REVIEW OF ARTIFICIAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IN THE COASTAL PLAIN OF ISRAEL

Abstract

SUMMARY The Coastal Plain aquifer of Israel, of Plio-Pleistocene Age, stretches from Binyamina in the North to the Gaza Strip in the South-a distance of about 112 km and has an average width of about 15 Km. The allowed withdrawal is estimated at about 200 MCM/year. As a result of an average yearly withdrawal of 426 MCM/year during the last 10 years the water levels dropped to a dangerously low position (-2)-(-4) m below sea level at distances of 3–5 Km from the coast, causing sea water intrusion which, in Tel Aviv and Emek Hefer, endangered water supply wells. As a counter-measure, artificial groundwater recharge through wells was practiced in Emek Hefer since 1959. Recharge was practiced in 7 wells at a rate of 6 MCM/year, the water coming from adjacent Cretaceous limestone aquifers. In Tel Aviv a fresh water barrier was established in 1964 by injecting Lake Kinereth water into 17 wells during winter at a rate of 6 MCM/winter. In the rest of the Coastal Plain water was injected to the aquifer through abo...