IAEA-TECDOC-890 Isotope field applicationsfor groundwater studies Middleinthe East Proceedings finalthe of co-ordination meeting ofregionala technical co-operation project held Ankara,in Turkey, 21-25 November 1994 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY The IAEA does not normally maintain stocks of reports in this series. However, microfiche copies of these reports can be obtained from INIS Clearinghouse International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse 5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria Orders shoul accompaniee db prepaymeny db f Austriao t n Schillings 100, in the form of a cheque or in the form of IAEA microfiche service coupons orderee b whic y dhma separately fro INIe mth S Clearinghouse. The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Isotope Hydrology Section International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria ISOTOPE FIELD APPLICATION GROUNDWATER SFO R STUDIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST IAEA, VIENNA, 1996 IAEA-TECDOC-890 ISSN 1011-4289 IAEA© , 1996 Printed by the IAEA in Austria July 1996 FOREWORD Lac freshwatef ko domesticr fo r , agricultura industriad an l l use presentls si y hindering development in many parts of the world. Water scarcity is more acute in arid and semi-arid regions which cover almost one third of the Earth's land surface. Moreover, limited freshwater resources available in these regions are also threatened with deterioration in quality owin human-induceo t g d hydrological changes n recenI . t years e IAE th s place, Aha d f isotopo e emphasius e e techniqueth n o s s ove wida r e spectru f hydrologicamo l problems encountere assessmene th n i d managemend an t f wateo t r resource arisemi-arin d i s dan d regions. A regional technical co-operation project entitled "Isotope Hydrology in the Middle East" (RER/8/002 s implementewa ) e IAEth y Adb durin perioe gth d 1990-1994. Since available water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East are often restricted to groundwater, the subject matter of the project was limited to isotope applications in hydrogeology. Applied isotope field investigations were carrie selecten i t dou d major aquifer systems which are of immediate priority in the participating countries as a source of water. The Agenc s contributeha y d expert services, trainin d minoan g r laborator d fielan yd equipment accordin individuae th o gt l countrieneede th f so s involve projecte th n di . Isotopic analyses of the water samples were mainly undertaken by the Isotope Hydrology Laboratory Watee oth f r Authorit Jordanf yo , locate Ammann di isotope Th . e hydrology laboratorf yo the IAEA in Vienna has also provided analytical support to the implementation of the project. resulte Th s obtained from applied isotope field investigation overale th d lsan findings studiee ofth s were presente discussed d an fina e th t ld a coordinatio n meeting hel Ankaran di , Turkey, during 21-25 November 1994. This publication compile papere sth s presente thit da s final meeting of the regional project. While these reports provide in-depth analyses of isotope results in the aquifer systems studied, they also provide background isotope data from the region as a basis for more effective planning of future isotope investigations. Y. Yurtsever, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, was the IAEA Technical Officer for the project. expectes i t I d tha resulte t th informatio d san n provide thin di s publication wil usefue b l l guidance material to practitioners and scientists involved in water resources development activities in the Middle East region, as well as for those involved in isotope applications in arid and semi-arid zone hydrology. EDITORIAL NOTE preparingIn this publication press,for IAEAthe staff of have pages madethe up fromthe original manuscripts submittedas authors.the viewsby The expressed necessarilynot do reflect those governmentsofthe nominating ofthe Member States nominating ofthe or organizations. Throughout the text names of Member States are retained as they were when the text was compiled. The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by publisher,the legalthe IAEA,to the status as of such countries territories,or of their authoritiesand institutions delimitationthe of or theirof boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does implyintentionnot any infringeto proprietary rights, should construednor be it an as endorsement or recommendation on the part of the IAEA. The authors are responsible for having obtained the necessary permission for the IAEA to reproduce, translate or use material from sources already protected by copyrights. CONTENTS SUMMARY ....................................................7 . PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING Use of isotopes to study groundwater recharge through sand dunes in Qasim area, Saudi Arabia .................................................1 1 . Al-Sagaby,/ . MoallimM Study of recharge and evaporation process in the unsaturated zone of Damascus Basin, Syria .................................................. 