Publication Details

The Use of GIS for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Site Selection in Wadi Araba - Jordan

Jordan is considered as one of the ten most waterscarce countries in the world, 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 in 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. On the basis of this study, it is found that 16.7% with area of 1473.7 km2 and 30.15% as 2649.5 km2 area is under very good and good category of (MAR) suitability respectively. An area of 1779.3 km2 represent 20.24% is found under moderate category whereas 1944.24 km2 and 890.94 km2 equals 32.82% of Wadi Araba area falls under low and very low category of (MAR) suitability respectively.