Impact of sea water intrusion on Gaza coastal aquifer water quality

Abstract EN

Ground water aquifer in Gaza strip considered the main and only water supply source for all kind of human usage .

Gaza strip suffers from a disastrous situation due to water quality degradation , more than 90% of Gaza coastal aquifer (GCA) production is not suitable for human utilization.

The main GCA quality problems are high salinity and nitrate concentration due to population, urban expansion, high density of wells with high rate of abstraction.

All these conditions beside the lateral inflow of brackish groundwater from the east, lead to accelerate salinization of GCA with chloride (Cl‾) concentration above WHO standard (250mg/L) such as Cl‾ concentration in Gaza city ranged from 390mg/L to 502mg/L in year 2012 and in Khanyounis Cl‾ concentration reached to 56mg/L in 2010 and increased to 178mg/L in 2012, also most municipal drinking wells in Gaza coastal with high nitrate ( NO³) concentration (433mg/L in 2010 with increasing to 466mg/L in 2012) excessed WHO drinking water standard (250mg/L).

More groundwater was pumped from aquifer than was resulting intrusion of seawater and up-coning the under laying saline water.