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Hydrogeology, water quality, and microbial assessment of a coastal alluvial aquifer in western Saudi Arabia: potential use of coastal wadi aquifers for desalination water supplies

Hydrogéologie, qualité de l’eau et évaluation microbienne d’un aquifère côtier alluvial dans l’Ouest de l’Arabie Saoudite: utilisation potentielle des aquifères côtiers des oueds pour l’alimentation en eau après désalinisation

Hidrogeología, calidad de agua y evaluación microbiana de un acuífero costero aluvial en Arabia Saudita occidental: uso potencial de acuíferos costeros uadis para la desalinización de los abastecimientos de agua

沙特阿拉伯西部一沿海冲积含水层的水文地质、水质和微生物评价:淡化水供水中沿海干谷含水层的潜在利用

Hidrogeologia, qualidade da água e avaliação microbiológica de um aquífero costeiro no oeste da Arábia Saudita: uso potencial de aquíferos de wadi costeiros para dessalinização de águas destinadas a abastecimento

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Abstract

Wadi alluvial aquifers located along coastal areas of the Middle East have been assumed to be suitable sources of feed water for seawater reverse osmosis facilities based on high productivity, connectedness to the sea for recharge, and the occurrence of seawater with chemistry similar to that in the adjacent Red Sea. An investigation of the intersection of Wadi Wasimi with the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia has revealed that the associated predominantly unconfined alluvial aquifer divides into two sand-and-gravel aquifers at the coast, each with high productivity (transmissivity = 42,000 m2/day). This aquifer system becomes confined near the coast and contains hypersaline water. The hydrogeology of Wadi Wasimi shows that two of the assumptions are incorrect in that the aquifer is not well connected to the sea because of confinement by very low hydraulic conductivity terrigenous and marine muds and the aquifer contains hypersaline water as a result of a hydraulic connection to a coastal sabkha. A supplemental study shows that the aquifer system contains a diverse microbial community composed of predominantly of Proteobacteria with accompanying high percentages of Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria.

Résumé

Les aquifères alluviaux des oueds situés le long des zones côtières du Moyen Orient sont considérés comme sources d’eau appropriées pour les stations de traitement de désalinisation par osmose inverse basées sur une haute productivité, la connectivité à la mer pour la recharge et la présence d’eau de mer avec une composition chimique semblable à celle de la Mer Rouge adjacente. Une investigation de l’intersection de l’Oued Wasimi avec la mer Rouge dans l’ouest de l’Arabie Saoudite a révélé que l’aquifère alluvial associé principalement libre se divise en deux aquifères de sable et gravier au niveau de la côte, chacun avec une forte productivité (transmissivité = 42,000 m2/jour). Ce système aquifère devient captif proche de la côte et contient de l’eau hypersaline. L’hydrogéologie de l’Oued Wasimi montre que deux des hypothèses sont incorrectes en ce que l’aquifère n’est pas bien connecté à la mer, du fait du caractère captif de l’aquifère dû à une très faible conductivité hydraulique des formations terrigènes et de boues marines et que l’aquifère contient de l’eau hypersaline résultant d’une connexion hydraulique avec une sebkha côtière. Une étude complémentaire montre que le système aquifère contient une communauté microbienne diversifiée composée principalement de Proteobacteria accompagnée par des pourcentages élevés de Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria et Deltaproteobacteria.

Resumen

Se ha supuesto los acuíferos aluviales uadis situados a lo largo de áreas costeras del Medio Oriente como fuentes apropiadas de agua de alimentación para las instalaciones de osmosis inversa del agua de mar basadas en alta productividad, conectividad con el mar para recarga, y la ocurrencia de agua de mar con una química similar a la del Mar Rojo adyacente. Una investigación de la intersección del uadi Wasimi con el Mar Rojo en Arabia Saudita occidental ha revelado que el acuífero aluvial asociado, predominantemente no confinado, se divide en dos acuíferos de arena y grava en la costa, cada uno de ellos con alta productividad (transmisividad = 42,000 m2/día). Este sistema acuífero se convierte en confinado cerca de la costa y contiene agua hipersalina. La hidrogeología del uadi Wasimi muestra que dos de las suposiciones son incorrectas en que el acuífero no está bien conectado al mar debido al confinamiento por una muy baja conductividad hidráulica de fangos marinos y terrígenos y que el acuífero contiene agua hipersalina como un resultado de una conexión hidráulica a una sabkha costera. Un estudio suplementario muestra que el sistema acuífero contiene una variada comunidad microbiana compuesta predominantemente por Proteobacteria con acompañamiento de alto porcentaje de Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria y Deltaproteobacteria.

摘要

鉴于其高产性、补给时与海连通度及海水化学成分相似于毗邻的红海化学成分,位于中东沿海地区的干谷冲积含水层被认为是海水反向渗透设施合适的供水源。对沙特阿拉伯西部的Wasimi干谷和红海交汇部的调查显示,相关的、主要为非承压含水层在海边分为两个砂--砾含水层,每个含水层出水量都很高(导水系数 = 42,000 m2/天)。这个含水层系统在海边附近变为承压状态,含超盐水。Wasimi干谷水文地质条件显示,两个假设是不正确的,这是因为受到水力传导率非常低的陆生和海相淤泥的限制,含水层与海的连通性很差,由于与沿海盐沼水力上相通,含水层含超盐水。补充研究显示,含水层系统含多种多样的微生物群落,主要由变形菌门组成,伴有很高含量的伽马变形菌、阿尔法变形菌和德尔塔变形菌。

Resumo

Aquíferos aluviais de wadi localizados ao longo de áreas costeiras do Médio Oriente têm sido assumidos como fontes adequadas de água destinada ao abastecimento de instalações de osmose inversa baseadas em alta produtividade, conexão com o mar para a recarga e ocorrência de água salina com composição química similar à do adjacente Mar Vermelho. Uma investigação da interseção do Wadi Wasimi com o Mar Vermelho no oeste da Arábia Saudita revelou que o predominantemente freático aquífero aluvial divide em dois os aquíferos de areia e seixo da costa, cada um com produtividades elevadas (transmissividade = 42,000 m2/dia). Este sistema aquífero torna-se confinado próximo da costa e contém água hipersalina. A hidrogeologia do Wadi Wasimi mostra que duas das suposições são incorretas, no que respeita ao facto do aquífero não estar bem conectado ao mar, devido ao confinamento por lodos marinhos e terrígenos com muito baixa condutividade hidráulica e ao aquífero conter água hipersalina, como resultado da conexão com uma planície de sal (sabkha) costeira. Um estudo suplementar mostra que o sistema aquífero contém uma comunidade microbiológica diversificada, composta predominantemente por Proteobacteria acompanhada por elevadas percentagens de Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria e Deltaproteobacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

    Thomas M. Missimer, Christiane Hoppe-Jones, Khan Z. Jadoon & Samir K. Al-Mashharawi

  2. U. A. Whitaker College of Engineering, Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL, 33965-6565, USA

    Thomas M. Missimer

  3. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Dong Li

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  1. Thomas M. Missimer
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Missimer.

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Missimer, T.M., Hoppe-Jones, C., Jadoon, K.Z. et al. Hydrogeology, water quality, and microbial assessment of a coastal alluvial aquifer in western Saudi Arabia: potential use of coastal wadi aquifers for desalination water supplies. Hydrogeol J 22, 1921–1934 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1168-3

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