Book of Abstracts The 2nd International Conference on Water Resources in Arid Areas November 9-11, 2020, Muscat, Oman Preface The freshwater availability is under increasing pressure from population and economic growth, food demand, expanding irrigated agricultural areas, and climate change. The water deficit is especially drastic in arid areas characterized by low precipitation and high evaporation rates. In arid areas, groundwater is usually the only natural water resources, and is endangered by excess agricultural extraction and seawater intrusions to coastal aquifers. Climate change leads to temperature increase and shifts of precipitation patterns, and likely increase the frequency of flooding and drought seasons. It is important to understand the impact of climate changes on irrigation, subsurface hydrology, flood risk, salinization, as well as mitigation approaches to cope with the above mentioned issues. Desalination of seawater is a popular way to supplement insufficient water supply for drinking purposes and desalination of brackish water and treated wastewater reuse is also becoming popular mainly to provide water for irrigation and greenhouses. In addition, economical management and associated policy reforms are critical to induce water conservation and adoption of water saving and reuse technologies. As discussed above water challenges in arid area, the 2nd International Water Conference on Water Resources in Arid Areas (WRAA 2020), jointly organized by Water Research Center at Sultan Qaboos University, and Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources of Oman, aims to provide a premier interdisciplinary forum for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted in the field of water resources in arid areas. The present "Abstract Book" contains over 200 abstracts covering a wide spectrum of water science and addresses multiple issues and techniques. Thanks to all contributors and participants. The Conference Scientific Committee has reviewed abstracts and made recommendations on the basis of quality and importance. In addition, we have received over 80 full papers to be considered for publication in a Spring book, as well as the two special issues in the Earth Systems and Environment (ESEV) and the Journal of Arid Land (JAL). Those papers are reviewed and under review handled by 1 the Conference Editorial Board members (listed is in the next page) and their valuable contribution and time is highly appreciated. The Springer book and the special issues will be published soon. The reception of such large number of scientists and the organization of such large meeting is possible with the generous sponsorship of The Sultan Qaboos University, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, The Research Council, and Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Science. We are all indebted to our sponsors. I would like to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to the organizing committee, scientific committee, technical committee (listed in the next pages), and reviewers for excellent work performed to make this Conference a successful event. Dr. Ali Al Maktoumi Director of Water Research Center Associate Professor Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Sultan Qaboos University 2 The organizing committee Dr. Osman Abdalla Chairman, Earth Science, CoS Dr. Ali Al Maktoumi Director WRC, CAMS Ms. Diana Austria Coordinator, WRC Dr. Mingjie Chen Water Research Center Mr. Khamis Al-Moharbi SQU Admin Director Prof. Anvar Kacimov College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Dr. Azizallah Izady Water Research Center Prof. Slim Zekri Natural Resource Economics, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Dr. Talal Al Hosni Earth Science, College of Science Dr. Ala'a Al-Muhtaseb PCE, College of Engineering Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghafri Aflaj Research Unit, University of Nizwa Dr. Jauad El Kharraz Head of Research, MEDRC Dr. Ahmed Al-Busaidi SWAE, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Dr. Aisha Al-Khatri Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries wealth & and Water Resources Eng. Ahmed Said Al-Barwani Oman Water Socity 3 The Scientific Committee Dr. Ali Al Maktoumi Chair of Scientific Committee, Director WRC, CAMS Dr. Osman Abdalla Earth Science, College of Science Prof. Anvar Kacimov College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Prof. Slim Zekri Natural Resource Economics, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Dr. Talal Al Hosni Earth Science, College of Science Dr. Mingjie Chen Water Research Center Dr. Azizallah Izady Water Research Center Dr. Aisha Al-Khatri Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries wealth & and Water Resources Dr. Ala'a Al-Muhtaseb