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3D simulation of a multi-stressed coastal aquifer, northeast of Tunisia: salt transport processes and remediation scenarios

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Abstract

A salinization of groundwater by oilfield brine and seawater intrusion was detected in the plain of Wadi Al Ayn and Darouda in CapBon, northeast of Tunisia. The objective of this work is to simulate the historical trends of saltwater distribution in the study area and to predict its future dynamics under some proposed countermeasures for remediation. Based on the developed model with SEAWAT, the oilfield brine plume needs at least 5 years to be naturally reduced to less than the half of its actual size, while the seawater–freshwater interface can reach an inland extent of 1.3 km with a TDS of 10 g/L if no countermeasures will be taken until the next three decades. The tested remediation plan by model demonstrated that the artificial recharge with treated wastewater is the best solution to stop seawater intrusion just after 2 years of percolating 1 m/day with TDS of 1.5 g/L of recharge water. The natural remediation of the oilfield brine plume can be enhanced by imposing optimized pumping rates and installation of a restricted pumping perimeter.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program, funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Researches and Technologies Center (CERTE), Borj Cedria Technopark, BP 273, 8020, Soliman, Nabeul, Tunisia

    Anis Chekirbane

  2. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Maki Tsujimura

  3. Alliance of Research of North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Atsushi Kawachi & Hiroko Isoda

  4. National Agronomical Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082, Mahrajène city, Tunis, Tunisia

    Jamila Tarhouni

  5. Higher School of Agriculture of Mograne (ESAM), University of Carthage, 1121, Mograne, Zaghouan, Tunisia

    Abdallah Benalaya

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  1. Anis Chekirbane
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  2. Maki Tsujimura
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  3. Atsushi Kawachi
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  4. Hiroko Isoda
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  5. Jamila Tarhouni
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  6. Abdallah Benalaya
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Correspondence to Anis Chekirbane.

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Chekirbane, A., Tsujimura, M., Kawachi, A. et al. 3D simulation of a multi-stressed coastal aquifer, northeast of Tunisia: salt transport processes and remediation scenarios. Environ Earth Sci 73, 1427–1442 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3495-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3495-z

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