Browsing by Author "Van Camp, Marc"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Groundwater exploitation and hydraulic parameter estimation for a Quaternary aquifer in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
(Elsevier Ltd, 2009-07-03) Mjemah, Ibrahimu Chikira; Van Camp, Marc; Walraevens, Kristine
The fact that groundwater exploitation has largely increased since 1997 in the Dar-es-Salaam aquifer, calls for a directed attention towards possible problems of aquifer overexploitation that may arise in the near future. Hydraulic parameters are important for developing local and regional water plans as well as developing numerical groundwater flow models to predict the future availability of the water resource. The determination of aquifer parameters through pumping tests has become a standard step in the evaluation of groundwater resource potential. The pumping tests in the study area were con- ducted in August 2004 and August 2005, where 39 boreholes were tested out of 400 visited. In the study area there are over 1300 recorded boreholes drilled by Drilling and Dam Construction Agency (DDCA) by the year 2005. Total groundwater exploitation in the study area was estimated at 8.59 10 6 m 3 /year, based on yield data collected during the 2004–2005 field campaigns. The pumping tests included single- well tests and tests with measurements on the pumping well and at least one observation well. The tests were conducted for 6 h and 30 min. The pump was shut down after 6 h of pumping and the remaining 30 min were used for recovery measurements. The pumping test analysis methods used include: Neuman type curve matching and Walton type curve matching, checked by specific well capac- ity assessment and Thiem–Dupuit/Thiem’s method. The curve-matching results from the aquifer tests show the following parameters: an average transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of 34 m 2 /d and 1.58 m/d, respectively for the unconfined aquifer; the semi-confined aquifer has an average value of 63 m 2 /d and 2.14 m/d for transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity, respectively. For the case of the storativity, the unconfined aquifer has an average elastic early-time storativity of 0.01, while the lower aquifer has an average storativity of 3 10 4 . Specific well capacity method and Thiem–Dupuit/Thiem’s method confirm results for transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the semi-confined aquifer, while values for the unconfined aquifer are somewhat larger (by a factor of 2–3). The hydraulic param- eters calculated appear to reasonably agree with the geological formation of the aquifers, as deduced from borehole descriptions.
Groundwater exploitation and recharge rate estimation of a quaternary sand aquifer in Dar-es-Salaam area, Tanzania
(Springer-Verlag, 2010-09-10) Mjemah, Ibrahimu Chikira; Van Camp, Marc; Martenes, Kristine; Walraevens, Kristine
Dar-es-Salaam City gets water supply from surface water and groundwater. The groundwater is used to supplement surface water supply and has increasingly become a major source of water supply in the city. The study area comprises three major parts: the central coastal plain with quaternary fluvial–deltaic sediments, the deltaic Mio-Pliocene clay-bound sands and gravels in the north- west and southeast and the Lower Miocene fluviatile sandstones of Pugu Hills in the west of the study area. The main objective of this study was to quantify the integrated water balance. The major source of renewable groundwater in the aquifer is rainfall. Hence, the average recharge of 256.2 mm/year (for the year 2006) to the aquifer was estimated using the balance method of Thornthwaite and Mather, which is equal to 99.4 hm 3 /year for the whole alluvial aquifer. This value was balanced with total groundwater abstraction of 8.59 hm 3 /year, baseflow to rivers of 75.7 hm 3 /year and discharge into the sea (15.11 hm 3 /year).
