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Integrated groundwater quantity and quality management for the middle region of Libya using hydrochemical and numerical modelling approaches

Mohamed Basher, Hoosein 2011. Integrated groundwater quantity and quality management for the middle region of Libya using hydrochemical and numerical modelling approaches. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
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Abstract

Libya is a country of desert and the arid climate makes it in extreme lack of surface water. Groundwater then becomes a very important resource to meet the economical and agricultural demand in the northern coastal areas. Groundwater has been over-exploited and some problems occurred such as saline deterioration and aquifer deterioration since 1960s. To better understand these problems for a proper management solution, this project was setup for groundwater investigations aiming better management strategy in Wadi Baye as a case study based upon the governmental water management requirement. Based on systematic literature review and data collection on geology, hydrogeology and other related environmental aspects, the groundwater systems were studied in terms of recharge and discharge, boundary and recharge and hydraulic characteristics using field based, hydrochemical/isotopic analysis and numerical modelling approaches. A series of techniques were employed to study the spatial and temporal variations of the groundwater flow field and hydrochemistry in the shallow and deep aquifer systems. The isotope signature was also used to understand the hydrochemical evolution of groundwater in Wadi Baye. It is found that the shallow groundwater is mainly influenced by the palaeo-saline hydro-environment, the deep groundwater geochemistry is impacted by mixture with the modern water around 50 km off the coastal line. A 3D groundwater numerical model was built using ModFlow based on proper calculation and calibration of the major hydraulic parameters. Calculation of groundwater budgets shows that total annual averaged recharge is 167K m3/d in Wadi Baye; the exploitable resources for shallow and deep aquifers are 33.7K and 15.6K m3/d respectively. Groundwater exploitation potential indicates that both shallow and deep groundwater systems are under over-exploitation. Sensitivity analysis of hydraulic conductivity, specific yield (storitivity) and precipitation recharge shows that hydraulic conductivity poses the greatest impact to the model in Wadi Baye. Three groundwater utilisation plans were proposed for further prediction in the future 10 years using the calibrated groundwater model. Modelling scenarios show that shallow and deep groundwater field will draw down under existing and increasing abstraction plans; drawdown in shallow groundwater will be greatly reduced if abstraction reduces to exploitable level and the overall flow field can remain stable or recover. However water level around the concentrated abstraction area will still drop down due to the localised negative balance by pumping. The best management strategy was proposed based on the modelling scenarios, to achieve a sustainable water management for the Wadi Baye area.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Status: Unpublished
Schools: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 30 March 2016
Last Modified: 19 Mar 2016 22:22
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/13739

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