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Optimal management of the groundwater coastal aquifer based on the hydraulic characteristics in Wadi Al Marwani basin: KSA

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Abstract

Management of groundwater resource is an essential key for the sustainable development of any particular area to be useful in different uses, especially in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Al Marwani basin is an important water resource of Makkah Al-Mukarramah region, where groundwater is the primary source of water in all human activities. The main problem of this basin is that the majority of the groundwater wells have been randomly dug regardless of the hydrologic basics. This may lead to a noticeable decline in the groundwater level and increased water salinity. The aim of this research is to establish a roadmap for coastal aquifer management in Al Marawani basin based on the aquifer hydraulic parameters and groundwater chemical composition. Based on the data gathered from 76 drilled wells (2013 and 2021) including 14 long duration pum** tests, and 6 step-test, all hydrogeological parameters such as aquifer thickness, groundwater levels, transmissivity (T), hydraulic conductivity (K) and well efficiency γ were determined. The results of this study revealed that the aquifer thickness is 10–25 m, and a decline in water levels in some area within the basin. The estimated transmissivity (T) ranges from 0.000000296 to 425 m2/day with an average value of about 115.83 m2/day. The results of hydraulic conductivity (K) ranges from 0.000000028 to 25.3 m/day with an average value of about 7.589. The study aquifer is characterized by low to moderate potentiality. In the study area, 64 water samples were analyzed in 2021 and their salinities were compared with the measured salinity in 2013. The comparison revealed that the groundwater quality has deteriorated at some sites as indicated by the existence of high concentrations of TDS (more than 5000 mg/L). The relationships between the different ions showed that the effect of mineral weathering, leaching of saline soil residues, evaporation, human activity, and seawater intrusion are the main factors that govern the presence of ions and their relationships in groundwater. Chadha diagram revealed that Ca–Mg–Cl/SO4 and Na–Cl are the main groundwater types in the study basin. Gibbs diagram showed that the main mechanisms controlling the groundwater chemistry of the basin are evaporation and weathering of minerals in the rocks. According to the US Salinity Laboratory Staff for classification of the groundwater for irrigation, groundwater in most places in the Al Marawani basin (58%) can be classified as poor quality so only saline tolerant crops are preferred. This indicates that the coastal aquifer in the study basin has a declining water level and inclining salinity that is challenging for both domestic and irrigation uses, indicating that the water requires a proper management.

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All data is provided as tables and figures in the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

This research work was funded by Institutional Fund Project under Grant no. (IFPIP: 682-123-1443) The authors gratefully acknowledge technical and financial support provided by the Ministry of Education and King Abdulaziz University, DSR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This research work was funded by Institutional Fund Project under grant no. (IFPIP: 682-123-1443) The authors gratefully acknowledge technical and financial support provided by the Ministry of Education and King Abdulaziz University, DSR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Milad Masoud, Maged El Osta & Abdulaziz Alqarawy

  2. Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulaziz Alqarawy & Burhan Niyazi

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  1. Milad Masoud
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  2. Maged El Osta
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  3. Abdulaziz Alqarawy
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  4. Burhan Niyazi
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All authors participated in conceptualization, preparing, methodology, formal analysis, interpreting the results and writing the research, as well as making all the requirements from the reviewers.

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Correspondence to Milad Masoud.

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Masoud, M., El Osta, M., Alqarawy, A. et al. Optimal management of the groundwater coastal aquifer based on the hydraulic characteristics in Wadi Al Marwani basin: KSA. Environ Earth Sci 82, 308 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11003-0

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