Application Of Environmental Isotopes Research Articles

Multienvironmental tracers in coastal aquifer (Morocco): A window into groundwater mixing and risk to contamination.

In many coastal areas in Morocco, groundwater (GW) constitutes an important water supply for human activities. Intensive pumping makes GW highly susceptible to contamination, affecting its quality and then human health. This work aims to assess and improve the application of environmental isotopes in exploring the connections between GW recharge and discharge, as well as to identify the direction, age, and speed of GW flow, in the coastal aquifer system of the Akermoud plain. A total of 23 boreholes and wells were sampled during two sampling campaigns in 2017 and 2018, including 11 samples from the shallow aquifer and 12 samples from the deep aquifer. A set of chemical and isotopic tracers (δ18 O, δ2 H, 3 H, δ13 C, 14 C, and 3 He) is used to track water and solute from input to output of the investigated system. Stable isotopes distinguish recharge at different altitudes for the shallow and deep aquifers. Both aquifers reveal consistently low values of 3 H (between 0.3 and 0.9 tritium units) and from 28% to 64% of modern carbon for six boreholes. According to 14 C correction models, GW has ages ranging from 3300 to 11,000 years before present. GW flows from SSE to NNW and discharge along the Atlantic coast of Akermoud plain with a velocity ranging from 0.41 to 1.8m/year. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The use of environmental tracers helps determine the origin of salinity and identify the recharge area. Investigating the MRT of groundwater resources is essential, especially in arid regions. Evaluating the efficiency of isotopic tracing is crucial in assessing the risk of groundwater contamination. The findings provide insights for stakeholders to promote more sustainable groundwater management in coastal areas.

Application of Environmental Isotopes and Hydrochemistry to Identify the Groundwater Recharge in Wadi Qanunah Basin, Saudi Arabia

The current study focuses on the Wadi Qanunah basin, which is considered one of Makkah Al-Mukarramah’s most important watersheds. It is located in the southwestern part of the Al Qunfudhah governorate. The identification and characterization of the recharging sources for the quaternary aquifer is one of the most important goals of this study. In this context, different methods will be applied for the identification of the different factors impacting groundwater. Such methods will be based on the integration of geographic information system (GIS) and modern hydrochemical methods ranging from graphical plots, bivariate and multivariate analysis to geochemical modeling. The salinity of the groundwater studied varied from fresh to brackish, according to the seasonal influx of dilute runoff and the dissolution of the weathered rocks, as well as the cementing materials within the aquifers’ matrix. Ionic ratios indicated that ion exchange, silicate weathering and evaporation played a significant role in the enrichment of the groundwater with major constituents including calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulphate and chloride. Furthermore, four factors accounted for 73.92% of the total variance, calculated using SPSS’s statistical program. These factors accounted for leaching and dissolution, silicate and carbonate weathering, anthropogenic effects and evaporation. The δ18O vs. δD, TDS vs. δ18O and δ18O vs. d-excess relationships revealed that local rainfall is the main recharging source for groundwater; some samples were affected by evaporated rainfall, while others with lower salinity (<1000 mg/L) were diluted through seepage from the underlying fractured basement aquifer. Netpath geochemical modeling was applied to calculate the amount of evaporation or dilution which had affected an initial body of water as it moves from the upstream to downstream. The output of this program is consistent with what has been proved by stable isotopes, where the groundwater extracted from the final water is a mixture of an enriched recent precipitation with depleted older water. This study is an attempt to shed light on the assessment of groundwater and the extent at which it is affected by various factors in order to benefit from it in a way that ensures its sustainability.

Application of environmental isotopes in sustainability assessment of the groundwater resources of Lagos Coastal Basin (LCB), south-west, Nigeria

