Using stable isotopes to delineate the relations between sub-aquifer systems in the eastern slope of Bethlehem-Hebron to
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Using stable isotopes to delineate the relations between sub-aquifer systems in the eastern slope of Bethlehem-Hebron to the Dead Sea/Palestine Saed Khayat 1,3 & Amer Marei 2 & Tino Roediger 3 & Stefan Geyer 3
Received: 14 September 2017 / Accepted: 31 October 2017 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2017
Abstract This study used stable isotopes 18O, 2H, and 3H in addition to hydro chemical and hydraulic data to explain the relations between different sub-aquifer systems in the Bethlehem-Hebron area. This area is suffering from high water shortage. The results indicate different recharge processes which occur within the upper and lower Aquifer systems of the mountain aquifer, and the structural features play an important role in this process. The isotopes emphasize the previous finding about the role of the structure, mainly, the extensive-folded anticlinorium that forces groundwater to flow through synclinal axes up- and downward, with different recharge mechanisms. While the lower aquifer received limited direct recharge from the exposed Bet Kahil formation in the upper part of the mountain, some of the upper aquifer groundwater seeping down through structural axes and faults fed the lower aquifer with additional amount of water. This process is attributed to the lowering of hydraulic head that varied seasonally. On the other hand, the direct recharge for the upper
* Saed Khayat [email protected] Amer Marei [email protected] Tino Roediger [email protected] Stefan Geyer [email protected] 1
Palestinian Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine
2
Al Quds University, Abu Dis,, East Jerusalem, Palestine
3
UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle, Germany
aquifer can be enough unless a huge amount of water from the upper aquifer seeping down due to steep hydraulic gradient to the Dead Sea springs. This process is apparently responsible for the quick drawdown of the groundwater level besides depletion of some wells drilled recently during the last decade in the upper aquifer. Delineating the relations between different aquifer systems within the study area can give further explanation and help the stakeholders to manage the water shortage problem, taking into account the main finding about aquifer relations in the future plans. Keywords Bethlehem-Hebron . Aquifer delineation . Isotope hydrology . Geological complexity
Introduction South of the West Bank consists of Hebron and Bethlehem governorates. It has an area of about 1943 km2, making 28% of the WB area (Palestinian Water Authority 2012). Moreover, it has the highest number of population compared to other governorates, the number of population reaching 772,000 persons in 2008 (Nazer et al. 2008). The cultivated area in the year 2007/20008 is about 285 km2 from it (3%) from where rain-fed consist 97%, covering about 26% of the governorate areas. The area has an average rainfall of about 580 mm/year, with an average maximum of 140 mm in February and a minimum during the month of May (Nazer et al. 2008). The study area is
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