33 B. Abou Zakhem, R. Hqfez Hydrochemistr isotopid yan c compositio Nubiae th f no n sandstone aquifer f Disio s - Mudawwara area, south Jordan ....................................1 6 . H. El-Noser, GedeonR. Environmental isotope and hydrochemical study of the shallow and deep groundwate Azrae th n qi r Basin, Jordan ..............................5 7 . M. Almomani Hydrochemical propertie environmentad san l isotope f groundwateso e th f o r middle aquifer in the Yarmouk Basin, Jordan .......................... 103 M.S. Abumaizer Environmental isotope majoe studth f ryo karst spring Damascun si s limestone aquifer systems: Case of the Figeh and Barada springs ................... 127 Z. Kattan Chemical and environmental isotope study of the fissured basaltic aquifer systems of Yarmouk Basin, Syria .......................................... 151 Z. Kattan Chemica environmentad an l l isotope stud precipitatiof yo Syrin ni a ............5 18 . Z. Kattan To determine whether there is a connection between Karamik and Hoyran lakes by means of isotopes ........................................... 203 . Ertan,/ . Sonaer,H . UlusanN Researc groundwatee th n ho r flow dynamic Lamaf so s Basi isotopy b n e method3 23 . s Bacaran,Önhon,N. E. ayS in, Can, M. Yüce,D. G. Pelen,N. KaplanA. Lis f Participanto t s ...............................................9 24 . SUMMARY This report summarize finae sth l meetin regionae th f go l technical cooperation project entitled "Isotope Hydrology in the Middle East" (RER/8/002), implemented by the IAEA during the period 1990-1994. In sever e vieth f wo e shortag availablf eo e water resource arisemi-arin d si dan d regions and potential contributio f isotopno e method solvino st g hydrologica hydrogeologicad an l l problems associated with water resources assessmen managemend an t sucn i t h water scarce areas IAEe th ,gives Aha n special emphasi isotopo st e application arin i s d zone hydrology durin lase gth t decade technicae Th . l cooperation projec para f this o t swa t effort. Since available water resources in the Middle East region are often restricted to groundwater, the project was directed towards isotope field investigations related to various hydrogeological problems presently encountere waten di r resources assessmen developmend tan regione th n ti . Eight Member countries in the region (Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Syriae th , n Arab Republic, Turke United yan d Arab Emirates) have actively take nprojecte parth n i t . Results obtained from these isotope field investigations, and overall achievements of the project were discussed durin finae gth l coordination meetin gCivie helth t dla Engineering Department of the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey, during 21-25 November 1994 and are reported hi this document. The deliberation meetine th f so g indicated tharesulte th t isotopf so e studies conducted have substantially contributed to: Improved understanding of the sources and origin of water, mapping of palaeowaters and delineation of hydraulic interconnections between different aquifer units: Studies undertaken in Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic on major aquifer systems aime t identificatioa d f genesio n f groundwateo s r have enabled mapping of palaeo-subsurface water reserves which are not being replenished under present climatic conditions. Groundwater withdrawal from such reserves wil depletine b l existine th f go g reserves. Estimating rat f direceo t recharg groundwatee th o et r from precipitation: Specific isotope studies conducte e unsaturateth n i d de selecte th zon f o ed representative sites of major aquifer systems in Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic have enabled estimate e madb f replenishmeno o t es te rateth o t s underlying groundwater as a means of establishing allowable water extraction amounts without causing decline of the water table. Stud f sourceo y d processean s f wateo s r salinizatio n coastai n l aquiferd an s identification of sources of pollutants and their transport dynamics: Methodologies based on natural isotopes were employed hi Jordan, Lebanon and Turke identifo yt pathwaye yth sea-watef so r encroachmen coastan o t l aquifers a s a basis for proper engineering decisions to prevent groundwater salinization. The meeting also considered further need requirementd san regioe fiele th th f dn so i of