Potential Artificial Recharge to a Semi-arid Basin: A Case Study in a Shallow Groundwater Aquifer, South of West Bank, Palestine.

Groundwater is the main source of fresh water for domestic and agricultural uses in Palestine. Increased dependence on groundwater demonstrates the dire need to improve aquifer management in terms of understanding and controlling recharge and discharge issues. An artificial groundwater recharge feasibility study was proposed as one of the viable options to halt the decline of groundwater storage in Wadi Abu Al-Qamrah (WAAQ) area located in Hebron, south of the West Bank. Artificial recharge provides natural storage with minimum surface area requirements. It also minimizes evaporation loss, improves water quality, and utilizes surplus surface water runoff. The geology, soil, land cover, and natural streams were mapped using GIS and spatial analysis techniques. Geologic, hydrologic, and piezometric analyses were performed to support the decision. The geological investigation shows that there are two dominant geological formations in the study area: The Cenomanian formation at the foothills east and west, and the lower Cenomanian formation down in the valley. The hydrological analysis using the SCS-CN method indicates that the annual runoff generation in the catchment is estimated at about 0.33 MCM, among which, 70% comes from the upper urbanized part. The piezometric analysis obtained from monitoring the water level in thirty-three dug wells showed that in a short period of time, three months after the end of the rainy season, water table elevation was being declined at about 8 meters. This can be attributed to excessive abstraction. Based on the results of these analyses, several artificial recharge methods were proposed to check their suitability for the study area. The injection wells method was found to be the most suitable for WAAQ. This will enhance the sustainable groundwater management in the West Bank. To achieve this objective, a design well for the injection process is proposed. The potential locations the injection wells have been suggested based on the hydrological and geological analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]