Previous and Current Status of Groundwater Salinity in East of Blue Nile Communities of Sudan

M. Abdellah Abdelmonem,M. Abdel-Magid Hago,A. Yahia Nadia

doi:10.15580/gjemps.2013.1.112212284

M. Abdellah Abdelmonem, M. Abdel-Magid Hago + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.15580/gjemps.2013.1.112212284

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Abstract

In this study a total of 209 well water samples analyzed after well drilling (construction routine analysis, CRA) and a total of 121 well water samples analyzed by the current study (CS) were used to investigate the distribution of TDS and its effect by long-term pumping of groundwater. Results indicated that the majority of TDS levels ( 750 mg/l) characterized the northern part of the study area. The TDS levels increase progressively from the southern towards the northern periphery of the study area along the recharge flow direction from the Blue Nile. Trendcomparison between the CRA and the CS data indicated that the TDS levels are continuously decreasing during withdrawal-time in accord with the daily pumping rate and aquifer geochemical formation type.

Highlights

A total dissolved solid is a term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter (WHO, 1997). Yasir (2004) reported that TDS concentrations in the study area ranged between 20 and 3290 mg/l while in some villages located to the extreme northwestern boundary of the study area, the TDS levels were found to range between 1088 and 1952 mg/l (Abdel-Magid et al, 1984).Groundwater of low TDS, 10 mg/l TDS, has been found in the sediments where chemical composition is predominated by quartz with small amount of clay minerals (Zhou et al, 2007)
The geographic information system (GIS) map revealed that the levels below 250 mg TDS/l in the groundwater of the study area are, generally, found in limited aquifers in the southern part of the study area extending from Abu-Haraz to El-Hilalia at the bank of the Blue Nile
High TDS levels increase progressively from the southern towards the northern periphery of the study area along the recharge flow direction from the Blue Nile, indicating that the flow of groundwater-recharge, which seeps from the Blue Nile towards the north direction, dissolves and bears minerals during movement of groundwater; as a result, the concentration of soluble salts increases towards the direction of groundwater flow

Summary

INTRODUCTION

A total dissolved solid is a term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter (WHO, 1997). Yasir (2004) reported that TDS concentrations in the study area ranged between 20 and 3290 mg/l while in some villages located to the extreme northwestern boundary of the study area, the TDS levels were found to range between 1088 and 1952 mg/l (Abdel-Magid et al, 1984). Shallow groundwater in ephemeral rivers in some arid regions, display high seasonal TDS and major ion variation, high salinity caused by the evaporation of the recharge waters and dissolution of evaporites (Shanyengana et al, 2004). The study area contains many ‘Khors’ and ‘Wadies’ which drain into the Blue Nile River during the rainy season It is divided, administratively, into three regions as follows: The whole area of the Locality of East of Gezira, Gezira State. The depth to groundwater increases with distance from the Blue Nile River, until it entirely disappears in the extreme north of the study area, where pools ‘Hafirs’ are constructed to solve the problem of lack of groundwater. To convert the EC readings to TDS, the results for the EC dS/m were multiplied by 640 according to Rhoades (1982)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS

Literature Cited