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Hydrogeological investigation of an oasis-system aquifer in arid southeastern Morocco by development of a groundwater flow model

Investigation hydrogéologique du système aquifère des oasis du Sud-Est marocain aride par le développement d’un modèle d’écoulement des eaux souterraines

Investigación hidrogeológica del sistema acuífero de oasis en el sudeste árido de Marruecos mediante el desarrollo de un modelo de flujo de agua subterránea

建立地下水流模型对摩洛哥东南部干旱地区绿洲系统含水层进行水文地质调查

Investigação hidrogeológica de um aquífero de sistema-oásis no sudeste árido do Marrocos pelo desenvolvimento de um modelo de fluxo de águas subterrâneas

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Abstract

Groundwater of the Tafilalet oasis system (TOS) is an important water resource in the lower Ziz and Rheris valleys of arid southeastern Morocco. The unconfined aquifer is exploited for domestic consumption and irrigation. A groundwater flow model was developed to assess the impact of climatic variations and development, including the construction of hydraulic structures, on the hydrodynamic behavior of the aquifer. Numerical simulations were performed by implementing a spatial database within a geographic information system and using the Arc Hydro Groundwater tool with the code MODFLOW-2000. The results of steady-state and transient simulations between 1960 and 2011 show that the water table is at equilibrium between recharge, which is mainly by surface-water infiltration, and discharge by evapotranspiration. After the commissioning of the Hassan Addakhil dam in 1971, hydraulic heads became more sensitive to annual variations than to seasonal variations. Heads are also influenced by recurrent droughts and the highest water-level changes are recorded in irrigated areas. The model provides a way of managing groundwater resources in the TOS. It can be used as a tool to predict the impact of different management plans for the protection of groundwater against overexploitation and deterioration of water quality.

Résumé

Les eaux souterraines du système d’oasis du Tafilalelt (TOS) sont une importante ressource d’eau pour les basses vallées du Ziz et du Rheris du Sud-Est marocain aride. La nappe libre est exploitée pour la consommation domestique et pour l’irrigation. Un modèle d’écoulement souterrain a été développé pour évaluer l’impact des changements climatiques et de l’aménagement, incluant la construction d’ouvrages hydrauliques, sur le comportement hydrodynamique de l’aquifère. Des simulations numériques ont été réalisées par la mise en place d’une base de données spatiales dans un système d’information géographique en utilisant l’outil Arc Hydro Groundwater avec le code MODFLOW-2000. Les résultats des simulations en régime permanent et en régime transitoire entre 1960 et 2011 montrent que la surface piézométrique est à l’équilibre entre recharge, principalement par infiltration de l’eau de surface, et décharge par évapotranspiration. Après la mise en service du barrage Hassan Addakhil en 1971, les charges hydrauliques sont devenues plus sensibles aux variations annuelles qu’aux variations saisonnières. Les charges hydrauliques sont aussi influencées par les sècheresses récurrentes et les plus grands changements de niveau d’eau sont enregistrés dans les zones irriguées. Le modèle fournit un moyen pour gérer les ressources en eaux souterraines dans le TOS. Il peut être utilisé comme outil pour prévoir l’impact de différents plans de gestion pour la protection des eaux souterraines contre la surexploitation et la détérioration de leur qualité.

