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Applied Pearson validation method to assess seawater intrusion risk by combined hydrochemical indicators and hydrogelogical GALDIT tools: case study of Monastir’s aquifer, Tunisia

Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, ISSN: 2365-7448, Vol: 6, Issue: 1
2021
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Article Description

In view of its interesting geographical position in the Tunisian coastal area, the Monastir peninsula suffers from an overexploitation of its groundwater resources. Currently, the groundwater resources closest to the coastal areas are threatened by seawater intrusion (SWI) due to a large population and expanded agricultural activities. With the aim of tackling the extent and magnitude of seawater intrusion, we conducted a combined survey of 86 dissolved ions of samples based on a hydrogeological index method referred to as GALDIT. The derived maps demonstrate that the most affected areas in our case study were the aquifer coastal zones extending for more than 2 km inland and that the northeastern part of the coastal zones (in proximity of sabkhet Moknine) had the highest vulnerability index (Iv) (between 90 and 112). The sensitivity test for GALDIT revealed that the Iv for thickness of the aquifer), namely 41.21%, is the most sensitive parameter, followed by depth of groundwater and then distance from the shore, with a mean Iv of 25.41 and 11.55%, respectively. The results also indicate that taking into consideration the influential parameters in GALDIT methods regarding the hydrological characteristics across the aquifer provide a more realistic characterization of SWI. Our results were validated by the Pearson correlation for Iv, Cl and Cl/HCO concentrations versus electrical conductivity (EC). The Pearson correlation coefficients for these parameters were determined to be approximately 0.8, 0.97 and 0.9, respectively, and are also correlated with an EC of > 8000 µs/cm. The ultimate aim of this study is to propose a new installation site for a series of groundwater level and quality control measures in each area in order to preserve groundwater resources, and to recommend an appropriate groundwater supply planning and scheduling management program in Monastir.

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