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Ponte Academic Journal
Jul 2022, Volume 78, Issue 7

THE USE OF GIS FOR MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE (MAR) SITE SELECTION IN WADI ARABA - JORDAN

Author(s): Ala' Hamed Alelaimat ,Ismail Yusoff, Tham Fatt Ng, Yahya A Majali, Mohd Khairul Nizar Shamsuddin

J. Ponte - Jul 2022 - Volume 78 - Issue 7
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.7.8



Abstract:
Jordan is considered as one of the ten most waterscarce countries in the world, but the country facing challenges in its water sector, Groundwater is the most important source of water in Jordan, it provides more than half of the total water demand, Some of Jordan groundwater resources are presently exploited at maximum capacity and in some cases more than safe yield. To meet this challenge, we should search for practical solutions that increase groundwater recharge, naturally or artificially. This study aims to select suitable sites for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) through GIS techniques, the selected criteria choosing based on Rainfall, Slope, Geological formations, Land Use, Soil texture and Depth to water table, and assigned weightages and ranks, these layers have been integrated into GIS software for generating MAR suitability map of Wadi Araba. The area falls into five categories of (MAR) potential zones i.e., very good, good, moderate, low, and very low depending on the likelihood of (MAR) suitable locations. Based on this study, it is found that 16.7% with an area of 1473.7 km2 and 30.15% with 2649.5 km2 area are under the very good and good category of (MAR) suitability respectively. An area of 1779.3 km2 represents 20.24% is found under the moderate category whereas 1944.24 km2 and 890.94 km2 equals 32.82% of Wadi Araba area falls under the low and very low category of (MAR) suitability respectively.
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