase of number of farmers, deep well drilling, the development of irrigated area, and the change of production method had a relationship with unnecessary exploitation and draw-dawn in groundwater level in the research area. The result of the study illustrates the fact that as the population has increased threefold in the living space of the plains, the farms have been fragmented, and numerous deep wells have been drilled, the groundwater level in the aquifer has drawdown to -22 m. As the most essential element of life, water has long been regarded as an indicator of development because it is inextricably linked to the sustainability of human societies, especially the socio-economic function of rural settlements. The main purpose of this study is to explain and root out the causes of groundwater resource draw-down in relation to the socio-economic structure of rural areas. The main issue is that as population growth and demand have increased (to meet the needs of rural communities), excessive exploitation and pressure on groundwater resources have been on the rise. The research data were collected through document analysis and field study. Next, the longitudinal statistics of 40 observational wells (1984-2014) were combined with quantitative observations and interviews with subject matter experts. These were then analyzed through descriptive-analytical methods using inferential statistics and GIS software. Research findings show that the implementation of land reform program, the increase of number of farmers, deep well drilling, the development of irrigated area, and the change of production method had a relationship with unnecessary exploitation and draw-dawn in groundwater level in the research area. The result of the study illustrates the fact that as the population has increased threefold in the living space of the plains, the farms have been fragmented, and numerous deep wells have been drilled, the groundwater level in the aquifer has drawdown to -22 m. https://jtcp.ut.ac.ir/article_73603_21c1b5303c3c192f4a46cc82be7a12c4.pdf