Surface and shallow groundwater inter-relationships within eastern side of Shatt al-Hilla, Babylon Governorate, Iraq

Abstract EN

City of Hilla suffers from the shallow groundwater levels which causes serious problems to agricultural and civil work activities in the area.

To examine these problems, five different tracks perpendicular to the Shatt Al-Hilla channel were selected beside 18 hand dug wells within the area to monitoring the inter-relationships between the levels of both water resources over one complete water year (2011-2012).

Field work included monitoring of water levels within the selected wells in the Examined area and compares the results with the water levels in the Shatt Al-Hilla over observation period.

Elevations of water levels were determined by comparing to the sea water levels depending upon the bench mark in the examined area.

Along each of the selected five tracks (A, B, C, D and E) three shallow groundwater hand dug wells are monitored except along track D were six shallow groundwater hand dug wells were monitored.

Depth of these wells ranges from 7 to 12 m.

The distances of the monitored wells from Shatt Al-Hilla were ranging from 100 m to about and the 1150 m.

The distances between wells were ranging from 50m to 300 m approximately.

However, Track (A) and (B) located within the City of Hilla representing shallow groundwater within the residential area while the remaining tracks presenting shallow groundwater situations within nearby agricultural lands.

Water levels of both surface and groundwater levels monitored on monthly bases especially over high and low water conditions within Shatt Al-Hilla channel.

Dora regulator is located at 51 Km from up stream of Shatt Al-Hilla ; it is controlled totally on water levels within Shatt Al-Hilla channel, accordingly Dora regulator will influencing water levels of the shallow groundwater.

The data shows that there is a strong inter-relationship between surface and shallow groundwater in the studied area.

The nature of these inter-relationship were varying along the selected tracks due to many local conditions such as, elevations of lands, operation of irrigational regulators, depth of water within the channel cross section, seasons of the water year, high and low water level conditions, climatic changes, soil conditions and the present status of the sewage system within the City of Hilla.