Assessing Artificial Recharge on Groundwater Quantity Using Wells Recharge

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 31°550′ N and 32°450′ N and 43°300′ E and 44°300′ E. Due to excessive groundwater pumping rates for irrigation, this aquifer has suffered from groundwater decline and increased salinization during the previous 20 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 25 injection wells. The model was calibrated against historical and observed water level data for periods from 2016 to 2017. Three scenarios to predict how the aquifer would act with artificial recharge of 5%, 8%, and 10% from the total daily outflow of the WWTP in Kerbala (100000 m3/day) were studied. The calibration model met the observed values of groundwater levels with R2 = 0.989 for steady-state simulations and R2 = 0.987 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 25 wells by 1.05 m for 5000 m3/day, 2 m for 8000 m3/day, and 3 m for 10,000 m3/day recharge pumping rates. In addition, if water were pumped into the aquifer, it might support the development of agricultural lands covering more than 93 km2. So, artificial recharge can be considered one of the important solutions to adaptation to the effects of climate change and desertification in Iraq. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-09-010 Full Text: PD

An experimental and numerical study investigating sediment transport position in the bed of sewer pipes in Karbala

The complex phenomenon of sedimentation in urban areas is well studied using numerical models. Because they may be used to mimic sediment flow, obstructions, and drainage system optimization, the simulations are useful in urban planning and design. By merging ANSYS Fluent with Rocky, researchers were able to track the motion of sediment particles of various sizes and speeds. The sizes of the sediment particles were measured using a sieve after being collected from the streets of Karbala. The particle sizes established by the sieve analysis were used in both the computational and experimental procedures. Varied particle sizes and velocities, including 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, and 0.49 m/s, as well as varied particle sizes, including 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 0.1, and 1.2 mm, were investigated. Numerical analysis showed that 1.2 mm-sized particles sedimented between 10 and 148 cm from the input pipe’s X coordinate at a rate of 0.49 m/s. A maximum sedimentation distance of 380 cm was also observed for particles with a diameter of 1 mm. Sediment did not include 0.4 mm-sized objects flowing at the same speed. The findings demonstrated that particle size and velocity significantly impacted the quantity of drag and lift forces acting on the particles. As the particle size increased, the drag force increased, which led to more sedimentation. The particle positions along the X coordinate (pipe bed) showed a declining trend. Overall, this work offers crucial insights for understanding sediment transport in urban drainage systems by illuminating the connection between velocity, particle size, and sedimentation behaviour

A feasibility assessment of potential artificial recharge for increasing agricultural areas in the kerbala desert in iraq using numerical groundwater modeling

Groundwater in Iraq is considered to be an alternative water resource, especially for areas far away from surface water. Groundwater is affected by many factors including climate change, industrial activities, urbanization, and industrialization. In this study, the effect of artificial recharge on the quantity of groundwater in the Dibdibba unconfined aquifer in Iraq was simulated using a groundwater modeling system (GMS). The main raw water source used in the artificial recharge process was the reclaimed water output (tertiary treatment) from the main wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Kerbala, with 20 injection wells. After calibration and validation of the three-dimensional numerical model used in this study and taking wastewater recharge rates into account, two different scenarios were applied to obtain the expected behavior of the aquifer when the groundwater levels were augmented with 5% and 10% of the daily outflow production of the WWTP in Kerbala. The model matched the observed head elevations with R2 = 0.951 for steady state and R2= 0.894 for transient simulations. The results indicate that the injection of treated water through 20 wells raised the water table in more than 91 and 136 km2 for 5000 and 10,000 m3/day pumping rates, respectively. Moreover, increasing the volume of water added to the aquifer could lead to establishing new agricultural areas, spanning more than 62 km2, extending about 20 km along the river

Rainwater Catchment System Reliability Analysis for Al Abila Dam in Iraq’s Western Desert

Rainwater Catchment System Reliability (RCSR) is the chance that a system will deliver the required water for an interval of time. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is gaining popularity as a potential alternative water source for household or agricultural use. The reliability of the Al Abila dam in the western desert of Iraq was analyzed using a water budget simulation model and two explanations of reliability, time-based reliability, and volumetric reliability. To evaluate rainwater harvesting system performance, comprehensive software utilizing a method for everyday water balance using data from 20 years of daily rainfall. According to the findings, volumetric reliability, and for the three climate scenarios (wet, average, and dry year), increased as the storage volume increased until a threshold accrued on the storage capacity of 11.7 × 105 m3. While time-based reliability shows an increase up to a storage volume of 10.2 × 105 m3. Volumetric reliability of roughly 34–75% may be achieved, while only 14–28% time-based reliability may be achieved. Water saving efficiency decreases with increasing demand fraction, while the runoff coefficient has no significant influence on water effectiveness. While growing storage fraction value increases the effectiveness of water conservation and the value of the runoff coefficient influences the water saving efficiency. For both cases, water saving efficiency for the dam does not reach 50%. Using daily rainfall data, the technique given in this paper might be applied to predict water savings and the RWH systems’ reliability in different arid and semi-arid areas

Desalination of pigment industry wastewater by reverse osmosis using OPM-K membrane

