Aquifer management tools for the Jeffara of Gabes

Jean-François Vernoux (1) , Faten Horriche (2) , R Ghoudi (3)

1 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
2 CERTE - Centre de Recherche et Technologies des Eaux
3 CRDA - Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole

The drying up of the natural springs and emergences of the Jeffara aquifer of Gabes is the consequence of an increase in well pumping and a decrease in water inflow from the Continental Intercalary (CI) aquifer). A hydrodynamic model is calibrated in a steady and transient states based on the geological model and with reference to the piezometric measurements and the flow rates of the springs and the inflow of the CI. The model restored the hydrodynamic functioning of the groundwater and made it possible to calculate the various terms of the water balance of the aquifers for the Jeffara of Gabes. It also confirmed the shrinkage of wetland areas, which are the result of evapotranspiration from the groundwater table. The model is used as a management tool to carry out predictive simulations under different scenarios of water resources management taking into account the water needs of the socio-economic sectors and the protection of oasis ecosystems.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Earth Sciences; Hydrology

Jean-François Vernoux, Faten Horriche, R Ghoudi. Aquifer management tools for the Jeffara of Gabes. Eau–Société–Climat’2017 (ESC-2017) , Oct 2017, Hammamet, Tunisie. ⟨hal-01569679⟩