Case Study: Assessment of the Hydrophysical and Hydrochemical Parameters in the Groundwater of the North Lebanese Miocene Aquifer

Abstract

In Lebanon, natural resources such as groundwater are been exploited heavily due to the increasing population followed by urbanization and agricultural activities. Attention towards monitoring the quality and quantity of such a resource is a key role in achieving global sustainable development in the near future. The high demand in water has increased the pumping of groundwater in big cities and has affected negatively its coastline; where aquifers have shown major signs of saline water intrusion which consequently results in a deterioration of the groundwater quality. Understanding the origin and mechanisms of the salinization process is an important key to prevent further deterioration of groundwater resources. This case study will focus on the second-largest city in Lebanon, Tripoli. It is a coastline city that has been facing for the last decade, overpopulation, and an excess of construction all over its coastline. In this study, the analysis of the hydrophysical and hydrochemical parameters in the groundwater of the North Lebanese Miocene Aquifer has shown a prompt decrease in the water levels due to overexploitation of the groundwater and a deterioration of its quality in both wet and dry season. The results of the fieldwork are represented on GIS (Geographic Information System) where anthropogenic, agricultural, and domestic factors will be linked to hydrogeological factors to assess the water quality. This will allow us to link the physio-chemical results to observe how the water type is dependent on factors like lithological characteristics of the aquifers, retention time, and flow pattern of groundwater flow. Several tools were used as well such as the Piper diagram, PhreeqC to evaluate the factors affecting groundwater chemistry and observe how seawater intrusion is mitigating from the sea towards the upper areas of the aquifer.