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Water Management Plan for Wadi Samail Aquifer
The Wadi Samail is located on the southeast Batinah coast of Oman and is
underlain by an unconfined aquifer which is a major source of water
supply for Muscat, the capital of Oman, and surrounding areas.
Historically, the aquifer has been exploited through dug wells, and the
development of several new well fields for municipal supplies have
considerably increased the rate of exploitation of the aquifer. The
increased pumping rates have resulted in salt-water intrusion, and
consequently, in the deterioration of the water quality in many wells
near the coast. SSP&A
studied the hydrologic effects of alternative-development schemes for
the Wadi Samail aquifer using a groundwater simulation model.
The model used to determine the behavior of the groundwater system was a
vertically-averaged finite difference model that simulates the areal
flow of fresh water and salt water separated by an interface. The
alternatives studied included the installation of galleries at two
distances from the coast, the development of spreading basins to
increase aquifer recharge and groundwater production from galleries, and
the elimination of garden pumpage near the coast to increase fresh-water
levels and prevent salt-water intrusion.
Salalah
Plain
The Salalah Plain, located in Dhofar Province in southern Oman, is
underlain by an aquifer which serves as the primary source of water
supply for municipal and agricultural uses in the area. In advance of
projected increases in water demand, SSP&A
was engaged to evaluate the potential hydrologic impacts of increased
development on the Salalah Plain aquifer. SSP&A
used a finite-difference model which simulated the areal flow of salt
water and fresh water. Model results were used to estimate the
likelihood and extent of salt-water encroachment on the fresh-water
sources. Sensitivity analyses conducted during the study demonstrated
the need for additional data and demonstrated the sensitivity of the
model results to aquifer properties.
Saline Intrusions
Studies for the Punjab and Lower Indus Plains
Under a contract with the United Nations, Department of Technical
Cooperation for Development, SSP&A
served as a consultant to the International Waterlogging and Salinity
Research Institute (IWASRI), an agency of the government of Pakistan.
The purpose of this assignment was to develop plans for field
investigation and research relating to the problem of saline groundwater
movement in response to irrigation pumpage in the Punjab and Lower Indus
Plains.
Mr. Bennett of SSP&A
spent four weeks in Pakistan in December, 1990, working directly with
Pakistan government staff and with U.N. advisers. The report prepared
for this project included detailed recommendations and project plans for
further work. The proposed activities included projects to develop
information on saline groundwater, to develop predictive capabilities
for assessing the impact of pumpage on its movement, and to test various
techniques for extracting fresh groundwater located above underlying
saline water. During the course of the assignment, Mr. Bennett completed
a training session for Pakistan government staff and U.N. advisers on
the theory of saline groundwater movement and the implications for
practical management of irrigation pumpage.
Groundwater
Investigations, Aswan, Egypt
The aquifers in the vicinity of the High and Aswan Dams were
investigated to estimate the role of reservoir filling in inducing
earthquakes in the vicinity of the dams. The study involved the drilling
and monitoring of a number of wells in the aquifers in the vicinity of
Lake Nasseur, compilations of extensive data on the water-resources of
the area, and development of a groundwater model to predict changes in
pore pressure in fracture zones in basement rock beneath the reservoir.
These results were used to estimate the likelihood that reservoir
filling would cause earthquakes of sufficient magnitude to create
dam-stability concerns. This project was funded by the USAID and was
conducted in collaboration with the High and Aswan Dam Authority and
Woodward-Clyde Consultants. |
