Artificial groundwater recharge to a semi-arid basin: case study of Mujib aquifer,Jordan |
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Authors: | Tamer A Al-Assa’d Fayez Ahmad Abdulla |
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Affiliation: | (1) Eco-consult Company, Amman, Jordan;(2) Civil Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan |
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Abstract: | Mujib watershed is an important groundwater basin which is considered a major source for drinking and irrigation water in
Jordan. Increased dependence on groundwater needs improved aquifer management with respect to understanding deeply recharge
and discharge issues, planning rates withdrawal, and facing water quality problems arising from industrial and agricultural
contamination. The efficient management of this source depends on reliable estimates of the recharge to groundwater and is
needed in order to protect Mujib basin from depletion. Artificial groundwater recharge was investigated in this study as one
of the important options to face water scarcity and to improve groundwater storage in the aquifer. A groundwater model based
on the MODFLOW program, calibrated under both steady- and unsteady-state conditions, was used to investigate different groundwater
management scenarios that aim at protecting the Mujib basin. The scenarios include variations of abstraction levels combined
with different artificial groundwater recharge quantities. The possibilities of artificial groundwater recharge from existing
and proposed dams as well as reclaimed municipal wastewater were investigated. Artificial recharge options considered in this
study are mainly through injecting water directly to the aquifer and through infiltration from reservoir. Three scenarios
were performed to predict the aquifer system response under different artificial recharge options (low, moderate, and high)
which then compared with no action (recharge) scenario. The best scenario that provides a good recovery for the groundwater
table and that can be feasible is founded to be by reducing current abstraction rates by 20% and implementing the moderate
artificial recharge rates of 26 million(M)m3/year. The model constructed in this study helps decision makers and planners in selecting optimum management schemes suitable
for such arid and semi-arid regions. |
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