Owing to the fact that groundwater is the main source of water supply for both domestic and commercial activities by the inhabitants of the Lagos Coastal Basin (LCB) in Lagos, Nigeria, detailed study with respect to recharge and Mean Residence Time (MRT) of deep groundwater samples across the area was carried out to enable proper management of this resource. The study used environmental isotopes of water particularly carbon isotope and tritium (3H) contents in the groundwater to determine the mean residence time, and stable isotope of 2H and 18O to reveal origin of the recharging water. The stable Isotope of δ18O and δ2H plot around and along the local meteoric water line indicating meteoric origin, while the tritium results range between non-detectable and 0.3 TU in the confined aquifer connote old recharged water. This agrees with the old recharged water indicated by low 14C activities that resulted in MRT range from 7400 ± 10 to 12,030 ± 10 years. Comparison of the integrated results of the shallow unconfined aquifer with the deep confined aquifers showed that the shallow aquifer was younger and recharged in Holocene to present (modern climatic condition), whereas the confined deep groundwater was older and it recharge took place during Late Pleistocene/early Holocene (more humid condition than present). Consequently, the unconfined shallow aquifer may be considered renewable while the confined deep groundwater is being mined under non-steady state condition. Therefore, increasing water demand by various economic sectors require planned intervention in groundwater resource management of the LCB to achieve sustainable development.

The application of environmental isotopes to conceptualize groundwater recharge in a coastal aquifer system: Case study of the West Coast Aquifer System, South Africa

Knowledge of natural recharge mechanisms of the West Coast Aquifer is vital for the implementation of water resource management strategies, which would secure groundwater resources for the region. The analysis of stable (2H and 18O) and radioactive (3H and 14C) environmental isotopes have been employed to identify the source of recharge and residence times of the shallow, confined and bedrock aquifers based on sampling conducted during 2017 and 2018. The δ18O values for groundwater ranged from −4.34 and 0.65‰ while δ2H values ranged from −18.8 and 6.8‰. Groundwater 3H activity ranged from 0.0 to 1.2 T.U, rainwater tritium was 1.4 T.U while 14C contents ranged from 0.0 to 1.2pMC. The stable isotope signatures revealed four water groups: non-evaporative shallow and deep groundwater with similar isotopic composition indicating same source of recharge; bedrock groundwater with enriched isotopic signature which show evaporation effect indicating recharge from precipitation where clay lenses are locally absent; non-evaporative shallow groundwater indicate recently infiltrated water; groundwater is not recharged by surface water when drought conditions persist. Deep groundwater in the low-plain discharge zone is recharged by seawater intrusion which is evidenced elevated chloride concentration (35700 mg/l) and enriched stable isotope composition. High tritium (>0.8 T.U) containing groundwater were found downgradient from recharge area, which confirms recent active recharge occurs a distance from postulated recharge area. Tritiated bedrock groundwater with older 14C ages had the same δ18O values as younger shallow groundwater which is consistent with it being derived from locally from low altitudes. The calculated carbon-14 residence times suggest aquifers were recharged under different climatic conditions during cooler periods of the late Pleistocene and Holocene (~2717–33000). The calculated radiocarbon age reflected in the tritium containing groundwater in the deep aquifer supports active localized recharge to deep groundwater system via focused mechanism. The application of environmental isotope methodology combined with an understanding of geology in the study area led to the development of a coherent conceptual flow model.

Application of environmental isotopes to identify recharge source, age, and renewability of phreatic water in Yinchuan Basin

AbstractThe accurate understanding of groundwater circulation pattern and its renewable capacity is vital for groundwater resource assessment and the rational exploitation and utilization of groundwater. Estimation of groundwater recharge is difficult in arid or semiarid area due to the low amount and variability of recharge. A combination of isotope investigation with hybrid model allows a direct calculation of renewability of the aquifer. In this paper, the phreatic water circulation pattern and its renewable capacity of phreatic water in Yinchuan Basin, a semiarid area located at the northwest China, are investigated by the application of environmental isotope method, which mainly focusses on the isotope characteristics of different water bodies, phreatic water isotope age, phreatic water circulation pattern, and phreatic water renewal rate. The results demonstrate that the two dominant recharge sources of groundwater in Yinchuan Basin, local atmospheric precipitation and Yellow River, account for 13% and 87%, respectively. The average residence time of phreatic water in Yinchuan Basin is about 48 years, and the average renewal rate is 3.38%/a. The results indicate that the phreatic water has a strong renewable capacity and the regeneration rate distribution is consistent with that indicated by isotope age.

