Waqed H. Hassan
Zainab N. Ghazi

In arid and semi-arid countries like Iraq, which suffer from water scarcity due to the effects of climate change and decreased surface water flow, groundwater is considered a vital source of irrigation water. This study is concerned with the influence of artificial recharge on the rehabilitation of the unconfined aquifer called Al-Dibdibba, located between the cities of Najaf and Kerbala in central Iraq around ۳۱°۵۵۰′ N and ۳۲°۴۵۰′ N and ۴۳°۳۰۰′ E and ۴۴°۳۰۰′ E. Due to excessive groundwater pumping rates for irrigation, this aquifer has suffered from groundwater decline and increased salinization during the previous ۲۰ years. By establishing a conceptual model in the groundwater modeling system software (GMS), a numerical model was made to simulate groundwater flow. Artificial recharge using recycled water (tertiary treatment) from Kerbala's primary WWTP was carried out using ۲۵ injection wells. The model was calibrated against historical and observed water level data for periods from ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۱۷. Three scenarios to predict how the aquifer would act with artificial recharge of ۵%, ۸%, and ۱۰% from the total daily outflow of the WWTP in Kerbala (۱۰۰۰۰۰ m۳/day) were studied. The calibration model met the observed values of groundwater levels with R۲ = ۰.۹۸۹ for steady-state simulations and R۲ = ۰.۹۸۷ for transient simulations. In the final analysis of the simulation, the results show that the maximum predicted groundwater level was raised by the injection of treated water through ۲۵ wells by ۱.۰۵ m for ۵۰۰۰ m۳/day, ۲ m for ۸۰۰۰ m۳/day, and ۳ m for ۱۰,۰۰۰ m۳/day recharge pumping rates. In addition, if water were pumped into the aquifer, it might support the development of agricultural lands covering more than ۹۳ km۲. So, artificial recharge can be considered one of the important solutions to adaptation to the effects of climate change and desertification in Iraq. Doi: ۱۰.۲۸۹۹۱/CEJ-۲۰۲۳-۰۹-۰۹-۰۱۰ Full Text: PDF

Artificial Recharge; Groundwater; Dibdibba Aquifer; Treated Wastewater; GMS.