Effect of groundwater use on the chemistry of spring water in al-Hassa oasis

Abstract EN

In Al-Hassa oasis, the Upper Tertiary Neogene aquifer (Mio-Pliocenc) is the main groundwater supplier to springs and wells.

The groundwater is freely flowing as well as pumped from 32 major springs and thousands of private springs and wells.

The total water consumption in the oasis has increased significantly after 1979 due to agricul- tural.

social, and industrial developments.

The total water use has increased from 319 to about 504 million m\ between 1979 and 1987.

Chemical analysis of water samples from all major springs was carried out to monitor the ef- fect of long term water use on the quality of spring water in AI-Hassa oasis.

There were no significant changes in the values of the total dissolved solids (TDS) of spring water from 1951 to 1976.

The average value of TDS of all spring water was increased from 1414 mg/l in 1976 to 1488 and 1737 mg/1 in 1981 and 1987, respectively.

There was a total increase of about 23% in TDS value and about 77% of that increase occurred between 1981 and 1987.

The use of non-conventional water resources is important to protect the groundwater quality of springs in the oasis.