Numerical groundwater modelling as an effective tool for management of water resources in arid areas

Abstract

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor X. Chen Citation El Alfy, M., 2014. Numerical groundwater modelling as an effective tool for management of water resources in arid areas. Hydrolological Sciences Journal, 59 (6), 1259-1274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.836278 Abstract Groundwater, possibly of fossil origin, is used for water supply in some arid regions where the replenishment of groundwater by precipitation is low. Numerical modelling is a helpful tool in the assessment of groundwater resources and analysis of future exploitation scenarios. To quantify the groundwater resources of the East Owienat area in the southwest of the Western Desert, Egypt, the present study assesses the groundwater resources management of the Nubian aquifer. Groundwater withdrawals have increased in this area, resulting in a disturbance of the aquifer's natural equilibrium, and the large-scale and ongoing depletion of this critical water reserve. Negative impacts, such as a decline in water levels and increase in salinity, have been experienced. The methodology includes application of numerical groundwater modelling in steady and transient states under different measured and abstraction scenarios. The numerical simulation model developed was applied to assess the responses of the Nubian aquifer water level under different pumping scenarios during the next 30 years. Groundwater management scenarios are evaluated to find an optimal management solution to satisfy future needs. Based on analysis of three different development schemes that were formulated to predict the future response of the aquifer under long-term water stress, a gradual increase in groundwater pumping to 150% of present levels should be adopted for protection and better management of the aquifer. Similar techniques could be used to improve groundwater management in other parts of the country, as well as other similar arid regions.Key words groundwater management; numerical modelling; Nubian aquifer; East Owienat; Egypt La modélisation numérique des écoulements souterrains: un outil efficace pour la gestion des ressources en eau dans les zones arides Résumé Les eaux souterraines, quelquefois très anciennes, sont parfois utilisées pour l'alimentation en eau dans les régions arides, où la recharge des eaux souterraines par les précipitations est faible. La modélisation numérique est un outil précieux pour l'évaluation des ressources en eaux souterraines et l'analyse des scénarios d'exploitation futurs. Pour quantifier les ressources en eaux souterraines de la région de l'Est Owienat dans le Sud-Ouest du désert occidental égyptien, la présente étude évalue la gestion des ressources en eaux souterraines de l'aquifère nubien. Les pompages d'eau souterraine ont augmenté dans cette région, entraînant une perturbation de l'équilibre naturel de l'aquifère et la dégradation continue et à grande échelle de cette réserve en eau cruciale. Des impacts négatifs, comme la baisse du niveau piézométrique et l'augmentation de la salinité, sont connus. La méthodologie co...

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