Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria
<p>The Cheria region in Northeastern Algeria has been facing aquifer overexploitation by the agricultural sector and prolonged droughts, resulting in a considerable decline in groundwater levels. This study investigates the feasibility of implementing artificial recharge techniques to replenis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2023.9280022 |
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| author | Mouna Djellali Omar Guefaïfia Chemsedinne Fehdi Adel Djellali Amor Hamad |
| author_facet | Mouna Djellali Omar Guefaïfia Chemsedinne Fehdi Adel Djellali Amor Hamad |
| author_sort | Mouna Djellali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The Cheria region in Northeastern Algeria has been facing aquifer overexploitation by the agricultural sector and prolonged droughts, resulting in a considerable decline in groundwater levels. This study investigates the feasibility of implementing artificial recharge techniques to replenish the Eocene aquifer which serves as the primary water source in the Cheria region. A 3D transient numerical model, based on the finite difference method, was used to simulate groundwater flow from 2021 to 2031 using Visual MODFLOW Flex. During the modelling process, three scenarios were considered: (1) including pumping without a recharge, (2) recharge of the entire area through efficient infiltration without pumping, and (3) artificial recharge using river water infiltration basins at two sites, Draa Douamis sinkholes and Eocene limestone outcrops. The simulation results showed that aquifer exploitation without recharge caused significant drawdowns, which were 3 m to 7 m in the north-eastern part and 8 m to 12 m in the central and southern parts. In contrast, the second scenario, involving recharge without pumping, showed a rise in groundwater levels of 2 m to 2.7 m in the north-eastern part and 3 m to 3.62 m in the central and southern parts. The third scenario, employing artificial recharge, indicated a positive response to artificial recharge, with increased piezometric levels at the proposed sites, signifying a beneficial impact on the aquifer. These findings underline the potential of artificial recharge as a promising approach to address the groundwater depletion and environmental issues in the Cheria Basin.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:41:56Z |
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| id | doaj.art-2b74d6f895744b0d8d2cb6b6007b927b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-7068 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:41:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b74d6f895744b0d8d2cb6b6007b927b2023-10-26T10:20:06ZengGroundwater Science and Engineering LimitedJournal of Groundwater Science and Engineering2305-70682023-09-0111326327710.26599/JGSE.2023.9280022Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of AlgeriaMouna Djellali0Omar Guefaïfia1Chemsedinne Fehdi2Adel Djellali3Amor Hamad4Sedimentary Environment, Mineral and Water Resources of Eastern Algeria Laboratory, Department of Earth sciences and universe, Larbi Tebessi University, 12002 Tebessa, AlgeriaSedimentary Environment, Mineral and Water Resources of Eastern Algeria Laboratory, Department of Earth sciences and universe, Larbi Tebessi University, 12002 Tebessa, AlgeriaSedimentary Environment, Mineral and Water Resources of Eastern Algeria Laboratory, Department of Earth sciences and universe, Larbi Tebessi University, 12002 Tebessa, AlgeriaEnvironmental laboratory, Mining institute, Larbi Tebessi University, 12002 Tebessa, AlgeriaSedimentary Environment, Mineral and Water Resources of Eastern Algeria Laboratory, Department of Earth sciences and universe, Larbi Tebessi University, 12002 Tebessa, Algeria<p>The Cheria region in Northeastern Algeria has been facing aquifer overexploitation by the agricultural sector and prolonged droughts, resulting in a considerable decline in groundwater levels. This study investigates the feasibility of implementing artificial recharge techniques to replenish the Eocene aquifer which serves as the primary water source in the Cheria region. A 3D transient numerical model, based on the finite difference method, was used to simulate groundwater flow from 2021 to 2031 using Visual MODFLOW Flex. During the modelling process, three scenarios were considered: (1) including pumping without a recharge, (2) recharge of the entire area through efficient infiltration without pumping, and (3) artificial recharge using river water infiltration basins at two sites, Draa Douamis sinkholes and Eocene limestone outcrops. The simulation results showed that aquifer exploitation without recharge caused significant drawdowns, which were 3 m to 7 m in the north-eastern part and 8 m to 12 m in the central and southern parts. In contrast, the second scenario, involving recharge without pumping, showed a rise in groundwater levels of 2 m to 2.7 m in the north-eastern part and 3 m to 3.62 m in the central and southern parts. The third scenario, employing artificial recharge, indicated a positive response to artificial recharge, with increased piezometric levels at the proposed sites, signifying a beneficial impact on the aquifer. These findings underline the potential of artificial recharge as a promising approach to address the groundwater depletion and environmental issues in the Cheria Basin.</p>https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2023.9280022eocene limestonepiezometric levelnumerical simulationvisual modflow flexartificial recharge |
| spellingShingle | Mouna Djellali Omar Guefaïfia Chemsedinne Fehdi Adel Djellali Amor Hamad Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering eocene limestone piezometric level numerical simulation visual modflow flex artificial recharge |
| title | Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria |
| title_full | Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria |
| title_short | Assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over-exploited aquifer: A case study in the Cheria Basin, North-East of Algeria |
| title_sort | assessing the impact of artificial recharge on groundwater in an over exploited aquifer a case study in the cheria basin north east of algeria |
| topic | eocene limestone piezometric level numerical simulation visual modflow flex artificial recharge |
| url | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JGSE.2023.9280022 |
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