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Groundwater salinization processes in shallow coastal aquifer of Djeffara plain of Medenine, Southeastern Tunisia

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Abstract

Urban and industrial development and the expansion of irrigated agriculture have led to a drastic increase in the exploitation of groundwater resources. The over-exploitation of coastal aquifers has caused a seawater intrusion and has seriously degraded groundwater quality. The shallow coastal aquifer of the Djeffara plain, southeastern Tunisia constitutes an example of water resource suffering an intensive and uncontrolled pumping for irrigation. Intensive exploitation of the aquifer and climate aridity caused a decrease in piezometric level and an increase in salinity. According to the hydrochemical data (Cl−, SO4 2−, NO3 −, HCO3 −, Br−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and the stable isotope composition (oxygen-18 and deuterium content), groundwater salinization in the investigated system is caused by three main processes: (i) salts dissolution especially in the central part of Jerba and around Medenine plain; (ii) evaporation process; and (iii) seawater intrusion which caused the increase in salinity in the peninsula of El Jorf, in Jerba and in the North of Ben Gardane.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the members of the Regional Direction of Agriculture and Water Resources of Medenine (South Tunisia) for assistances in the field works.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Radio-Analysis and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

    Rim Trabelsi, Kamel Abid & Kamel Zouari

  2. Regional Direction of Agriculture and Water Resources of Medenine, Medenine, Tunisia

    Houcine Yahyaoui

Authors
  1. Rim Trabelsi
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  2. Kamel Abid
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  3. Kamel Zouari
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  4. Houcine Yahyaoui
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Correspondence to Rim Trabelsi.

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Trabelsi, R., Abid, K., Zouari, K. et al. Groundwater salinization processes in shallow coastal aquifer of Djeffara plain of Medenine, Southeastern Tunisia. Environ Earth Sci 66, 641–653 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1273-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1273-8

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