PCE, CoE Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghafri Aflaj Research Unit, University of Nizwa Dr. Jauad El Kharraz Head of Research, MEDRC Prof. Ruide Yu Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, China Prof. Zekai şen Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey Dr. Issam Nouiri Tunisian Agronomic Institute Dr. Djiby Racine Thiam University of Cape town, South Africa Dr. Mohamed Chiban Ibn Zohr University, Morocco 4 The Technical Committee Dr. Mingjie Chen Water Research Center Dr. Ahmed Al-Busaidi SWAE, CAMS Dr. Azizallah Izady Water Research Center Mr. Hilal Al Mamari Water Research Center Ms. Rasha abdullah Said Al Saadi Water Research Center Ms. Amira Suliman Al Rajhi Water Research Center Ms. Afrah Hamed Al Shukaili College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences Ms. Enas Elsir Mubarak Water Research Center 5 Reviewers List Abdelaziz Hirich Abdulrahim Al-Ismaili Ahmed Douaik Ahmed Hadidi Alaba Boluwade Alexander Osadchiev Ali Sulaiman Anwar Ahmed Arash Malekian Azizallah Izady Balai Chandra Das Elsayed Abu El Ella Eman Hasan Farhad Hosseinali Furat Ahmed Mahmood Mahmood Al-Faraj Furat Al-Faraj George Zaimes Hamdan Al-Wahaibi Ibrahim Al-Helal Iswar Chandra Das Khadija Semhi Luminda Hewawasam Mansour Al-Haddabi Mohamed Chiban Mohammad Mahdi Rajabi Mohammed Farfour Mushtaque Ahmed Nalusamy Sivakumar Narasimman Sundararajan Pankaj Pathare Peter Zavialov Rashid Al-Yahyai Rashid Umar Rifaat Abdalla Roohollah Noori Said Al-Ismaily Slim Zekri Sundarajan Narasimman Yaseen Al-Mulla Yassine Charabi 6 Table of Contents No. Theme Title Pages. No Themes 1 Subsurface hydrology 8 2 Salinization and irrigation practices 43 3 Climate change and water resources 72 4 Economics and management of wastewater 94 5 Water desalination and purification technologies 130 6 Aflaj and traditional water systems 157 7 Hydroinformatics 164 8 Urban water 228 Special Water-use and production in greenhouses 256 Theme 7 Subsurface hydrology 8 Integrated Geoelectrical and Hydrogeological Studies of Groundwater Aquifers west Asyut and El Minya District, Egypt. Esam Ismail Department of Geology, Faculty of Science Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt, [email protected] Abstract The main aim of this research is assessment the groundwater characteristics of the new reclamation land in the area located to the west Asuyt and El Minya district. To achieve this aim, forty two vertical electrical sounding (VES) and 58 water samples (3 surface water and 55 groundwater) were collected and analyzed for major ions. The VES data shows that, there are four geoelectrical units were recorded. The loose sand and gravel represent the first layer, the second layer characterized by low resistivity (clay and sand clay). The main water bearing formation (Pleistocene aquifer) represent third layer and composed of saturated sand and gravels. High remarkable resistivity values were recognized in the fourth layer which reflects the fractured Eocene limestone aquifer. The hydrogeologic and hydrogeochemical data concluded that, the main flow direction of groundwater is from southwest to northeast toward the River Nile. Surface water and most of Pleistocene water are suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes, while most of Eocene samples are not suitable for the same purposes due to high salinity. Keywords: Asuyt District, electrical resistivity, groundwater aquifer, major elements, drinking and irrigation purposes. 9 Groundwater Pollution in an Arid Region, Southwest of Iran Nasrolah Kalantari1, Hassan Daneshian1, Farshad Alijani2 1Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran 2Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract The recharge sources of groundwater in Behbahan plain, southwest of Iran, as an urban aquifer, were determined using hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes (18O and 2H) characteristics. Groundwater samples were collected from 40 water wells in both wet and dry periods, June 2017 and April 2018. The water samples were analyzed for determination of major ions, nitrate, fluoride, and bromide for both period and stable isotopes concentrations only for the dry period. The main hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater sources in the Behbahan plain were determined as natural groundwater recharge (R) and discharge (D) areas, Marun (M) and Bonehbasht (B) irrigation and drainage networks, contact with gypsum bedrock (G) of the Gachsaran formation, and waste water of Behbahan City (T). The spatial variation of electrical conductivity, chloride, ionic ratios, stable isotopes, and nitrate concentrations were investigated to determine anomalous groundwater zones associated with urban sources of groundwater pollution. Characteristic bivariate composition diagrams were employed