Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia)
Groundwater resources are facing increasing pressure especially in semi-arid regions where they often represent the main freshwater resource to sustain human needs. Several aquifers in the Mediterranean basin suffer from salinization and quality degradation. This study provides an assessment of Grom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/129 |
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| author | Siwar Kammoun Rim Trabelsi Viviana Re Kamel Zouari |
| author_facet | Siwar Kammoun Rim Trabelsi Viviana Re Kamel Zouari |
| author_sort | Siwar Kammoun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Groundwater resources are facing increasing pressure especially in semi-arid regions where they often represent the main freshwater resource to sustain human needs. Several aquifers in the Mediterranean basin suffer from salinization and quality degradation. This study provides an assessment of Grombalia coastal aquifer (Tunisia) based on multidisciplinary approach that combines chemical and isotopic (δ<sup>2</sup>H, δ<sup>18</sup>O, <sup>3</sup>H, <sup>14</sup>C and δ<sup>13</sup>C) methods to characterize the relation between groundwater quality variation and aquifer recharge. The results indicate that total dissolved solids exceed 1000 mg/L in the most of samples excepting the recharge area. In addition to water–rock interaction, evaporation and nitrate pollution contributing to groundwater mineralization, the reverse cation exchange process constitute an important mechanism controlling groundwater mineralization with enhancing risk of saltwater intrusion. Environmental isotope tracers reveal that groundwater is evolving within an open system to close system. A significant component of recent water that is recharging Grombalia aquifer system is confirmed by applying correction models based on the δ<sup>13</sup>C values and <sup>14</sup>C activities and tritium contents. However, this recharge, which is mainly associated to the return flow of irrigation water, contributes to the groundwater salinization, especially for the shallow aquifer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:38:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4777470bed7847f0aeae880764595dd8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:38:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-4777470bed7847f0aeae880764595dd82023-12-03T12:26:26ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-01-0113212910.3390/w13020129Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia)Siwar Kammoun0Rim Trabelsi1Viviana Re2Kamel Zouari3Laboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP1173, Sfax 3038, TunisiaLaboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP1173, Sfax 3038, TunisiaLaboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP1173, Sfax 3038, TunisiaLaboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP1173, Sfax 3038, TunisiaGroundwater resources are facing increasing pressure especially in semi-arid regions where they often represent the main freshwater resource to sustain human needs. Several aquifers in the Mediterranean basin suffer from salinization and quality degradation. This study provides an assessment of Grombalia coastal aquifer (Tunisia) based on multidisciplinary approach that combines chemical and isotopic (δ<sup>2</sup>H, δ<sup>18</sup>O, <sup>3</sup>H, <sup>14</sup>C and δ<sup>13</sup>C) methods to characterize the relation between groundwater quality variation and aquifer recharge. The results indicate that total dissolved solids exceed 1000 mg/L in the most of samples excepting the recharge area. In addition to water–rock interaction, evaporation and nitrate pollution contributing to groundwater mineralization, the reverse cation exchange process constitute an important mechanism controlling groundwater mineralization with enhancing risk of saltwater intrusion. Environmental isotope tracers reveal that groundwater is evolving within an open system to close system. A significant component of recent water that is recharging Grombalia aquifer system is confirmed by applying correction models based on the δ<sup>13</sup>C values and <sup>14</sup>C activities and tritium contents. However, this recharge, which is mainly associated to the return flow of irrigation water, contributes to the groundwater salinization, especially for the shallow aquifer.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/129groundwatermineralizationwater–rock interactionscation exchange processisotopesaquifer recharge |
| spellingShingle | Siwar Kammoun Rim Trabelsi Viviana Re Kamel Zouari Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) Water groundwater mineralization water–rock interactions cation exchange process isotopes aquifer recharge |
| title | Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) |
| title_full | Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) |
| title_fullStr | Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) |
| title_short | Coastal Aquifer Salinization in Semi-Arid Regions: The Case of Grombalia (Tunisia) |
| title_sort | coastal aquifer salinization in semi arid regions the case of grombalia tunisia |
| topic | groundwater mineralization water–rock interactions cation exchange process isotopes aquifer recharge |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/2/129 |
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