Groundwater in Haddat Al Sham-Al Bayada Area, Western Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

Saudi Arabia, groundwater, hydraulic gradient

Abstract

Haddat Al Sham - Al Bayada area is situated about 100 km to the east-northeast of Jeddah . The average annual rainfall within the study area is about 100 mm. Groundwater occurs within the alluvial deposits of the wadi system and also within the clastic members of Cretaceous - Tertiary sedimentary succession. The alluvial aquifer is characterized by a hydraulic gradient of 1.6 x 10-2 - 8.8 x 10-2 , an average transmissivity of 390 m2 /day, average permeability of 34 midday and a storage coefficient of 1.12 x 10-3- 1.28 x 10-1. The groundwater within the clastic members moves under a hydraulic gradient of 6.0 x 10-4 -1.4 x 10-2 , an average transmissivity of 180 m2/day, and an average permeability of 10 midday. Its storage coefficient is about 5.4 x 10-2 -1.1 x 10- 3. Groundwater chemical composition and ionic relationships are as well discussed in this paper. Each of the aquifers is characterized by its own water quality.