Characteristics of the upper aquifer system in Wadi el Lajjun catchment area, Jordan

Abstract EN

This paper describes the characteristics of the aquifer systems in Wadi El Lajjun Catchment Area, Jordan.

The investigated area lies between coordinates 218-255E and 105-107.7N (according to Palestine grids) and covers an area of about 643.3 square kilometers.

The Mesozoic system, especially the Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks are the most dominant formations in the study area.

The Upper Cretaceous rocks are composed mainly of marl, chalky marl, oil shale, limestone, chert, phosphorite, silicified limestone and massive limestone, in addition to alluvial gravels of Pleistocene age.

The Hydrogeology of the study area is controlled by the geological set-up, which also controls the piezometry, occurrence and movement of the groundwater and the distribution of productive areas in the aquifers.

The main aquifers in El Lajjun catchment area consist of two main aquifer systems: Amman Wadi Es Sir Aquifer (B2/A7) and Kurnub/Ram Group Aquifer.

The main objectives of this research were to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of hydrogeologic characteristics of the groundwater aquifer systems in Wadi El Lajjun catchment area and evaluating the water chemistry of the major water sources located in the study area.

Data related to existing boreholes, geology, hydrology, hydrogeology, water level and the essential maps needed were collected and evaluated.

Water samples were collected from the water resources available in the catchment area.

The horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the main aquifer system ranges from less than 0.5 m/d to more than 9 m/d.

The majority of specific capacity values range from less than 3.8 m3/hour/m to more than 2400 m2/d; the transmissivity ranges between 100 and 400 m2/d.

The chemical analysis of Ain El Lajjun spring for the different elements indicates that all these concentrations are with the permissible level, especially, the nitrate concentration is less than 45 mg/l according to the Jordan Standards, which is considered as a pollution indicator.