Abstract
A study of the hydrochemical facies, zonation, genesis and the trend in ground water quality of Al-Sulaibiya field was conducted. The study area is located 120 km south of Kuwait Bay. It comprises the oldest and largest water well field which produces brackish ground water from the Dammam limestone aquifer. > 1000 ground watger samples in the period 1980–1990 were analysed. The study revealed the dominance of two major water types and two genetic water types of continental and marine origin: NaCl and CaSO4 and SO4-Na and Cl-Mg respectively. It also revealed that the water is mainly of chloride-sulphate and calcium-sodium facies. The aquifer salinity which increases in the NE direction, ranges from 3500 to 8000 mg L−1. The water is very hard. The total hardness as CaCO3 ranges between 1500–3500 mg L−1. Thus, the only new finding was that the salinity and the total hardness of the aquifer have increased slightly and steadily over the period under investigation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Ruwaih, F. M.: 1980, ‘Hydrogeology of Al-Sulaibiya Well Field, Southwest of Kuwait’, Ph.D. dissertation, University College, London, p. 390.
Al-Yaqubi, A. S.: 1977, ‘Some Ground Water Studies in Al-Shagaya — Al-Sulaibiya Area, Kuwait’, M.Sc. Thesis, Kuwait University, p. 142.
Back, W.: 1966, Hydrochemical Facies and Ground Water Flow Patterns in North Part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper - 498A, 42 pp.
Chebotarev, I. I.: 1955, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 8, 22, 137.
Lloyd, J. W. and Heathcote, J. A.: 1985, ‘Natural Inorganic Hydrochemistry in Relation to Ground Water: An Introduction’, Oxford University Press, 296 p.
Milton, D.I.: 1965, Geology of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait. U.S.G.S., Prof. Paper 560-F7.
Owen, R. M. and Nasr, S. W.: 1958, Stratigraphy of the Kuwait-Basra Area, Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Habitat of Oil, pp. 1252–1278.
Piper, A. M.: 1944, Am. Geophys. Union. Trans. 25, 914.
Sulin, V. A.: 1948, ‘Condition of Formation Principals of Classification and Constituents of Natural Water, Particularly Water of Petroleum Accumulation’, Moscow-Leningrad, Acadi. of Sci., U.S.S.R.
Toth, J.: 1966, Ground Water Geology Movement, Chemistry and Resources Near Old Alberta, Res. Coun. of Alberta. Bull. 17.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Al-Ruwaih, F.M. Hydrogeochemical variation of carbonate aquifer, Al-Sulaibiya, Kuwait. Water Air Soil Pollut 90, 489–505 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282664
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282664