Cleanup and valuation of waters of the aquifer of M’zab Valley (Algeria)

Abstract

The M'zab valley is a hyper arid region of average rainfall not exceeding 100 mm per year. However, the rare floods that occur in M'zab River drain large volumes of surface water. Thanks to the genius of the local population, traditional dams were made for artificial recharge of groundwater. Grace of traditional wells drilled in the valley, farmers irrigate their palm groves and gardens. However, since more than half a century, the contribution of deep drilling for the exploitation of the aquifer of the Continental Intercalary posed environmental problems. On the basis of investigations and surveys of the local population during the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, it appears that these modern techniques in water catchment caused harmful consequences to the region like the rising of water consumption, pollution of groundwater and soil salinity. Solutions and recommendations are outlined in this article.

Re-emergence of dry toilets and fecal nutrient reuse in M'zab cities

“…Groundwater is the main irrigation source for the palm tree, and its recharge is mainly provided by flood rainwater infiltration. This water is stored in dams locally called 'Ahbas' (Ouled Belkhir & Remini 2016). The aquifers of the terminal complex and continental interlayer are also exploited (Albian aquifer) whose depths vary between 250 and 1,000 m depending on the location (Bouamar et al 2019).…”

The Ghout of Souf: An Original Hydroagricultural System

“…In the oases of Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt, it is the draining galleries of a hundred kilometers called foggaras that were dug on the outskirts of Grand Erg Occidental [2,3,4,5]. In the Mzab valley, thousands of tensile wells have been dug to meet the needs for domestic water and irrigation [6,7]. In the Souf, a region located in the middle of Grand Erg Oriental.…”

Characterisation of Treated Wastewater of M’Zab Valley for Reuse in Irrigation (Southern Algeria)

“…This is due either to faulty connections or the absence or malfunction of the main. In areas where the main collector is not yet built, bleedings were performed in the bed of the wadi to channel wastewater to the next completed section of the drain [4]. On the other hand, discharge of some industrial effluents without pretreatment [5], under the combined effect of lower water withdrawals and increased recharge, this water table had a tendency to rise strongly in some low areas such as palm groves, causing the die-back of crops, especially the ancient oasis, created on the wadi beds, as an original planning model [6].The Algerian authorities have therefore decided to create a natural lagoon wastewater treatment plant with the aim of eliminating nuisances and risks of contamination in urbanised areas, protecting the receiving environment and the water resources of the valley, in particular the groundwater, the possibility of reusing treated effluents for irrigation, intended to irrigate a perimeter of 500 ha arable lands, located on left bank of the M'Zab wadi at the downstream of the station [7].This integrated approach has become an important biodiversity area and a shelter for wildlife in general, and the avifauna in particular, as well as for the development of a dense and endemic flora.…”