Marwan Ghanem

Groundwater vulnerability mapping assessment of central West Bank catchments using PI method

Abstract A groundwater vulnerability assessment was carried out in order to understand and control the pollution sources affecting vulnerable regions in two adjacent catchments (Sarida and Natuf), located in the western middle part of the West Bank. The catchments were subjected to groundwater vulnerability mapping and assessment using the modified German State Geological Surveys (GLA method) method called Protective Cover and Infiltration Conditions method (PI method) via ArcGis 2014.2 software package in February of 2016. The results showed that the study area has high effectiveness of protective cover (P-factor), which was obtained by overlying top soil, bedrock, subsoil, and recharge layers. On the other hand, the dominant flow types, land usage, slopes, and topographical classification layers were overlaid to get the infiltration conditions (I-factor). The interaction between the two main factors was carried out in order to obtain the final spatially distributed π-factor values (vulnerability map), which was classified into four vulnerability classes. Statistically, about 4% of the overall area was of extreme vulnerability and concentrated along the sinking streams, while 22% was of low vulnerability and existed outside the main watersheds, followed by high vulnerability with 26%. The largest proportion with 48% of the overall area was of moderate vulnerability to groundwater contamination.

Distributed data collection and web-based integration for more efficient and informative groundwater pollution risk assessment

Abstract We present a web-based software platform for assimilation of field data on groundwater vulnerability and assessment of groundwater pollution risk. Groundwater vulnerability and risk assessments couple hydrogeologic characterization and pollution source information to provide a relative measure of risk to a groundwater supply. Vulnerability is based solely on hydrogeologic factors, while risk also considers pollution hazards. Previous studies have identified two key limitations in the collection of pollution hazards information: detailed investigations throughout a study area are extremely time-consuming, and pollution inventories are not regularly updated to reflect changes in land use. This paper presents a methodology to address these two limitations by allowing broad-based effort to collect pollution hazard parameters in the field using GPS-tagged smartphone forms and incorporating the new information rapidly into a web-based risk modelling framework. To demonstrate this approach, a case-study is presented from the Natuf Basin in the Ramallah-Al Bireh Governorate of Palestine.

Recharge, geochemical processes and water quality in karst aquifers: Central West Bank, Palestine

The Central West Bank aquifer (CWB) is one of the most important resources of fresh groundwater of Palestine. The geology of the area consists mainly of karstic and permeable limestones and dolomites interbedded with argillaceous beds of late Albian–Turonian age. Exploitation of the CWB aquifer, combined with lack of information required to understand the groundwater pattern, represents a challenge for reservoir management. The present work reports hydrogeochemistry, microbiology and environmental isotope data from spring water samples, which were utilized to understand recharge mechanisms, geochemical evolution and renewability of groundwater in CWB aquifer. Besides the major chemical compositions, ionic ratios were used to delineate mineral-solution reactions and weathering processes. Interpretation of chemical data suggests that the chemical evolution of groundwater is primarily controlled by (1) water–rock interactions, involving dissolution of carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite), and (2) cation exchange processes. The measured equation of the local meteoric water line is δD = 5.8 δ18O + 9.9. Stable isotopes show that precipitation is the source of recharge to the groundwater system. The evaporation line has a linear increasing trend from south to north direction in the study area. All analyzed spring waters are suitable for irrigation, but not for drinking purposes. The results from this study can serve as a basis for decision-makers and stakeholders, with the intention to increase the understanding of sustainable management of the CWBs.

Impact of Spring Water Qualitative Assessment on the Environmental Management System in the West Bank

This study explores the use of water quality data for groundwater protection management. The urban related environmental expansion acts as pollution indicators for the spring water quality. Groundwater quality indicators were mapped and integrated with spatial information about the surrounding environment.

Inventory of the potential artificial recharge practice in the Eastern Aquifer basin: the case of Al-Qilt catchment, Palestine

The weighted overlay method was applied in order to determine the best locations for artificial recharge in Al-Qilt catchment using parameters of the slope, runoff, infiltration capacity, land use, density of wells and the depth of the ground water table. Results show that 91% of the total area is moderately suitable for artificial groundwater recharge by floodwater with a total area of 159 km2. If treated waste water is used as source for artificial recharge 66% of the total area is moderately suitable for artificial recharge with a total area of 115 km2. The yearly average recharge mounts is calculated to be 100 mm/year in the upper part of the catchment and drops to about 10 mm/year in its lower part. Based on recharge values and its good conditions indicated that most of the actual flood runoff which flows to the Jordan valley can be artificially recharged within Al-Qilt catchment.

Qualitative spring water management in the central western catchment of the West Bank from hydrochemical and environmental isotopes approaches

This study assesses spring water quality data connected to groundwater pollution indicators for building a qualitative groundwater management system in the central western catchment of the West Bank. It characterizes the major ion chemistry and trace elements for the mountainous spring water in terms of their suitability for irrigation and domestic purposes. The results increase community awareness about qualitative access to available and reliable water resources in central catchments. The cation–anion orders indicate calcium–hydrogen carbonate spring water type, useful for determining the parameters of risk. EC-TDS relations classified the water as fresh and within the allowable limits of the WHO guidelines. The fact that the majority of these springs are located within densely populated areas explains the higher counts of total and fecal coliforms. The environment of recharge is determined through the stable isotopic compositions of deuterium and oxygen—18 of a north–south profile analysis. The study shows that the isotopic composition, ranging from −5.06 to −5.89 ‰ for δ18O and from −20.28 to −24.44 ‰ for δ2H. The δ2H–δ18O relationship is used to define the local meteoric water line (LMWL), according to the equation: δ2H = 4.7 δ18O + 3.6. The plotted isotopic content of the analyzed water samples on the Mediterranean meteoric water line signifies water recharge from recent precipitation.

Anthropogenic trace metals and their enrichment factors in Wadi Al-Qilt sediment, Palestine

The aim of this study is to delineate the extent of heavy metal pollution from Al-Qilt sediment. Sixty-three surface sediments samples were collected from nine sites at Al-Qilt catchment and digested using the Aqua Regia solution then analysed for Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pb, Bi, U and B using ICP-MS. The Enrichment Factor (EF) values were determined for heavy and trace metals for the tested sediment samples. The EF values were site-dependent with high values at all sites with (Ag and Bi). Results revealed that Ag, Bi, Cd, Zn and Hg were the most anthropogenically enriched parameters in the sediment, reflecting typical metal caused by human activities. EF values of Al, Ti, Co, Rb, Ba, Li and Be were less than one, indicating that these metals were derived from the crust or wreathing.