Abstract
In Wadi Tharad the groundwater has been subjected to hydrochemical study to identify the process (s) that led to the formation of relatively highly saline water in shallow alluvial aquifer. The chemical analyses results show that the groundwater salinity was highly variable and randomly distributed along the wadi course. This variation could be attributed to intensive evaporation on effluent prone surface irrigation water that led to precipitation of evaporates (e.g., calcite, dolomite, gypsum and probably halite). The intensive irrigation practice through mineral dissolution recharged the groundwater with a marked increase in the salinity. The local hydrogeological condition is also involved in determining the risk of the groundwater salinity as a consequence of irrigation practice.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Jurash M.A., 1986: Data for Climatic Water Balance in Saudi Arabia. Scientific Publish Center, King Abdulaziz University, p. 441.
Brown G.F. and Jackson R.O., 1960: The Arabian Shield. Proceedings International Geological Congress, Copenhagen, 1960, pt. 9, pp. 69–77.
Cater F.W. and Johnson P.R., 1987: Geologic map of the Jabal Ibrahim quadrangle, Sheet 20E, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources. Geologic map GM-96 C.
Eugster H.P. and Jones B.F., 1979: Behavior of major solutes during closed-basin brine evolution. Am. J. Sci. 279: 609–631.
Gat J.R., 1980: The relationship between surface and subsurface waters. Water quality aspects in areas of low precipitation. Hydrological Science Bulletin 25: 257–267.
Greenwood W.R., 1975: Geology of the Al 'Aqiq quadrangle, Sheet 20/41 D, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources. Geologic map GM-23.
Hadley D.G. and Fleck R.J., 1980: Reconnaissance geologic map of Jabal Afaf quadrangle, Sheet 20/40 D, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources. Geologic map GM-23.
Wigley T.M.L., 1977: WATSPEC: A computer program for determining the equilibrium speciation of aqueous solutions. Tech. Bull. Br. Geomorphol. Res. Group 20.
Zakir F.A.R., 1972: Geology of Ablah area, southern Hijaz quadrangle. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Rapid city, South Dakota School of mines and Technology. Unpublished MSc. Thesis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alyamani, M.S. Salinity problem of groundwater in the Wadi Tharad Basin, Saudi Arabia. GeoJournal 48, 291–297 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007026620591
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007026620591