Abstract
There are seventeen rock formations exposed in Lebanon. Thus, matching the precipitated water with the geological characteristics of Lebanon created typical hydrogeological sequence where permeable and porous rocks are interbedded with rock of diverse properties and then resulting a number of groundwater reservoirs and the aquiferous rock formations . There are contradictory estimations for the volume of the renewable groundwater in Lebanon. It ranges between 0.5 and 4.84 billion m3/year, besides 3.65 billion m3 in rivers and springs, but it must be clear that this groundwater volume is interrelated with those in rivers and springs and cannot be hydro-logically separated. Apart from the problem of groundwater flow into the sea as invisible rivers; yet, the groundwater resources in Lebanon are severely exhausted and the uncontrolled pumping became widespread. This added negative impact on groundwater re-sources which often found with high contamination rate. Still, the investment of groundwater does not follow scientifically-based approaches whether to explore potential reservoirs or to pump water from zones with no impact on other water resources. This chapter will present a detailed discussion on groundwater resources of Lebanon including mainly aquifer characteristics and their hydraulic properties, plus estimations for water volume and recharge rate in addition, the relationship of groundwater to faults, and then groundwater level and discharge .
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abbud M, Aker N (1986) The study of the aquiferous formations of Lebanon through the chemistry of their typical springs. Leb Sci Bull 2(2):5–22
Ahmed F, Andrawis A, Hagaz Y (1984) Landsat model for groundwater exploration in the Nuba Mountans. Sudan Adv Space Res 4(11):123–131
Al Saud M (2010) Mapping potential areas for groundwater storage in Wadi Aurnah Basin, western Arabian Peninsula, using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. Hydrogeol J 18(6):1481–1495
Al-Ajam N (1992) Aquifers in Lebanon and their characteristics. 1st symposium on the status of water resources in Lebanon (In Arabic), 29–40pp
Bilal A, Ammar O (2002) Rainfall water management using satellite imagery: examples from Syria. Int J Remote Sens 23(2):207–219
Brassington R (1990) Field hydrogeology. Geological Society of London. Professional handbooks series. Open University Press/Milton Keynes/Halsted Press/Wiley, New York, 175p
Canaan G (1992) The hydrogeology of western slopes and coastal plain of Zahrani-Awali region. MSc dissertation, Geology Department, AUB, 85p
Dubertret L (1955) Carte géologique de la Syrie et du Liban au 1/200000me. In: 21 feuilles avec notices explicatrices. Ministère des Travaux Publics. L’imprimerie Catholique, Beyrouth, 74p
Edet AE, Okereke CS, Teme SC, Esu EO (1998) Application of remote sensing data to groundwater exploration: a case study of the Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. Hydrogeol J Springer 6(3):394–404
FAO (2008) Information system on water and agriculture- aquastat Lebanon. FAO, Rome. Available at: http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries/lebanon/index.stm
Ganapuram S, Kumar G, Krishna I, Kahya E, Demirel M (2008) Mapping of groundwater potential zones in the Musi basin using remote sensing and GIS. Adv Eng Softw 40(7):506518
Gustafsson P (1994) SPOT satellite data for exploration of fractured aquifers in a semi-arid area in Botswana. Hydrogeol J Springer 2(2):9–18
IWMI and USAID (2017) Groundwater governance in Lebanon: the case of Central Beqaa. Groundwater governance in the Arab World. A policy white paper, 36pp
Khadra W (2005) Hydrogeology of the Damour Upper Sannine-Maameltain aquifer. MSc dissertation, Geology Department, AUB, 235p
Khawlie M (1986) Land-use planning for the redevelopment of a disrupted urban center: Beirut, Lebanon. Int J Dev Technol 4:267–281
Khawlie M, Shaban A (1998) Contribution of remote sensing studies to the fractured karstic coastal terrain, Lebanon-Water enhancement or hindrance. Conference on: flow, friction and fracture, AUB Center for Advanced Math. Sciences, Beirut, 1–7 July 1998
Kruseman G, De Ridder N (2000) Analysis and evaluation of pumping test data. Publication 47. International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement, Wageningen, 372p
Kumar P, Gopinath G, Seralathan O (2007) Application of remote sensing and GIS for the demarcation of groundwater potential areas of a river basin in Kerala, southwest coast of India. Int J Remote Sens 28(24):5583–5601
MoEW (2010) National water sector strategy. Available at: http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/leb166572E.pdf
MoEW and UNDP (2014) Assessment of groundwater resources of Lebanon, 88pp
Robinson C, El-Baz F, Singhory V (1999) Subsurface imaging by RADARSAT: comparison with Landsat TM data and implications for groundwater in the Selima area, northwestern Sudan. Remote Sens Abstr 25(3):45–76
Savane I, Goze B, Gwyn H (1996) Etude cartographique et structurale à l’aide des données Landsat de la région d’Odienne [Cartographic and structural study using Landsat in the Ivory Coast]. In: Proceedings of the 26th international symposium on remote sensing of environment, Vancouver, BC, 25–29 March 1996, pp 92–97
Sener E, Davraz A, Ozcelik M (2005) An integration of GIS and remote sensing in groundwater investigations: a case study in Burdur, Turkey. Hydrogeol J 13(5):826–834
Shaban A (2003) Etude de l’hydrogéologie au Liban Occidental: Utilisation de la télédétection. PhD dissertation, Bordeaux 1 Université, 202p
Shaban A (2010) Support of space techniques for groundwater exploration in Lebanon. J Water Resour Prot 5:354–368
Shaban A (2012) A brief review of groundwater resources in coastal Lebanon. In: The INCAM environmental and coastal ecosystem management. CIHEAM, IRD, EU, UK, 213p
Shaban A (2017) Hydrogeological study for Tell Amara, Bekkaa Region. Unpublished technical report (In Arabic), 13p
Shaban A, Dawrich T (2011) The role of sinkholes in groundwater recharge in mountain crests of Lebanon. Environ Hydrol J 19(9):2011
Shaban A, Hamzé M (2017) Shared water resources of Lebanon. Nova, New York, p 150
Shaban A, Khawlie M (2006) Lineament analysis through remote sensing as a contribution to study karstic caves in occidental Lebanon. Revue Photo-interprétation. AGPA Edition. 4:0
Shaban A, Khawlie M, Bou Kheir R, Abdallah C (2001) Assessment of road instability along a typical mountainous road using GIS and aerial photos, Lebanon – eastern Mediterranean. Bull Eng Geol Environ 60:93–101
Shaban A, Khawlie M, Abdallah C (2005) Use of remote sensing and GIS to determine recharge potential zones: the case of occidental Lebanon. Hydrogeol J 14(4):433–443
Shaban A, El-Baz F, Khawlie M (2007) The relation between water-wells productivity and lineaments morphometry: selected zones from Lebanon. Nord Hydrol 38(2):178–201
Tabet C (1978) Geology and hydrogeology of the Baskinta-Sannine area, Central Lebanon. MSc dissertation, Geology Department, AUB, 123p
Teeuw RM (1995) Groundwater exploration using remote sensing and a low-cost geographic information system. Hydrogeol J Springer 3(3):21–30
UNDP (United Nations Development Program) (1970) Liban-Etude des Eaux Souterraines. United Nation, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shaban, A. (2020). Groundwater. In: Water Resources of Lebanon. World Water Resources, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48717-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48717-1_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-48716-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-48717-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)