Radiotracers and Nucleonic Control Systems Applied in Industry—Polish Case

Nuclear and radiation technologies play an important role in Polish power sector, oil industry and mining sector, starting from fossil fuels exploitation, their transport and distribution and finally power generation. Application of environmental isotopes, stable and radioactive, in ground water monitoring in the vicinity of open cast lignite mine, and radon monitor applied for miner’s safety in deep coal mines and nucleonic control systems for ash in coal quality control is often used in mining industry. Other applications of nuclear techniques reviewed, concern the oil industry, oil field recovery, transportation pipelines and refineries. Finally, the application of beta radiation-based gauges for air borne fly ash monitoring and radiation technology for flue gas treatment are the examples of using this technique in power sector equipped with coal and oil fired boilers [1]. The radiotracers techniques were used also in glass industry (determination and optimization parameters of the furnaces), cement industry (test of aggregates for the production of cement and optimization media transport in pipelines), metallurgy of Cu, Pb, Zn (investigation of pyrometallurgy processes and new techniques), cellulose industry, environmental and (mainly hydrological) research etc. [2]. The article is brief review of present status of radiotracer and nucleonic gauges techniques as applied to polish industry.

Nitrate sources, accumulation and reduction in groundwater from Northern Italy: Insights provided by a nitrate and boron isotopic database

Large volumes of precious water resources are negatively affected by nitrate contamination, and the problem of the world population's exposure to this is becoming an even more pressing issue. To tackle this problem, the application of environmental isotopes has proven to be an effective method to identify the N origins and major transformations in different environments. In this work, nitrate (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and boron (δ11B) isotope analyses performed in the last twenty years in groundwater from shallow aquifers of the Po plain area, a complex hydrogeological system of European relevance, have been compiled in a comprehensive database together with major ionic contents; these data were integrated with additional original results, targeting areas not previously examined or complementing the available information. Such data, previously interpreted on the local scale, are examined at the Po plain scale, providing an understanding of the N sources and dynamics in the shallow aquifers, and defining the most important processes governing nitrate contamination in Northern Italy.The most impacted groundwater is that hosted in the alluvial fans of the Alpine and Apennine foothills, due to a combination of high soil permeability and presence of intensive agricultural activities. Here, aquifers are characterized by fast circulation and by great water table depths. On the contrary, nitrate contamination is absent in most low plain areas, with shallow water table depths but lower soil permeability, due to the presence of denitrification processes. The δ15N median values, calculated for each province, are significantly correlated with pig density. Hence, manure represents one of the main nitrate sources in groundwater from agriculture, the other being synthetic fertilizers. Isotopic compositions enriched due to denitrification are present in ∼22% of the data, being responsible for nitrate abatement in groundwater affecting up to 70–80% of the original content.The B systematics, in such a low geogenic-B context, proved the presence in the investigated area of another anthropogenic nitrate source of civil origin (i.e. sewage). While new results on the local B sources are reported, the garnering of all groundwater data allowed us to define the range of the expected geogenic B signature (δ11B = +13 ± 2.5‰). This contribution is a significant step forward for the use of the coupled δ15N - δ11B toolbox in the study area, previously limited by a poor definition of the compositional end-members. This georeferenced set of hydrochemical and isotopic data will lay the foundations for future monitoring activities and advanced data treatment or modelling. In addition, since the hydrogeological setting of the investigated area shows common features to alluvial basins located near mountain ranges, the approach and the results presented in this study serve as a reference for other study areas worldwide.

Application of environmental isotopes and hydrochemistry in the identification of source of seepage and likely connection with lake water in Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Oxygen (\({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and hydrogen (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) isotopes of water, along with their hydrochemistry, were used to identify the source of a newly emerged seepage water in the downstream of Lake Nainital, located in the Lesser Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 57 samples of water from 19 different sites, in and around the seepage site, were collected. Samples were analysed for chemical tracers like \(\hbox {Ca}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Mg}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Na}^{+}\), \(\hbox {K}^{+}\), \({\hbox {SO}_{4}}^{--}\) and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}\) using an Ion Chromatograph (Dionex IC-5000). A Dual Inlet Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (DIIRMS) and an Ultra-Low Level Liquid Scintillation Counter (ULLSC), were used in measurements of stable isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and a radioisotope (\(^{3}\hbox {H}\)), respectively. Results obtained in this study repudiate the possibility of any likely connection between seepage water and the lake water, and indicate that the source of seepage water is mainly due to locally recharged groundwater. The study suggests that environmental isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\), \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) can effectively be used as ‘tracers’ in the detection of the source of seepage water in conjunction with other hydrochemical tracers, and can help in water resource management and planning.

