Sustainable Development of Groundwater in East Owienat, Egypt

Groundwater is a vital water source in arid and semi-arid regions. In East Owienat area groundwater is an only available water source. This study assessed the characteristics of the hydrogeological system and the baseline condition of the aquifer using field data and numerical modeling. The main objective of this research is to study the impacts of groundwater development on groundwater aquifer sustainability and to select the optimum development scenario, which achieves sustainable development with a minimal effect on aquifer potentiality. Groundwater flow was simulated using the Visual MODFLOW package. The model was calibrated under steady state conditions in January 1985. The model was verified from January 1985 to January 2018 according to observation point's data. The calibrated model then was used for the prediction simulations. Different extraction scenarios were suggested and evaluated to predict the behavior of groundwater aquifer and select the most feasible scenario. The evaluated groundwater extraction scenarios included: current extraction, proposed extraction and seasonally pumping of groundwater scenario. The results indicated that the seasonal operational aquifer scenario is highly recommended for a long-term management plan to achieve groundwater sustainability. This paper presents the different proposed scenarios to achieve sustainability of groundwater development in East Owienat area. The conclusions from the present study are mainly based on the field data analysis which was used to detect the prevailing hydrogeological environment. The concept of the study proposed a long term management plan to achieve sustainability. A conceptual flow model (MODFLOW) was implemented to simulate and calibrate the groundwater flow in East Owienat area based on the groundwater levels during the period between January 1985 (before starting the reclamation activities) and January 2018. Four scenarios were evaluated based on the final results of the verification period (1985-2018) to predict the impact of the different groundwater withdrawals on the aquifer behavior with time. The output of the four future scenarios (maps and graphs) was a helpful tool to predict the future hydrogeological situation of the aquifer system and to select the reliable, applicable and secure scenario as outlined for long term sustainable development. Before starting the groundwater development in East Owienat, the initial groundwater regional flow was flowing from southwest to northeast direction. While by continuous groundwater development, the flow was changed as radial flow towards the center of the well field in the development area, as a result of the excessive groundwater extraction. Application of numerical modeling has been proven to be efficient and accurate. It proved that the seasonal operational aquifer scenario is highly recommended for a long term management plan to achieve groundwater sustainability. More aquifer operation scenarios should be trying to assess the water duty, crop pattern, and taking into consideration the salinity in terms of enhancing the groundwater potential. Continuous groundwater monitoring for groundwater level, salinity, and extraction rates is a very important tool in groundwater management.