Identification of groundwater flow paths in complex aquifer systems

Abstract

AbstractA methodology was developed and applied to the Tindouf (southwestern Algeria) and the Annaba–Bouteldja aquifers (northeastern Algeria) in order to understand better the hydrogeology of the complex aquifers despite the scarcity of the available data. Graphical representation of deuterium versus oxygen‐18 and principal components analysis (PCA) are statistical techniques used to combine various disciplinary data in order to identify chemical and isotopic groups, which are in turn used to define groundwater flow paths. The results of this study agree with the generally accepted hydrogeological conceptual model of the aquifers. In addition, we obtained new results using the PCA method: (1) a description of the complex flow system by grouping various qualitative and quantitative parameters; (2) the definition and characterization of the main groundwater flow paths from their sources to the discharge zones. These flow paths are defined by their water categories, which are represented by salinity and origin of groundwater. This approach is useful for analysing aquifers despite the lack of important database and may also be helpful for studying other complex groundwater basins. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.