Groundwater modelling of the Tebessa-Morsott alluvial aquifer (northeastern Algeria): A geostatistical approach

• Published in: Groundwater for sustainable development Vol. 11; p. 100444
• Main Authors: Drias, Tarek, Khedidja, Abdelhamid, Belloula, Moufida, Badraddine, Saadali, Saibi, Hakim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algeria; Cokriging; Environmental Sciences; Groundwater modeling; Hydrodynamic characteristics; Tebessa; Water table drawdown; Algeria; Tebessa; Groundwater modeling; Water table drawdown; Cokriging; Hydrodynamic characteristics
• ISSN: 2352-801X; 2352-801X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100444

This paper studies aquifer's hydrodynamic behavior by combining a flow-simulation model with transmissivity optimization (cokriging) in order to provide an optimal management scheme for the groundwater aquifer. The use of a cokriging approach improves the transmissivity data which are insufficient for the database of the groundwater flow simulation model. The obtained results are then used to model the groundwater flow of the Tebessa-Morsott shallow aquifer, located in NE Algeria, under a steady and transient regime. The results of the model calibration for the steady-state (year 2010) show that the recharge by rainfall and leakage rate are similar compared to those calculated by the analytical approach, (84,354 m3/day for the recharge and 36,986 m3/day for pumped water flow rate). The results of the transient regime show the alluvial aquifer affected by large drawdowns reaching 40 m over 20 years (year 2030 scenario) due to increase in water exploitation from pumping wells to answer water needs of the Tebessa region. [Display omitted] •This study shows how geostatistical methods can help improve aquifer hydrodynamic parameters (T, K).•The enhanced transmissivity and permeability values are used in numerical models to understand aquifer hydrodynamics.•Geostatistics helps in constructing robust groundwater aquifer models.