Impact of intense exploitation on the groundwater balance and flow within Mullusi aquifer (arid zone, west Iraq)

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences 2013-07, Vol.6 (7), p.2461-2482
• Main Authors: Hussien, Bayan Muhie, Fayyadh, Abed Salih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Original Paper
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-011-0513-2

The main results that derived from this study is the quantitative determination of subsurface water balance and the water loses along flow line during drought decade (before 2000–2009), with intense exploitation of groundwater from water wells. The hydrogeological data are presented as spatial distribution maps and three dimensional models. The results are correlated with the main hydrogeologic control points including (storage and transmissivity coefficients, groundwater depths, aquifers thickness, lateral extensions, well productivity) to determine the preferable hydrogeologic districts for development and exploitations, avoiding groundwater depletion as captured zone flow. Based on the isotope analysis of deuterium, oxygen-18, tritium, carbon-13, and carbon-14, the recharge of the aquifer is originated to direct infiltration of atmospheric water through exposure outcrops within Hauran catchments area. The isotope compositions also show that the groundwater is a mixture of an old groundwater with modern recharge in the areas adjacent to Rutba. The fact that the Mullusi aquifer is of major importance as the water supply of people in Rutba region, particularly, for increasing demand of water resources and sustainability assessment in the future, this study developed a reliable strategic suggested plan in groundwater supply, based on groundwater exploitation and amount of safe yield within Dhabaa basin.