The origin of high sulfate concentrations and hydrochemistry of the Upper Miocene–Pliocene–Quaternary aquifer complex of Jifarah Plain, NW Libya
(Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2016-10) Alfarrah, Nawal; Berhane, Gebremedhin; Mjemah, Ibrahim Chikira; Van Camp, Marc; Walraevens, Kristine
he high uncontrolled groundwater extraction in Jifarah Plain, NW Libya, causes a modification of natural flow systems, inducing seawater intrusion and causing groundwater quality deterioration. The principal aim of this study is to identify the hydrogeochemical processes in this coastal aquifer in order to verify the main sources of sulfate concentration increase that occurs in the system. In order to achieve this aim, water samples were collected from 134 sampling wells in the study area and analyzed for the major cations and anions; physical and chemical parameters were measured, such as water level, electrical conductivity, pH and temperature. The analytical results obtained in the hydro- chemical study were interpreted using Piper diagram, ion correlations with Na ? /Cl - , SO 42- , Cl - and TDS, in con- junction with calculation of the ionic deviations of the con- servative freshwater/seawater mixture and saturation indices using the PHREEQC 2.16 software. The large SO 42- anomaly observed in groundwater near the coast was explained by the presence of seawater intrusion and upconing of deep saline water in these areas. This conclusion is based on high chloride concentrations, the inverse cation exchange reactions and the lower piezometric level compared to sea level. Inland, in Sabratah, the high SO 42- values are related to gypsum dissolution from the Upper Miocene Formation in the lower part of the upper aquifer. These locally high SO 42- concentrations in the south of the study area show overall increase in the upstream direction, which also suggests the dissolution of evaporites from the mountain aquifers in the south. High SO 42- concentration is also related to the effect of the scattered sebkha deposits in some areas along the coast.
Saltwater intrusion and nitrate pollution in the coastal aquifer of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
(Springer, Environimental Earth Science., 2013-11-03) Mtoni, Yohana; Mjemah, Ibrahimu Chikira; Bakundukize, Charles; Van Camp, Marc; Martenes, Kristine; Walraevens, Kristine
Dar es Salaam Quaternary coastal aquifer is a major source of water supply in Dar es Salaam City used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. However, groundwater overdraft and contamination are the major problems affecting the aquifer system. This study aims to define the principal hydrogeochemical processes control- ling groundwater quality in the coastal strip of Dar es Salaam and to investigate whether the threats of seawater intrusion and pollution are influencing groundwater qual- ity. Major cations and anions analysed in 134 groundwater samples reveal that groundwater is mainly affected by four factors: dissolution of calcite and dolomite, weathering of silicate minerals, seawater intrusion due to aquifer over- exploitation, and nitrate pollution mainly caused by the use of pit latrines and septic tanks. High enrichment of Na ? and Cl - near the coast gives an indication of seawater intrusion into the aquifer as also supported from the Na–Cl signature on the Piper diagram. The boreholes close to the coast have much higher Na/Cl molar ratios than the boreholes located further inland. The dissolution of calcite and dolomite in recharge areas results in Ca–HCO 3 and Ca–Mg–HCO 3 groundwater types. Further along flow paths, Ca 2? and Na ? ion exchange causes groundwater evolution to Na–HCO 3 type. From the PHREEQC simu- lation model, it appears that groundwater is undersaturated to slightly oversaturated with respect to the calcite and dolomite minerals. The results of this study provide important information required for the protection of the aquifer system.
Saltwater intrusion in the quaternary aquifer of the Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania
(GEOLOGICA BELGICA, 2012) Mtoni, Yohana; Mjemah, Ibrahimu C.; Msindai, Kristoko; Van Camp, Marc; Walraevens, Kristine
A description of the occurrence of the salt water intrusion from seawater close to the coastline of Dar es Salaam Region is presented. The present status of intrusion in two pilot areas located between Mlalakuwa and Msimbazi Rivers (locality I) and Msimbazi and Kizinga Rivers (locality II) is evaluated. The causes, effects, remedial measures and future possibility of intrusion are discussed. An investigation on the hydrodynamics of the phenomenon and analysis of the formations as well as the interfacial transition zone is currently being performed. Water samples from Mikocheni, Oysterbay, Msasani, Masaki and City Centre areas show elevated chloride, sulphate and sodium concentrations. Using Stuyfzand (1986) water classification method, about 60 percent of the samples are classified as fresh-brackish to salt and 30 percent as extremely hard. Groundwater was classified into several categories by subtype, i.e., Sodium-Chloride, Sodium-Bicarbonate, Calcium-Bicarbonate, Magnesium-Bicarbonate, Sodium-Mix and Calcium-Mix. The growing human population in and around the investigated areas has had an adverse impact on the water in the shallow aquifer through, among other factors, indiscriminate abstraction of water without knowledge of the aquifer’s capacity.