Abstract
Groundwater is a key component for the development of semi-arid areas where surface water resources are scarce. Water managers need knowledge about water reserves to cope with their multiple constraints. In the Merguellil basin (Central Tunisia), the Kairouan plain aquifer supplies water for a rapidly growing irrigated agriculture economy but recharge processes are still poorly known. The present paper investigates groundwater transfers from upstream aquifers to the Kairouan plain through the hydraulic threshold of El Haouareb. A conceptual geological 3D model based on lithologs analyses was built. Two steady state groundwater models were run using Feflow code in high and low flow conditions. Results suggest that the limestone aquifer that ensures hydraulic connectivity between the upstream and downstream aquifers behaves like a dual-porosity medium with highly significant preferential groundwater flow paths and cannot be simulated as an equivalent porous media.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alazard M (2013) Etude des relations surface—souterrain du système aquifère d’El Haouareb (Tunisie Centrale) sous contraintes climatiques et anthropiques. Thèse de doctorat, Université Montpellier 2
Alazard M, Leduc C, Virrion R, Guidon S, Ben Salem A, Travi Y (2011) Estimating groundwater fluxes by hydrodynamic and geochemical approaches in a heterogeneous Mediterranean system (central Tunisia). In Conceptual and modelling studies of integrated groundwater, surface water, and ecological systems, vol 345. IAHS Publications, Australia, pp 253–258
Ayadi I, Abida H, Djebbar Y, Raouf Mahjoub M (2010) Sediment yield variability in central Tunisia: a quantitative analysis of its controlling factors. Hydrol Sci J 55(3):446–458. doi:10.1080/02626661003741526
Besbes M (1967) Exploitation du synclinal Oligocène de Bou Hafna-Tunisie. In Mémoire de l’Ass. Int. Hydrogéologues, Istambul, pp 542–544
Besbes M, de Marsily G (1975) L’analyse d’un grand réservoir aquifère en vue de sa modélisation, 95–107
Bouzaiane S, Lafforgue A (1986) Monographie hydrologique des oueds Zeroud et Merguellil. DGRE-ORSTOM
Castany G (1948) Les fosses d’effondrement de Tunisie, Géologie et Hydrologie, Premier fascicule: Plaine de Grombalia et cuvettes de la Tunisie Orientale, vol 3. IMPRIMERIE S.A.P.I., Tunis
Chaieb H (1988) Contribution à la réactualisation des modèles hydrogéologiques de la plaine de Kairouan. Mémoire de DEA, Université de Tunis, Tunis
Hamza M (1976) Contribution à l’étude hydrogéologique du synclinal d’Ain Beidha (Tunisie). Thèse de doctorat, Université de Paris VI
Hamza M (1983) Carte des ressources en eau souterraine de la Tunisie à l’échelle: 1/200.000: Feuille de Kairouan No 11 (trans: BIRH). Ministère de l’Agriculture, Tunis
Kingumbi A (1999) Bilan et modélisation de la retenue du barrage d’El Haouareb. Mémoire de DEA, ENIT, Tunis
Kingumbi A, Besbes M, Bourges J, Garetta P (2004) Evaluation des transferts entre barrage et aquifères par la méthode de bilan d’une retenue en zone semi-aride. Cas d’El Haouareb en Tunisie centrale. Revue des Sciences de l’Eau 17(2):213–225
Leduc C, Ben Ammar S, Favreau G, Beji R, Virrion R, Lacombe G, Tarhouni J, Aouadi C, Chelli BZ, Jebnoun N, OÏ M, Michelot JL, Zouari K (2007) Impacts of hydrological changes in the Mediterranean zone: environmental modifications and rural development in the Merguellil catchment, central Tunisia. Hydrol Sci J des Sci Hydrol 52(6):1162–1178
Musy A, Soutter M (1991) Physique du sol. Gérer l’environnement, vol 6. Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, Lausanne
Nazoumou Y (2002) Impact des barrages sur la recharge des nappes en zone aride: Etude par modélisation numérique sur le cas de Kairouan (Tunisie centrale). Thèse de doctorat, Université de Tunis El Manar
Nazoumou Y, Besbes M (2000) Simulation de la recharge artificielle de nappe en oued par un modèle à réservoirs. Revue des Sci de l’eau 13(4):379–404
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Direction Génerale des Barrages et des Grands Travaux Hydrauliques for their constant cooperation and the support of the AMETHYST project funded by the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sebai, A., Massuel, S., Tarhouni, J., Jerbi, H. (2017). Groundwater Recharge of the Kairouan Plain Aquifer: Evidence of Preferential Flow Paths Through the El Haouareb Limestones?. In: Ouessar, M., Gabriels, D., Tsunekawa, A., Evett, S. (eds) Water and Land Security in Drylands. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54021-4_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54021-4_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54020-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54021-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)