THE HYDROGEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF AIN DJACER AQUIFER, NORTHEASTERN ALGERIA.

Abstract

In north-east Algeria, the agricultural plain of Ain Djacer (35.9°N 6.3°E) is irrigated from the surficial aquifer, comprises fluvial sediments of the Miocene-Pliocene-Quaternary age. During the last decade or so, the region has known a rough drought and many surficial water sources dried out (Ziani 2009). The drought resulted an increasing dependence on groundwater sources, and over-exploitation of the aquifer (Bencer 2005); in turn, groundwater levels have dropped by 1 to 2 m.year-1 (Ziani 2009) and a progressive deterioration of the water quality in the irrigated area with the appearance of areas of high salinity (TDS> 2 g / l) which create problems of water use. (Ziani 2009).