Abstract
In Abu Dhabi, one of the most arid regions in the world, in recent decades, desalinated water has been identified as a prime solution in solving the water demand issues. In this study, a three-dimensional coupled density-dependent flow and solute transport model was set up in order to study the effect of the artificial recharge using desalinated water and the influence of nonconventional water with a salt concentration in the range 0.1–2 g/L The results confirm that this region demands the adoption of a more rational use of irrigation water or additional usage of desalinated water and recycled water together with optimizing groundwater pumping at locations that are vulnerable to further quality degradation and depletion. The long-term storage of desalinated freshwater with a maximum radial distance of 653 m in the dune surface is ensured with the formation of the transition zone, and change in the groundwater head up to 5 km. The maximum recovery obtained by immediate recovery is 70%. The study expresses the long-term feasibility of desalinated freshwater storage and the need for further management practices in quantifying the contribution of desalinated and recycled water for agriculture activities which might have improved groundwater quality and increased hydraulic head at some locations.
Highlights
Groundwater is declared as a major component for the development of any country [1,2].In arid climatic zones, inflow to the aquifer by precipitation recharge is very limited and the available freshwater resources are synthetically impacted by climate and anthropogenic activities by overexploitation of groundwater [3]
In the north of sand dune area and piedmont region, the overall groundwater quality is improved by detection in the concentration of salinity by 0.260 gL−1, and groundwater head is increased by 0.69 m on average
Irrigation return flow is playing a major source of aquifer recharge
Summary
Groundwater is declared as a major component for the development of any country [1,2]. An increased contribution of nonconventional water to domestic, agriculture, and industrial sector, etc., the aquifer shows a wide range of decline in the groundwater head by a maximum of 93 m as because of unsafe yield and at the same time, an increase in the groundwater head by a maximum of 60 m is noticed in selective locations due to the mixed action of management practices such as reduced pumping, recharge of groundwater by infiltration of water from nonconventional sources into the aquifer through agriculture and gardening activities [5,29]. Studying the aquifer at a regional scale using various hydrogeological components with applicable external stress will be useful for a policymaker In this way, the zone in which the agriculture field demands more or reduced water supply from the nonconventional source could be identified. A coupled density-dependent flow and solute transport model is developed in the present study to enhance the groundwater management practices in the Abu Dhabi aquifer at a regional scale
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
