Hydrogeological study of the Saf-Saf watershed Skikda North-East Algeria

Abstract

The control of water resources is a necessity whether superficial or underground, in order to understand the circulation and origin of groundwater in the downstream part of the Saf-Saf watershed located in the city of Skikda, North-East Algeria. A detailed qualitative and quantitative study was carried out and 15 analyses were carried out. The results were shown from ground water. The generally do not present a risk of alcalinisation, but a moderately high risk of sanilisation due, on the one hand, to marine invasion and, on the other hand, to discharge of wastewater of industrial origin. Soduim chloride facies is the most predominant. The study of the suitability of groundwater for irrigation of agricultural land shows that the majority of water wells have an acceptable quality for irrigation. The analysis of hydro-climatological data allowed an estimate of the water resources of the watershed, thus attributing a Mediterranean climate, characterised by two distinct seasons: one wet and clod and the other dry and hot. The hydrogeological data reveal the existence of two superimposed layers of unequal impotence, the first superficial sandy of the Quaternary and the other of a deep gravel. These two reservoirs present an important resource for exploitation.