Skip to main content

New system for the assessment of annual groundwater recharge from rainfall in the United Arab Emirates

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 77, Article number: 412 (2018) Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, the first groundwater recharge map for United Arab Emirates (UAE) was developed using the recharge potential and water table fluctuation methods. Recharge potential estimates were made using information about infiltration rate, soil type, ground slope, geological and hydrogeological factors, and the availability of rainfall harvesting infrastructure and were validated by measurements of water table rise in alluvial aquifers in wadis. Based on this information, the total recharge in the UAE is estimated to be about 133 million cubic meters per year (MCM/year). Annual recharge rates are calculated to vary between 1 and 28% of precipitation in the different regions of UAE depending on several natural and manmade parameters including, among others, recharge enhancing infrastructure. Estimates from the two methods are 98% in agreement; which suggests that the recharge potential method is suitable for estimating aquifer’s recharge in UAE and arid regions. The water table fluctuation method was found to be more suitable for assessing recharge through gravel plains and wadis in mountainous areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

(modified from British Geological Survey and UAE Ministry of Energy 2006)

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

References

  • British Geological Survey, UAE Ministry of Energy (2006) Geological Map of Northern UAE. Internal Report, Ministry of Energy, Abu Dhabi

    Google Scholar 

  • Chenini I, Ben MM (2010) Groundwater recharge study in arid region: an approach using GIS techniques and numerical modeling. Comput Geosci 36:801–817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosbie RS, James L, McCallum, Glenn A, Harringto (2001) Estimation of groundwater recharge and discharge across northern Australia. In: 18th World IMACS/MODSIM Congress, Cairns, Australia 13–17 July 2009. Integrated Water Resources Management. IAHS. Public No. pp 272–2001

  • CRS SEWA (2006) Use of space images for groundwater exploration in the Northern United Arab Emirates. Internal Report. Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), Sharjah

    Google Scholar 

  • De Silva RP (1998) A review of the methods of estimating groundwater recharge in relation to the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Open Univ Rev Eng Technol J 4(2): 3–12 (Open University of Sri Lanka)

    Google Scholar 

  • EAD (2012) Soil Survey of UAE, internal report, Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency, Abu Dhabi

  • El Baz F (1998) The Arab World and space research: where do we stand. The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and research, Abu Dhabi

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmahdy SI, Mohamed MM (2012) Geological lineament detection, characterization and association with groundwater contamination in carbonate rocks of Musandam peninsular using digital elevation model (DEM). Open Hydrol J 6(Suppl 1-M3):45–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmahdy SI, Mohamed MM (2013) Influence of geological structures on groundwater accumulation and groundwater salinity in Musandam Peninsula, UAE and Oman. J Geocarto Int 28(5):453–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ESCWA (2003) Water scarcity in the Arab World. Population and development report, Beirut, Lebanon

    Google Scholar 

  • Halcrow SW, Partners Ltd (1969) Report on the water resources of the Trucial States: Trucial States Council, Water Resources Survey, Internal Report, Ministry of Energy & Water, Dubai, UAE

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy RW, Cook PG (2002) Using groundwater levels to estimate recharge. Hydrogeol J 10:91–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imes JL, Signor DC, Woodward DG (1993) Hydrology and water quality; in Maddy, D.V.,ed. In: 1993. Ground-water resources of Al Ain area, Abu Dhabi Emirate: U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report 93 – 001. Prepared for the National Drilling Company, Abu Dhabi, pp 168–283

  • IWACO (1986) Ground water study, Drilling of Deep Water Wells at Various locations in the UAE, Groundwater Development in the Northern Agricultural Region. Internal Report, Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai

    Google Scholar 

  • JICA (1996) The master plan study on the groundwater resources development for agriculture in the vicinity of Al Dhaid, UAE. Japan International cooperation Agency (JICA). Internal report, Ministry of Environment & Water, UAE

  • Kinzelbach W, Aeschbach W, Alberich C, Goni IB, Beyerle U, Brunner P, Chiang WH, Rueedi J, Zoellmann K (2002) A survey of methods for groundwater recharge in Arid and Semi-arid regions. Early warning and assessment report Series, UNEP/DEWA/RS.02–2. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi. ISBN 92-80702131-3