Application of environmental isotope to assess the renewability of groundwater of continental intercalaire aquifer of Sokoto Basin in Northwestern Nigeria

The southeast sector of Iullemmeden Basin is located in Nigeria and referred to as the Sokoto Basin. The aquifer system of Sokoto Basin is multilayered with Continental Intercalaire (CI) aquifer also known as Gundumi-Illo Formation at the bottom, overlain by the Rima Group, Sokoto Group and Continental Terminal (Gwandu Formation). This study is aimed at determining the validity of the statement that the Continental Intercalaire of the basin receives no recharge, through application of environmental isotopes of water molecules (3H, 2H, and 18O) and characteristics deuterium excess (d-excess). The isotope result of oxygen-18 (δ18O) content ranges between −7.72‰ and 3.69‰, and deuterium (δ2H) content from −51‰ to 9.42‰. These results indicates presence of three categories of water, the waters depleted slightly in isotope signature, the moderately depleted waters and waters highly depleted in δ18O and δ2H. These results suggests that the waters depleted slightly in isotope signature may be evaporated waters, while moderately depleted values of 18O and 2H of water content from the Continental Intercalaire designates the modern waters and waters highly depleted in isotope signature may be regarded as paleowaters. The tritium (3H) value recorded falls within the range of 0.5–4 TU represents a mixture of pre-1952 and post-1952 water origin. It is thus concluded from the results that Continental Intercalaire aquifer of Sokoto Basin receives modern water as recharge.

Environmental isotopes to test hypotheses for fluid mud (mud bank) generation mechanisms along the southwest coast of India

Occurrence of fluid mud (mud banks) in the southwest coast of India is an enigma for the scientific community. Over the years, several multi-disciplinary studies were conducted and various hypotheses were postulated on the occurrence and sustenance of fluid mud. Nevertheless, none of them could be proved or disproved with field data. In the present study, an attempt was made to assess the validity of some of the prevailing hypothesis on its occurrence such as subterranean conduit flow of mud/water from a coastal lagoon, submarine groundwater discharge, river flows etc. by integrating field surveys, refining the hydrogeological understanding of the area and application of environmental isotopes (222Rn, δ18O, δ2H and 3H) in the ‘Alappuzha mud bank’ region, Kerala, during its formation in the southwest monsoon period. In-situ 222Rn monitoring survey in the coastal waters of Pallana showed that 222Rn activities in the fluid mud region were negligible compared to the suspected continental end members such as Pamba River, Vembanad Lagoon, shallow and deep groundwater indicating that there was no freshwater inputs from these sources. Comparison of the characteristic stable isotopic signatures of δ18O and δ2H in the samples from the fluid mud region and the suspected continental end members implied that there was no mixing of these water sources with the seawater. 3H results indicated that the shallow groundwater is modern and recharged annually from precipitation while deep groundwater in the Warkali aquifer within the study area is old (>50 years). It also indicated that there is no vertical interconnection between the Vembanad Lagoon and the deep Warkali aquifers. Hence, from the study, it appears that river flows, submarine groundwater discharge or subterranean (conduit flow) flow from the Vembanad Lagoon may not be responsible for the occurrence and sustenance of fluid mud in Pallana coast, Alappuzha.

Application of Environmental Isotopes in Understanding Hydrological Processes of the Heihe River Basin

Application of Environmental Isotopes in Understanding Hydrological Processes of the Heihe River Basin

Application of multi-isotope data (O, D, C and S) to quantify redox processes in urban groundwater

The different recharge sources and their mixing ratios were investigated in water samples from an urban aquifer. Two distinct zones from Barcelona city were compared: (1) Poble Sec and (2) Besòs River Delta, which are located in a densely populated area with a strong industrial impact. In this study 106 water samples were collected from July 2007 to May 2010 for hydrochemical and isotopic characterisation. The application of environmental isotopes coupled with hydrochemistry provided the necessary information to isotopically quantify groundwater recharge sources and evaluate the occurrence of redox processes. In the Besòs River Delta, a decrease in dissolved SO42- concentration and an increase in δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4 values were observed in groundwater samples, both indicating SO42- reduction. Moreover, other chemical indicators supported a reducing environment, such as low or null levels of dissolved O2 and NO3-, the presence of NH4+ and an increase in dissolved Fe and As. The reducing conditions were probably induced by the organic C dissolved in water infiltrating from the River Besòs. In Poble Sec, the relationship between δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4 showed a strong influence of sewage water infiltration into the aquifer. However, the aquifer is oxic and there is no influence of SO42- reduction.

