Investigation of the impact of the implementation of the coastal aquifer management plan on nitrate pollution in Gaza Strip Aquifer using modeling techniques

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 4, 282 - 292, 15.10.2022

Abdallah Jaroun , Ayşe Yeter Günal

https://doi.org/10.31127/tuje.988034

Abstract

Groundwater is the principal source of public water supply and for satisfying the daily water needs. The Gaza strip coastal aquifer is suffering from salinity and contamination due to human activities especially agriculture activities. Although, the nitrate is necessary for agriculture activities it can affect the groundwater quality if leached nitrate from the soil into freshwaters after some time. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the current situation of the Gaza strip coastal aquifer and to predict the nitrate concentrations resulting from agriculture activities over the next twenty years using modelling approach. 3D Numerical groundwater flow modeling was developed to simulate the impacts of transport of nitrate loading from agricultural land on groundwater system using finite difference method GMS 10.4 software (MODFLOW 2005 code and MT3DMS package). Five management scenarios were considered to study the effect of pumping and recharge parameters on the groundwater flow system and the impacts of transport of nitrate loading from agricultural areas on the aquifer. Ten different wells were selected to investigate the impact of management scenarios on the nitrate concentration. All management scenarios indicated that there is a relationship between the water level and nitrate concentration in aquifer therefore the rates of nitrate concentration in the southern regions of Gaza strip is more than the northern regions. 

Keywords

Coastal Aquifer, Gaza Strip, GMS MODFLOW, Groundwater Modelling, Nitrate Concentration

References

• Abd Rabou A N (2019) Ornithofauna Prevailing at Al-Mawasi Ecosystem of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Open Journal of Ecology, 9, 360-400
• Abu Samra S (2014). Determination of Physico-chemical Properties of Top Soil in Gaza Strip for Agricultural Purposes. (Unpublished Master Thesis), Islamic University of Gaza.
• Authority P W (2012). Rainfall Data in Gaza Strip.
• Fryberg D L (1988). An Exercise in Ground-Water Model Calibration and Prediction, Ground Water, 26(3), 350-360.
• Greitzer Y & Dan J (1967). The effect of soil landscape and Quaternary geology on the distribution of saline and fresh water aquifers in the Coastal Plain of Israel. Tahal Water Planning for Israel, Ltd.: Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Hallaq E (2008) Determination of Mean Annual Rainfall In Gaza Strip Using GIS. Technique University of Sharjah, Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences 5(2).
• Jamal K & Yaqubi A (2001). Water Resources and Management Issues, Unpublished report, Palestinian Water Authority, Gaza.
• Selmi A (2013). Water management and modeling of a coastal aquifer case study (Gaza strip). PhD in Earth Sciences, University of Milan Bicocca, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Viessman W Jr & Gary L L (2002) Introduction to Hydrology, 5th ed, New York: HarperCollins College.
• Wilson E M (1998). Engineering Hydrology, 4th ed, University of Salford.
• Zheng C & Bennett G D (1995). Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 440 p.