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Due to the rapid population increase in the Middle Seybouse sub-catchment area in North-East Algeria, the intense agricultural practices, and the industrial development, precious water resources proven to be significantly challenged in their sustainable exploitation both in terms of quantity and quality. The aim of this study is to identify the most suitable areas for groundwater recharge in the Middle Seybouse sub-catchment, over about 770.91 km², using remote sensing data and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Six factors are recognized to positively affect groundwater recharge: rainfall, land cover, topography, drainage density, lineament density, and lithology. According to their level of involvement in the recharge process, these parameters have been reclassified and then evaluated using the multi-criteria analysis known as “Analytical Hierarchy Process” (AHP). A potential recharge map of the study area was produced showing that 60% of this area, located in the southern and central parts of the catchment, has a high to very high potential. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve is used to validate the resulting groundwater potential recharge map using the existing wells in the study area.

The aim of this study is to assess the main climatic characteristics and their impact on the hydrological regime at the watershed and the hydrodynamic functioning of the aquifer in the Eastern Mitidja plain (Algeria, 2,382 millions km2). In detail, specific objectives are to determine the recharge mode of the aquifer, to propose solutions for the groundwater overexploitation and to remedy the seawater problem in its northeastern part. The application of three statistical methods (Pettitt’s, Buishand’s U statistic and, Lee and Heghinian’s tests) and two drought indices (SPI and Ipmc) allowed identifying the wet and dry periods for the time interval 1906-2018. In addition, the piezometric maps analysis for the years 1973, 1981, 2015 and 2020 was carried out to investigate the hydrodynamic behavior of the study area and to determine the effect of the hydrological regime on the hydrogeological functioning of the aquifer. Results obtained by the application of the three statistical methods and two drought indices indicate two distinct periods. The first period is wet and it extends from 1906 to 1973, while the second period is dry and it goes from 1974 to 2018. It is characterised by a rainfall deficit between 15% and 19% compared to the previous period (1906-1973). Furthermore, a significant drawdown in the piezometric levels is observed from 1973 to 2020, varying between 10 and 80 m, that indicates a negative trend of piezometric levels. This drawdown coincides with the rainfall deficit noticed during the period 1973-2018. Also, seawater intrusion was observed in the northeastern part of the plain. To enhance groundwater management, an effective remediation strategy is to use an artificial recharge technique from the existing wastewater treatment plants in the region, complemented by stopping the pumping of wells in coastal zones that are affected by seawater intrusion supplemented by a hydro-chemical monitoring of the groundwater.