Pigment production plants are among the most polluting industries due to their high-water consumption and complex releases. The current work investigates the removal efficiency of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium acetate (C2H3NaO2), and acetic acid (CH3COOH), and also the permeate flux of a small-batch OPM-K membrane using reverse osmosis (RO) pilot plant at various concentrations and pressures. At 0.034 M and applied pressure of 30 bar, the results showed that the maximum sodium chloride removal and permeate flow were 93.4% and 8.3 × 10−6 m/s, respectively. When the feed concentration was increased to 0.17 M, the maximum removal efficiency and permeate flow were 88.5% and 4.7 × 10−6 m/s, respectively. In addition, acetic acid has a minimum removal efficiency of 76.2% at 0.062 M and 20 bar applied pressure, while sodium acetate has a minimum permeate flow of 2.8 × 10−6 at 0.061 M and 20 bar. To conclude, the results proved RO membrane's high removal efficiency and permeate flux at low salt concentrations. It should also be noted that RO would be more suitable for the retention of NaCl, C2H3NaO2, and CH3COOH, the three components with the highest concentration in wastewater discharged from pigment production plants

Controlling metal ion migration in contaminated groundwater with Iraqi clay barriers for water resource protection

This study investigates the effectiveness of using Iraqi clay as a low-permeability layer to prevent the migration of lead and nickel ions in groundwater-aquifers. Tests of batch operation have been conducted to determine the optimal conditions for removing Pb2+ ions, which were found to be 120 minutes of contact time, a pH of 5, 0.12 g of clay per 100 mL of solution, and an agitation of 250 rpm. These conditions resulted in a 90% removal efficiency for a 50 mg L−1 initial concentration of lead ions. To remove nickel ions with an efficiency of 80%, the optimal conditions were 60 minutes of contact time, a pH of 6, 12 g of clay per 100 mL of solution, and an agitation of 250 rpm. Several sorption models were evaluated, and the Langmuir formula was found to be the most effective. The highest sorption capacities were 1.75 and 137 mg g−1 for nickel and lead ions, respectively. The spread of metal ions was simulated using finite element analysis in the COMSOL multiphysics simulation software, taking into account the presence of a clay barrier. The results showed that the barrier creates low-discharge zones along the down-gradient of the barrier, reducing the rate of pollutant migration to protect the water sources.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-06-02 (hanlid);Funders: King Saud University, Saudi Arabia (RSP2023R407)</p

Effect of Artificial (Pond) Recharge on the Salinity and Groundwater Level in Al-Dibdibba Aquifer in Iraq Using Treated Wastewater

Groundwater is one of the most important water resources in Iraq, so efficient management of storage, recharge, and consumption rates is required, for maintaining the sustainability of groundwater supplies. Some of the most valuable methods for ensuring the long-term sustainability of groundwater aquifers are those that provide artificial recharge. This study was conducted to determine the effect of artificial recharge on groundwater levels and quality in Iraq’s Dibdibba unconfined aquifer, utilizing groundwater modeling system software (GMS). Reclaimed water (tertiary treatment) from Kerbala’s central wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was used as raw water to recharge the aquifer. The effects of this artificial recharge were determined using built-up groundwater flow (MODFLOW) and dissolved transport (MT3DMS) simulation models. Model calibration and validation were implemented based on groundwater monitoring data from 2016 to 2017. The model matched observed elevations at R2 = 0.96 for steady state and R2 = 0.92 in transient state simulations. After the 3D numerical model was calibrated and validated, two scenarios were explored based on the daily production of 5000 and 10,000 m3/d from Karbala’s WWTP. The results indicated that the pumping of the treated wastewater through the pond would increase water levels by more than 20 cm for more than 78.2 and 110 km2 for pumping rates of 5000 and 10,000 m3/day, respectively. More than 40 km2 would be added (reclaimed) to the agricultural areas in the region as a result of the use of artificial recharge using a pond. Groundwater quality was also improved, as the TDS decreased by more than 55%, down to 1900 ppm, and the EC decreased by more than 68%, down to 1500 µ.S/cm. The findings of this study can assist decision-makers in developing strategies to reduce water scarcity and adapt to climate change

Novel material from immobilization of magnesium oxide and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide nanoparticles onto waterworks sludge for removing methylene blue from aqueous solution

Utilizing the waterworks sludge byproduct in the treatment of wastewater contained methylene blue dye is one approach that has been taken in an effort to lessen the difficulties that are associated with managing such byproduct. The prime aim of this work is manufacturing of novel sorbent from co-precipitation of magnesium oxide nanoparticles on the surfaces of waterworks sludge in the existence of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide surfactant. Surfactant 0.04 g/50 mL, dose of sludge 2 g/50 mL, and pH 12 were the most efficient preparation parameters to remove 75.31% of adopted dye. The adsorption studies were conducted under various conditions of contact time (0–240 min), concentration of dye (10–300 mg/L), sorbent mass (0.05–1.5 g), and solution pH (3–12). The best values of batch parameters were identical to the highest percentages of contaminant removal. Results proved that the magnesium oxide nanoparticles are attached to the sludge surfaces. Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models have perfectly described sorption results with 59.92 mg/g maximum sorption capacity. The breakthrough curves can be accurately described by the Bohart-Adams model. The outputs of continuous tests have been paved the way for future usage of the prepared sorbent in the field permeable reactive barrier technology