Groundwater management using MODFLOW model in Jerash catchment area Jordan

Abstract EN

This study deals with the evaluation and management of groundwater using MODFLOW Mode؛ in Jerash Catchment area.

The area is a part of Amman-Zarqa basin, (the most important basin in Jordan) that suffers from acute water shortage.

This catchment covers an area of about 51 km2 and is inhabited by 61,500 people.

Ground- water in the area is subjected to heavy abstraction and water quality deterioration due to urbanization over the recharge areas.

The upper Cretaceous rocks are the most abundant rocl،s exposed in the area ; they overlie the Lower Cretaceous rocks.

Kurnub Group outcrops in the southern and western parts of Jerash, Na ur formation outcrops in most parts of the study area except the southern part while the other formations of Ajloun Group outcrop in the northern part of the area.

Two aquifers have been chosen to be studied, Na’ur and Kurnub, because that most wells in the study area are numping from those layers and many springs issue from them.

The presen study aims to calculate the groundwater budget, understanding groundwater behavior and proposing best management to sustain this water source.

Modflow was used to build a groundwater flow model ،٠ simulate the behavior of the flow system.

The model showed that, the total amount of leakage into the !٠٣٠٢ aquifer is about 23 MCM/yr.

On the other hand, 21 MCM/yr.

flow out as a lateral flow and natural spring discharge.

Moreover about 2.3 MCM/yr.

flow into the aquifer (K) layer as lateral flow in addition to the vertical recharge from the upper layer and more than 25 MCM/yr.

flow out the aquifer as lateral flow and springs discharge.