Identification of marine intrusion in the plain of Collo, northeastern Algeria

Abstract

The population increase, urbanization and intensification of agriculture and demands for water supply in the coastal plain of Collo led to excessive pumping of the unconfined aquifer with limited dimensions. This study aimed to characterize the effect of the overexploitation of the groundwater from the only unconfined aquifer in the region, what resulted in the inversion of the groundwater flow and the rise the possible seawater pollution that is shown in the water table map. The causes and effects of the saltwater intrusion were discussed. The interpretation of the electrical conductivity measurements, chloride and sodium maps have shown clearly the areas where values were the highest with tighter curves towards the sea, the wadis Guebli and Cherka. These values distribution indicated a marine source of salinity in wells and boreholes close to the sea and wadis.

Journal of Water and Land Development

“…2), the majority of samples are of high salinity. Indeed, the high salinity of the prospected groundwater can probably be the result of several factors such as the lithology, climate [BEKKOUCH, ZANAGUI 2018], the phenomenon of marine intrusion [CHAFOUQ et al 2018;SAAIDIA et al 2017] due to the proximity of the study area to the coastline, as well as the anthropic activities [BARAKAT et al 2020]. As for chlorides in groundwater, it can have various origins, such as rock alteration and leaching from sedimentary soils, salt water intrusion, domestic and industrial waste discharges, etc.…”