Usage of Carbon Isotopes in Characterizing Groundwater Age, Flow Direction, Flow Velocity and Recharge Area

AbstractCarbon-13 and Carbon-14 isotopes were utilized in this study to determine the age, flow direction, flow velocity and recharge area of groundwater in the two main aquifers of Kuwait. For this purpose 20 groundwater samples were collected from the Kuwait group aquifer and lower Dammam formation aquifer. The collected groundwater samples were analyzed for 14C activity and 13C activity. 14C activity was measured using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and expressed as percentage modern carbon (pmc) while 13C was measured using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) and expressed as permil (‰) in the form of CO2 gas. The interpretation of the analysis results of carbon isotopes data indicated that the general groundwater flow direction is towards north east and the estimated groundwater velocities are 11 to 30 m/a for Kuwait group aquifer and 12 to 21 m/a for Dammam formation aquifer. Based on the estimated groundwater velocities, the approximate location of the recharge areas of these aquifers was identified. The groundwater ages calculated for Kuwait group aquifer varied from 800 a B.P for modern ground water in the northern part to 22500 a B.P for very old groundwater in the northeastern part, while the age of Dammam formation groundwater is 26000 to 36000 a B.P

Assessment of Groundwater Salinization and Soil Degradation in Abdally Farms, Kuwait

Kuwait is a part of the arid and semi arid region, where irrigation is necessary for any realistic agricultural activities. There are no surface fresh water resources in Kuwait. Fresh water is provided from desalination of seawater. However, this water is used mainly for potable purposes. A total of 100,000 cubic meters of brackish groundwater is annually produced from the Kuwait Group and Dammam Formation aquifers. This water is mainly used for mixing at 5-10% with distilled water and for irrigation of specific crops. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of brackish groundwater irrigation on groundwater and soil. A total of 161 water and soil samples from 25 selected farms were collected and analyzed for chemical and physical parameters It was concluded that soil salinity was directly proportional to that of groundwater and a high increase in soil salinity was recognized since the establishment of the farms in Abdally. That was mainly related to the mismanagement of groundwater resources, which causes soil degradation in addition to the losses and inefficiency in water usage. It is recommended to use tertiary treated wastewater for irrigation activities in order to have a wider range of crops to be grown and to prevent the deterioration in both soil and groundwater resources

Assessment of Groundwater Salinization and Soil Degradation in Abdally Farms, Kuwait

Kuwait is a part of the arid and semi arid region, where irrigation is necessary for any realistic agricultural activities. There are no surface fresh water resources in Kuwait. Fresh water is provided from desalination of seawater. However, this water is used mainly for potable purposes. A total of 100,000 cubic meters of brackish groundwater is annually produced from the Kuwait Group and Dammam Formation aquifers. This water is mainly used for mixing at 5-10% with distilled water and for irrigation of specific crops. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of brackish groundwater irrigation on groundwater and soil. A total of 161 water and soil samples from 25 selected farms were collected and analyzed for chemical and physical parameters It was concluded that soil salinity was directly proportional to that of groundwater and a high increase in soil salinity was recognized since the establishment of the farms in Abdally. That was mainly related to the mismanagement of groundwater resources, which causes soil degradation in addition to the losses and inefficiency in water usage. It is recommended to use tertiary treated wastewater for irrigation activities in order to have a wider range of crops to be grown and to prevent the deterioration in both soil and groundwater resources

Feasibility of long-term irrigation as a treatment method for municipal wastewater using natural soil in Kuwait

Passing treated wastewater through soil is a natural and economic means to improve the quality of wastewater. The United Agricultural Production Company (UAPCO) farm located in the Sulaibiya area of Kuwait has been irrigated with tertiary treated wastewater since 1976. A field investigation at the farm has been conducted by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to assess the applicability of the natural soil treatment method, in the long term, to improve the quality of the treated wastewater under the conditions prevailing in Kuwait. The collected data have been analyzed to assess the degree of improvement in quality of the infiltrated water with respect to the tertiary wastewater used for irrigation. The data analysis indicates that in spite of low clay content of the soil, improvement in the quality of the tertiary treated wastewater through soil aquifer treatment by the removal of ammonia (>90%), iron (>80%), organic carbon (>90%), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (100%) and bacteria (50-100%, depending on its type), can be expected over a long-term period. Soil leaching, however, tends to increase the total dissolved solids of the infiltrated water and the nitrification process increases the nitrate content.