Hydrogeological investigation of groundwater artificial recharge by treated wastewater in semi-arid regions: Korba aquif
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Hydrogeological investigation of groundwater artificial recharge by treated wastewater in semi-arid regions: Korba aquifer (Cap-Bon Tunisia) Hassen Ouelhazi & Fethi Lachaal & Abdelkrim Charef & Bilel Challouf & Habib Chaieb & Faten Jarraya Horriche
Received: 2 April 2013 / Accepted: 22 August 2013 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2013
Abstract Korba aquifer is one of the most typical examples of overexploited coastal aquifer in the Mediterranean countries. In fact, from 1985, a considerable piezometric level drop, water salinization, and seawater intrusion were registered in the aquifer. In December 2008, Tunisian authorities initiated a general plan to groundwater management in order to augment groundwater resources, restore the piezometric levels, and improve water quality. The plan consists of artificial recharge of groundwater used treated wastewater through three infiltration basins. During the first 4 years (from December 2008 to December 2012), 1.41 Mm3 of treated wastewater was injected to the Korba aquifer. This study presents a hydrogeological assessment of groundwater evolution during the recharge processes. In this study, 32 piezometric and chemical surveys of 70 piezometers and observed wells are used to present hydrogeological investigation and water quality evolution of wastewater reuse through artificial recharge in Korba coastal aquifer. The piezometric evolution maps are used to specify the positive effect in groundwater level that exceeding 1.5 m in some regions. The interpretation of salinity evolution maps are used to indicate the improving of groundwater quality. Keywords Artificial recharge . Wastewater . Coastal aquifer . Groundwater management . Piezometric level . Seawater intrusion H. Ouelhazi : F. Lachaal (*) : A. Charef : B. Challouf : F. J. Horriche Georesources Laboratory, Water Research and Technology Centre, Tunisia, Borj Cedria Ecopark, PO Box 273, Soliman 8020, Tunisia e-mail: [email protected] F. Lachaal e-mail: [email protected] H. Chaieb General Direction of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture in Tunisia, 43, rue Saida El-Manoubia( Monfleury 1008 Tunis, Tunisia
Introduction In arid and semi-arid regions, the intense exploitation of groundwater resources has resulted in a decrease in groundwater levels and degradation of water quality (Lachaal et al. 2011; 2010; Charef et al. 2012; Srinivasamoorthy et al. 2013; Singaraja et al. 2013; Tajul Baharuddin et al. 2013). Intrusion of saline water in coastal areas has also been observed (Allow 2011; Al-Garni and El-Kaliouby 2011; Baharuddin et al. 2012; Naidu et al. 2013; Khalil et al. 2013). In this situation, the artificial recharge by infiltration of surface water is one of the commonly used solutions to solve this problem. The artificial recharge is used to increase the piezometric levels and to ameliorate the groundwater quality. More then, artificial recharge used to cope with seawater intrusion in some coastal areas (Allow 2012). Artificial groundwater recharge technique by surface water has b
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