Application of Isotopes and Recharge Analysis in Investigating Surface Water and Groundwater in Fractured Aquifer under Influence of Climate Variability

The impact of Climate variability on water resources (surface and ground) was conducted to assess the effect of meteorological forcing on isotopic and recharge characteristics of the granitic and fractured aquifer, located in Pallisa District (Kyoga basin), eastern Uganda. The paper investigated the application of environmental isotopes and using the EARTH Model in determining the groundwater levels response to rainfall of the fractured aquifer. The granitic fractured aquifer is characterized by shallow to deep water table conditions that vary between 5-50 meters below ground level and quick groundwater level response to rainfall events which justified the application of the EARTH model to demonstrate the groundwater level fluctuations of the single monitoring Well-002. Groundwater fluctuations from the observed hydrograph at the monitoring station vary between 8.8 and 13.48 mamsl with an average hydrostatic fluctuation of 11.42 mamsl. Oxygen-18 (δ18O) and deuterium (δ2H) compositions mostly plot below the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) indicating that the surface water and groundwater in the aquifer was exposed to evaporation before or in the recharging process. In the study, groundwater levels response to rainfall events by the EARTH method is the quantitative estimation of groundwater recharge for Pallisa District watershed. Generally, the study findings suggest that applications of precipitation isotopic rainfall data for light and heavy mean monthly rainfall (mean rainfall of 138 mm) and the EARTH model to assess groundwater recharge can improve the understanding of the process under climate variability.

Application of environmental isotopes for studying stream/aquifer interactions in the Danube basin

This paper demonstrates, using selected case studies in the Upper Danube basin, how isotopes may serve as a way of better implementing the groundwater related part of the EU Water Framework Directive requirements in the Danube basin. The following examples of conceptual models elaborated in the 1990s with use of isotopes in the Upper Danube basin show how isotopes can be used to help understand: a) potential pathways and travel time of contamination from groundwater to the river from Southern Vienna basin; b) vulnerability of river/wetland ecosystems in the Regelsbrunn wetland; and c) delineation of Danube-originated and local groundwaters in the Pannonian basin. Isotope methods could be also used in other parts of the Danube basin. For example, because the groundwater inflow via tributaries can be important, we also propose longitudinal chemical and isotopical monitoring of the main Danube tributaries, e.g., the Tisza river, which drains the major part of the Great Pannonian basin. Finally, we argue that open questions highlighted in the previous Joint Danube Survey, especially those on the identification of hotspots of nutrient inputs could be addressed using isotope techniques, and therefore we recommend addition of isotopes to the sampling programme of the coming Joint Danube Survey in 2007.

Application of environmental isotopes to understand recharge mechanisms to a sub-basaltic deep lead system in western Victoria, Australia

Application of environmental isotopes to understand recharge mechanisms to a sub-basaltic deep lead system in western Victoria, Australia

Contribution of storms to groundwater recharge in the semi‐arid region of Karnataka, India

AbstractThis paper describes the application of environmental isotopes and injected tracer techniques in estimating the contribution of storms as well as annual precipitation to groundwater recharge and its circulation, in the semi‐arid region of Bagepalli, Kolar district, Karnataka. Environmental isotopes 2H, 18O and 3H were used to study the effect of storms on the hydrological system, and an isotope balance was used to compute the contribution of a storm component to the groundwater. Some of the groundwater samples collected during the post‐storm periods were highly depleted in stable isotope content with higher deuterium excess relative to groundwater from the pre‐storm periods. Significant variation in deuterium excess in groundwater from the same area, collected in two different periods, indicates the different origin of air masses. The estimated recharge component of a storm event of 600 mm to the groundwater was found to be in the range of 117–165 mm. There was no significant variation in environmental tritium content of post‐storm and pre‐storm groundwater, indicating the fast circulation of groundwater in the system. After completion of the environmental isotope work, an injected radiotracer 3H technique was applied to estimate the direct recharge of total precipitation to the groundwater. The estimated recharge to the groundwater is 33 mm of the 550 mm annual precipitation during 1992. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Application of Environmental Isotopes in Evaluation of Pollutants

