A Quantitative Model to Predict a Safe Yield for Well Fields in Kufra and Sarir Basins, Libya

Area of Science:

• Hydrogeology
• Groundwater modeling
• Water resource management

Background:

• Libya's Kufra and Sarir basins possess substantial groundwater resources.
• Several well fields are established for irrigation, with more under development.
• Current extraction represents a fraction of the total available groundwater.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the hydrological behavior of the Sarir well field.
• To estimate groundwater underflow into the Kufra and Sarir basins.
• To simulate long-term pumping scenarios for sustainable water supply.

Main Methods:

• Analytical and numerical modeling for hydrological behavior analysis.
• Steady-state and transient groundwater flow models.
• Pump test analysis (though limitations were noted).

Main Results:

• The Sarir aquifer exhibits leaky artesian characteristics and partial penetration effects.
• A minimum of 80 m³/s groundwater underflow enters the basins from surrounding regions.
• Simulations predict sustainable water availability for at least 50 years under a proposed pumping scheme of 120 m³/s from 14 well fields.

Conclusions:

• The Kufra and Sarir basins hold significant, largely untapped groundwater resources.
• Groundwater models are crucial for understanding complex aquifer systems and planning sustainable extraction.
• The region's groundwater can support projected irrigation needs for the foreseeable future.