  • Machiwal D, Jha MK (2015) GIS-based water balance modeling for estimating regional specific yield and distributed recharge in data-scarce hard-rock regions. J Hydrol Environ Res Vol 9(4): 554–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MOEW IAEA (2005) Assessment of groundwater recharge in Wadi Al Wurryah, Al Taween, and Al Bih using environmental isotopes. Internal report, MOEW, Dubai

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon SK, Woo NC, Lee KS (2004) Statistical analysis of hydrograph and water-table fluctuation to estimate groundwater recharge. J Hydrol 292: 198–209

  • Nagarajan M, Singh S (2009) Assessment of groundwater potential zones using GIS technique. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 37:69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Risser DW, Gburek WJ, Folmar GJ (2005) Comparison of Methods for Estimating Ground-Water Recharge and Base Flow at a Small Watershed Underlain by Fractured Bedrock in the Eastern United States, USGS, Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5038

  • Sami K, Hughes DA (1996) A comparison of recharge estimates to a fractured sedimentary aquifer in South Africa from a chloride mass balance and an integrated surface-subsurface model. J Hydrol Vol 179 (1–4): 111–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon BR, Healy RW, Cook PG (2002) Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge. Hydrogeol J 10(1):18–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharda VN, Kurothe RS, Sena DR, Pande VC, Tiwari SP (2006) Estimation of groundwater recharge from water storage structures in a semi-arid climate of India. J Hydrol 329: 224–243

  • Sherif MM, Al Mahmoudy A, Garamoon H, Kasimov A, Akram S, Ebraheem AM, Shetty A (2005) Assessment of the effectiveness of Al Bih,Al Tawiyean and Ham Dams in groundwater recharge using numerical models. Internal Report. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dubai

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherif MM, Mohamed M, Shetty A, Almulla M (2011) Rainfall-runoff modeling of three wadis in the Northern Area of UAE. J Hydrol Eng ASCE 16(1):10–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sophocleous MA (1992) Groundwater recharge estimation and regionalization: the Great Bend Prairie of central Kansas and its recharge statistics. J Hydrol 137:113–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sophocleous MA, McAllister JA (1987) Basinwide water-balance modeling with emphasis on spatial distribution of groundwater recharge. Water Resour Bull 23:997–1010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subagunasekar M, Sashikkumar MC (2012) GIS for the assessment of the groundwater recharge potential zone in Karunkulam block, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Int J Curr Sci 1: 159–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RG, Howard KWF (1996) Groundwater recharge in the Victoria Nile basin of east Africa: support for the soil moisture balance approach using stable isotope tracers and flow modelling. J Hydrol 180: 31–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood WW, Imes JL (1995a) How wet is wet? Precipitation constraints on late Quaternary climate in the southern Arabian Peninsula. J Hydrol 164:263–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood WW, Imes JL (1995b) What’s wrong with the sabkha dolomitization model? In: Groundwater! [abs.]: Abstracts of the International Conference on Quaternary Deserts and Climatic Change, December 9–11, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, p. 41

  • Xu Y, Beekman HE (eds) (2003) Groundwater recharge estimation in Southern Africa. UNESCO IHP Series No. 64, UNESCO Paris, pp 149–164 (ISBN 92-9220-000-3)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Water Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

    M. M. Sherif & A. V. Shetty

  2. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box:15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

    M. M. Sherif

  3. Geology Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    A. M. Ebraheem

  4. Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Energy and Water, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    M. M. Al Mulla

Authors
  1. M. M. Sherif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. M. Ebraheem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. M. Al Mulla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. V. Shetty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. M. Ebraheem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sherif, M.M., Ebraheem, A.M., Al Mulla, M.M. et al. New system for the assessment of annual groundwater recharge from rainfall in the United Arab Emirates. Environ Earth Sci 77, 412 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7591-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7591-3

Keywords

  • Groundwater recharge
  • Recharge potential
  • Water table fluctuation
  • GIS
  • Water management