Application of Environmental Isotopes in Evaluation of Pollutants

Interwell tracing by environmental isotopes at Fimkassar Oilfield, Pakistan

Water flooding is an important operation to enhance oil recovery. Movement of injected water is traced to test the performance of the water flood and verify suspected geological barriers or flow channels, etc. This paper describes the application of environmental isotopes as interwell tracers at Fimkassar Oilfield in Chakwal District, Pakistan. Water flooding was started in March 1996 in the Sakessar formation (Eocene). When water appeared in the production well in June 1998, isotopes ( 18O, 2H and 3H) were used to determine the breakthrough/transit time of the water flood and the contribution of fresh injected water. Water samples were collected during June 1998–August 1999 from the injection well, the production well, and some other fields for reference indices of the Sakessar formation and analyzed for the 18O, 2H and 3H, and chloride contents. The isotopic results confirmed the breakthrough of injected water and indicated that the water in the production well was a mixture of the injected water and the formation water. The initial breakthrough time was 27 months. The contribution of injected water varied from 67% to 80%. This percentage did not change significantly from the time of breakthrough until the last sampling indicating good mixing in the reservoir and the absence of any high permeability channel. Chloride content did not give any information about the hydraulic connection between the injection well and the production well. The study proved the potential of environmental isotopes for interwell tracing.

Application of environmental isotopes in storm-discharge analysis of two contrasting stream channels in a watershed

Oxygen and deuterium isotopes were used as tracers to identify the rainwater and pre-storm water components of storm runoff in the Cedar River Watershed of northeastern Iowa, U.S.A. Instantaneously discharged water in the main channel, the Cedar River, showed steady chemical characteristics during the storm event. Hydrograph separation by oxygen and deuterium isotopes demonstrated that the discharge water predominantly consisted of ground water (83%). It suggested that the Cedar River is in good hydrologic connections with the upper bedrock aquifer. The rainwater effectively infiltrated into the subsurface forcing the contaminated ground water to discharge into the main channel. In contrast, the Dry Run Creek, a tributary of the Cedar River, demonstrated increased dominance of overland flow. The water in the creek was considerably impacted by the rain event through dilution, and the instantaneously discharged water predominantly consisted of rainwater (54%). The remaining 46% was the subsurface water derived from the shallow alluvial aquifers of sand and gravel deposits. The Dry Run Creek is in hydrologic connections with the alluvial aquifers only, and the less significance of pre-storm water in the creek is attributed to the discontinuous nature of the sand and gravel deposits in the valley area. This isotopic investigation demonstrated that the origin of water components in storm runoff and its geochemical evolution can vary considerably from channel to channel within the same watershed.

Application of environmental isotopes to groundwater recharge studies in a semi-arid fractured crystalline basement area of Dodoma, Tanzania

The distribution of 18O and 2H in various water sources indicates that groundwater recharge is due to local rainfall occurring within the basins. Groundwater recharge takes place under a bypass flow mechanism and matrix diffuse flow and is 3% and 2% of the long-term mean annual rainfall of 550 mm for the Makutapora and Hombolo basins, respectively. Chloride mass balance indicates that 60% and 40% of the total groundwater recharge takes place through macropores and matrix flow, respectively. Sporadic variations in 18O, 2H and chloride among adjacent boreholes suggest existence of a discrete fractured aquifer and/or dominance of local recharge. The relationship between δ 2H and chloride indicates that groundwater salinization is due to the leaching of surficial and soil salts during high intensity rainfall, which causes high surface runoff and flash floods. It has been concluded that the isotopic and chemical character of groundwater in fractured semi-arid areas may provide the most effective complementary means of groundwater recharge assessment and therefore is very useful in the management of the water resources.