Modeling of the Groundwater Quality in Al-Batinah Plain of Sultanate of Oman

Summary

Al Batinah coastal plain extends 270km along the Gulf of Oman from Muscat to UAE border, north of Shinas. The area is of vital importance to the agricultural economy of the Sultanate of Oman and accounts for a large percentage of the country’s agricultural products. Rainfall on the mountains is the major source of fresh water that recharges the aquifers under the Batinah area. With the introduction of modern drilling and groundwater pumping systems, the agriculture has expanded on both sides of the Batinah Coastal Highway. However, increased pumping has lowered groundwater levels and the quality of water has deteriorated due to salt-water intrusion. Consequently some of the agricultural land has been abandoned due to the rising salinity levels in the area. This man-introduced environmental change jeopardizes the goal of the Sultanate of Oman to achieve self-sufficient agricultural economy. The need thus arises for a clear understanding of the saltwater intrusion phenomenon in the coastal region of Sultanate of Oman and the development of an efficient groundwater management plan in order to avoid the deterioration of groundwater quality by the salt water. For this purpose a well-known computer model named MODFLOW (MODular three dimensional finite difference groundwater FLOW model) developed by United States Geological Survey (USGS) would be utilized. This comprehensive numerical model would be implemented and verified in the coastal aquifers of Sultanate of Oman by using the available data of the monitoring wells and then a management plan would be proposed to effectively utilize the available groundwater resources without causing the deterioration of water quality. Moreover a descriptive plan would be provided to further develop the groundwater resources in Al-Batinah region.