Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Hydrochemistry and Isotopic Compositions of the Groundwater and Surface Runoff in the Jordan Rift Valley (Case Study for Ramallah Jerusalem Sub-basin)

• Applicant: Dr. Saed Khayat
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2006 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 34405698

Since the water resources in the Middle East area is scarce, management options and optimal water allocation policies should aim at protecting the quality of these resources while making use of all the conventional and non-conventional sources. This work aims at assessing the impact of different anthropogenic and natural effluent to a part of the water cycle in the study area beginning with the precipitation in the zone of recharge in the upper mountains followed by the streams and wadis runoff and ending by the percolated groundwater from the wells and springs in the Jordan rift valley. This main objective will be achieved by an overall assessment of the potential point and non-point sources of pollution contributing to the system from different dumping sites, wastewater streams and industries. This mainly could be achieved through sampling and monitoring the main constituents in surface and groundwater spatially and temporarily. The intent is to utilize spatial and computational capabilities in this work for data evaluations and assessments, in particular for tracing the temporal and spatial trends of pollution indicators as well as the mixing of freshwater with other pollutants streams, and conceivably to post-process the general outputs from this work into a format that is readable by the related institutes in the area in an interactive manner. The outcome of this work will enable the economic and environmental assessment to optimizing the freshwater consuming in Ramallah-Jerusalem sub-basin. In addition, the environmental consequences can be realistically evaluated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants