HR: 1330h
AN: H12B-0987    [PDF]
TI: Salinization Sources Along the Lower Jordan River Under Draught Conditions
AU: * Holtzman, R
EM: holtzman@uclink.berkeley.edu
AF: University of California, Berkeley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
AU: * Holtzman, R
EM: holtzman@uclink.berkeley.edu
AF: Technion, Israel Institute of technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Haifa, 32000 Israel
AU: Shavit, U
EM: aguri@tx.technion.ac.il
AF: Technion, Israel Institute of technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Haifa, 32000 Israel
AU: Segal, M
EM: segalm@tx.technion.ac.il
AF: Technion, Israel Institute of technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Haifa, 32000 Israel
AU: Vengosh, A
EM: avnerv@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
AF: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 653, Beer Sheva, 84105 Israel
AU: Farber, E
EM: efratfa@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
AF: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 653, Beer Sheva, 84105 Israel
AU: Gavrieli, I
EM: Ittai.Gavrieli@mail.gsi.gov.il
AF: Geological Survey of Israel, 30 Malkhe Israel St., Jerusalem, 95501 Israel
AB: The Lower Jordan River, once a flowing freshwater river, is suffering from an ongoing reduction of discharge and water quality. The river flows between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, an aerial distance of about 105 Km. The severe reduction is caused by an excessive exploitation of its sources and diversion of sewage and agricultural drainage into the river. The extreme low flows and low water quality threaten the natural existence of the river and its potential use for agriculture. In spite of its importance, little research has been done in the river. The objectives of the study were to measure the discharge and water composition along the river and to evaluate the main sources that control its flow and chemical characteristics. The hypothesis of the study was that interaction with subsurface flows significantly affects the river flow and chemical composition. The research is based on a detailed field study, which included flow rate measurements in the river and its tributaries, water sampling and analysis and mass balance calculations of water and solutes. A portable Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) was used to measure velocities and bathymetry at different locations across the river sections. Due to accessibility constraints, a floating traverse construction, which enables the ADV's deployment from one bank of the river, was developed. It was found that flow rate ranges between 500-1,100 L/s in northern (upstream) sections and 300-1,650 L/s in the south. This low discharge represents a significant reduction from historical values and is lower than recent published estimations. This research represents base flows only, as the measurements were done during a period of two consecutive draught years. Calculated mass balance of water flows in the northern sections shows that the subsurface source contributes to the river around 200-670 L/s (30-80% of the river flow). Calculations of solute balance show that the subsurface flows add 20-50% of the mass of solutes (e.g. Sulfate) that flows in the river. The assumption of a hydraulic gradient that points at inflows from subsurface flows is encouraged by high water levels measured in nearby piezometers. Possible natural subsurface sources include shallow groundwater or rising of water from deep formations. The existence of adjacent thermal wells strengthens the reasonability of such water rise. Possible anthropogenic sources include return flows and effluents. The results are consistent and agree with the geochemical and isotopic analyses. It is concluded that the impact of the subsurface component on the Jordan River is significant and must be taken into consideration, for future water management schemes and implementation of the Peace Treaty between Israel and Jordan.
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting