Origin of water salinity in a lake and coastal aquifer system

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 565 - 573
• Main Authors: Djabri, L, Rouabhia, A, Hani, A, Lamouroux, Ch, Pulido-Bosch, A
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.04.2008; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquifer systems; Aquifers; Coastal aquifers; Drought; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Evapotranspiration; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Geochemistry; Geology; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Lakes; Lithology; Mineralogy; Original Article; Salinity; saltwater intrusion; Silicates; Stream; strontium; Studies; Water analysis; Water geochemistry; Water levels; Water supply; Water wells; Mediterranean Sea; North Africa; Algeria; West Mediterranean; Africa; Strontium; Seawater intrusion; Stream; Mediterranean Sea; Salinity; carbonate rocks; gneisses; schists; ground water; evapotranspiration; sandstone; clay; quartzites; aquifers; hydrochemistry; limestone; marbles; lakes; salt water; clastic rocks; salinity; micaschist; salt-water intrusion; streams; strontium; water supply; drilling; metamorphic rocks; pumping; sedimentary rocks; sand; water resource management; chemical composition; wadis
• ISSN: 0943-0105; 1866-6280; 1432-0495; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-0851-2

The studied area is in the Algerian Northeast. A number of interacting factors at the site are able to modify salinity. The main influences are: (1) The lithology, (2) Fedzara Lake, (3) marine waters, and (4) a prolonged drought. (1) The lithology is very clearly delineated by the outcrop of metamorphic formations (gneiss, marbles, micaschists, and quartzites) and sedimentary formations (limestones, clay, sandstones, and sands). All these formations can influence the chemical composition of waters. (2) Fedzara Lake evacuates its salted waters via the Wadi Meboudja, which connects with the Wadi Seybouse and the phreatic surface. These lake waters might induce changes in salinity. (3) The marine waters represent the third source of salinity change. Over-pumping of water from wells and drillings can cause an imbalance to the fresh-salted water interface. (4) The effects of a local prolonged drought of more than 10 years may increase water salinity. Over-pumping to augment water supply generates a fall in water levels and the drier atmosphere increases evapotranspiration. Both may contribute to increased salinity. Results of water analysis were used to observe the evolution of these various factors.