Research Article| October 07 2013 Assessment of water qualities and evidence of seawater intrusion in a deep confined aquifer: case of the coastal Djeffara aquifer (Southern Tunisia) Adel Kharroubi; Adel Kharroubi 1Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabes, Tunisia, Cité Erryadh 6072, Gabes, Tunisia Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Soumaya Farhat; Soumaya Farhat 1Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabes, Tunisia, Cité Erryadh 6072, Gabes, Tunisia Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Belgacem Agoubi; Belgacem Agoubi 1Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabes, Tunisia, Cité Erryadh 6072, Gabes, Tunisia E-mail: Belgacem.Agoubi@isstegb.rnu.tn Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Zouhir Lakhbir Zouhir Lakhbir 2Société Nationale d'Exploitation et de Distribution d'Eau (SONEDE), Direction Production, Jerba, Tunisia Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2014) 63 (1): 76–84. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.105 Article history Received: September 20 2012 Accepted: August 08 2013 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Adel Kharroubi, Soumaya Farhat, Belgacem Agoubi, Zouhir Lakhbir; Assessment of water qualities and evidence of seawater intrusion in a deep confined aquifer: case of the coastal Djeffara aquifer (Southern Tunisia). Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 February 2014; 63 (1): 76–84. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.105 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Geochemical analyses of groundwater samples from the Djeffara confined aquifer (Southern Tunisia) were performed. The distribution of saline waters was investigated to identify the origin of the groundwater contamination. The aquifer was shown to be affected by an abnormal increase in groundwater salinity. Near the recharge zone, the groundwater salinity does not exceed 2.5 g l−1 but reaches 7 g l−1 in the northeast of the study area. Due to over pumping, groundwater level decline is so important that it disturbs the equilibrium between fresh and saline waters. The salinity distribution coupled with the structure and geology of the Djeffara aquifer suggest current seawater intrusion is possible through the deep fault systems affecting the zone. The groundwater level was shown to be highly correlated with the sea level fluctuation in the area near the fault systems, suggesting a communication between the sea and the confined aquifer. Groundwater salinization is probably related to infiltration of seawater through the faults. However, an intrusion on the side of the discharge area of the aquifer may also be possible. The bromide and chlorine analyses coupled with the SO4/Cl ratio confirmed that the mixing between fresh and saline waters is the main origin of groundwater salinization. aquifer, fault systems, groundwater, seawater intrusion This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2014 You do not currently have access to this content.