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Adapting groundwater artificial recharge to global and climate change in water-stressed coastal region: the case of Ras Jebel aquifer (North Tunisia)

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Abstract

The Ras Jebel aquifer (North Tunisia) is a typical Mediterranean overexploited coastal aquifer. Since 1966, the piezometric levels have decreased, and water quality has deteriorated. A piezometric dropdown correlated to high salinity is observed in the coastal part of the aquifer. The salinity was increased from 1.7 g.L−1 in 1966 to 4 g.L−1 in 1985. For groundwater remediation, and to combat seawater intrusion, the Tunisian Water Authorities (DGRE and CRDA Bizerte) have set up an artificial groundwater recharge program by surface water through an irrigation system since 1992. Until 2018, 9.21 Mm3 was injected into the aquifer. The work aims are to study and find out the impact of artificial recharge by surface water on the piezometric evolution and the water quality of the Ras Jebel aquifer in relation to the seawater intrusion risk. A multi-tracer approach was carried out in the Ras Jebel region in May 2015 and 2016, including piezometric, geochemical, and geophysical studies. The piezometric study was used to assess the piezometric evolution in relation to the recharge operations. The salinity data were used to characterize the groundwater salinity evolution. Four electrical tomography profiles of a 315 m length were executed between the recharge site and the coastline. Inverted apparent resistivity models have been developed. Electrical resistivity contrast between the recharge water infiltration, seawater intrusion, and groundwater shows the infiltration of recharge water in the direction of the piezometric depression. Consequently, a hydraulic barrier of 150 m larger was formed on the side of the sea. It resists seawater intrusion.

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No data were used elsewhere to support this study, and it was entirely a new set of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georesources Laboratory, Water Research and Technology Centre, Borj Cedria Ecopark, PO Box 273, 8020, Soliman, Tunisia

    Fethi Lachaal, Sameh Chargui & Hakim Gabtni

  2. Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Department of Geology, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Nesrine Jebalia

  3. Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development of Bizerte, Tunisia, Rue Hassen Nouri, 7000, Bizerte, Tunisia

    Khalil Ayari

  4. General Direction of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture in Tunisia, 43, rue Saida El-Manoubia Montfleury, 1008, Tunis, Tunisia

    Lobna Triki

Authors
  1. Fethi Lachaal
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  2. Sameh Chargui
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  3. Nesrine Jebalia
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  4. Khalil Ayari
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  5. Lobna Triki
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  6. Hakim Gabtni
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Correspondence to Fethi Lachaal.

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Responsible Editor: Claude Hammecker

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Water Quality, Global Changes and Groundwater Responses

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Lachaal, F., Chargui, S., Jebalia, N. et al. Adapting groundwater artificial recharge to global and climate change in water-stressed coastal region: the case of Ras Jebel aquifer (North Tunisia). Arab J Geosci 15, 1202 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10453-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10453-3

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