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Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport for the Northern Batinah Area, Oman



Author(s)

Medhat El-Bihery, Abdel Aziz Al-Mushikhi, Salim Al-khanbashi, Ahmed Al Saeedi, Ali Mohsin Al-Lawati and Maqboul Al-Rawahi

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DOI:10.17265/2162-5263/2015.06.001

The northern Batinah occupies approximately 12,150 km² in the north of Oman Quaternary deposits and Neogene’s upper Fars form the aquifer units. MODFLOW compatible MT3D was used for simulation development of the area. It can be concluded that: (1) The groundwater in the Batinah area generally flows from the south-west to the gulf of Oman in the north-east; (2) Recharge takes place through direct recharge from rainfall and wadi flow by about 902 × 10³ m³/day; (3) The hydraulic conductivity attains a relatively wide range between 0.02 m/day and 78 m/day and 0.02 m/day and 60 m/day for the Quaternary and Fars respectively; (4) There is probably less potential for groundwater abstraction in the northern part of the area; (5) The water level decreased by about 6 m over24 years and (6) The increase of salinity most likely due to a contribution of sea water intrusion from the gulf along the coast. It is recommended that: (1) automatic well control system should be installed to accurate measurements of abstraction; (2) further analysis under different future scenarios should be made and (3) formulate an integrated management plan for the basin.

Groundwater, numerical modeling, Batinah, Oman