Resumen

El agua subterránea del sistema de oasis de Tafilalet (TOS) es un recurso importante de agua en los valles inferiores del Ziz y Rheris en sudeste árido de Marruecos. El acuífero libre es aprovechado para el consumo doméstico y para el riego. Se desarrolló un modelo de flujo de agua subterránea para evaluar el impacto de las variaciones climáticas y del desarrollo, incluyendo la construcción de estructuras hidráulicas, sobre el comportamiento hidrodinámico del acuífero. Las simulaciones numéricas se realizaron mediante la implementación de una base de datos espacial dentro de un sistema de información geográfica y el uso de la herramienta Arc Hydro Groundwater con el código MODFLOW-2000. Los resultados de las simulaciones en estado estacionario y transitorio entre 1960 y 2011 muestran que el nivel freático se encuentra en equilibrio con la recarga, que es principalmente por la infiltración del agua de superficie, y la descarga por evapotranspiración. Después de la puesta en servicio de la presa de Hassan Addakhil en 1971, las cargas hidráulicas se hicieron más sensibles a las variaciones anuales que a las variaciones estacionales. Las cargas hidráulicas también se ven influenciadas por las sequías recurrentes y las mayores variaciones del nivel de agua que se registran en las zonas de riego. El modelo proporciona una manera de gestionar los recursos de agua subterránea en el TOS. Puede ser utilizado como una herramienta para predecir el impacto de los diferentes planes de gestión para la protección del agua subterránea contra la sobreexplotación y el deterioro de la calidad del agua

摘要

Tafilalet绿洲系统地下水是摩洛哥东南部干旱地区Ziz 和 Rheris河谷下游的重要水源。人们开采非承压含水层用于家庭日常生活和灌溉。建立了地下水流模型以评价气候变化和开采,包括水利设施的建设,对含水层水动力特性的影响。通过地理信息系统内的空间数据库及采用编码为MODFLOW-2000的Arc Hydro地下水工具进行了数值模拟。1960年到2011年间的稳定态和瞬时模拟结果显示,水位在主要为地表水入渗补给和蒸发蒸腾排泄之间处于平衡状态。1971年Hassan Addakhil大坝投入使用以后,水头的年度变化比季度变化更敏感。水头还受周期性的干旱影响,在灌溉区记录到了最高的水位变化。模型为管理Tafilalet绿洲系统的地下水资源提供了方法。它可作为预测地下水保护、防止过量开采和水质恶化不同管理方案影响的工具。

Resumo

As águas subterrâneas do sistema oásis de Tafilalet (SOT) é um importante recurso hídrico nos vales mais baixos de Ziz e Rheris do sudeste árido do Marrocos. O aquífero livre é explotado para consumo doméstico e para irrigação. Um modelo de fluxo de águas subterrâneas foi desenvolvido para avaliar o impacto das variações climáticas e desenvolvimento, incluindo a construção de estruturas hidráulicas, do comportamento hidrodinâmico do aquífero. Simulações numéricas foram realizadas por meio da implementação de um banco de dados espacial dentro de um sistema de informações geográficas e usando a ferramenta Arc Hydro Groundwater com o código MODFLOW-2000. Os resultados das simulações em estados estacionário e transiente entre 1960 e 2011 mostram que o nível freático está em equilíbrio entre recarga, que acontece principalmente pela infiltração de água superficial, e descarga pela evapotranspiração. Após o comissionamento da barragem de Hassan Addakhil em 1971, as cargas hidráulicas tornaram-se mais sensíveis às variações anuais do que por variações sazonais. As cargas também são influenciadas pelas secas recorrentes e pelas maiores mudanças de níveis d’água que são registradas em áreas irrigadas. O modelo fornece uma maneira de gerenciar os recursos subterrâneos no SOT. Ele pode ser usado como uma ferramenta para prever o impacto de diferentes planos de gestão para proteção das águas subterrâneas contra a superexplotação e deterioração da qualidade da água.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Directorate of Water Research and Planning (DRPE) and the Guir-Ziz-Rhéris Hydraulic Basin Agency for providing raw data that were necessary to carry out this study. We also want to thank Dr. Alan Fryar from the University of Kentucky for his effort to improve the paper.

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  1. Centre Régional de l’Eau, LIMEN, Ecole Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs, Université Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco

    Ilias Bouaamlat, Abdelkader Larabi & Mohamed Faouzi

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  1. Ilias Bouaamlat
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Bouaamlat, I., Larabi, A. & Faouzi, M. Hydrogeological investigation of an oasis-system aquifer in arid southeastern Morocco by development of a groundwater flow model. Hydrogeol J 24, 1479–1496 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1409-8

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