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Updated: Oct 7, 2025
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Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
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Assessment of Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers Using Multivariate Statistical Analyses and Hydrochemical Facies
Soumaya Hajji1, Nabila Allouche1, Salem Bouri1
1Laboratory of Water, Energy and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, B.P. 1173, Sfax 3083, Tunisia.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|January 11, 2022
Summary
Groundwater quality in Sfax, Tunisia, is declining due to overexploitation and seawater intrusion. Both natural rock-water interactions and human activities like agriculture significantly impact groundwater chemistry and pose a high risk in certain areas.
Area of Science:
- Hydrogeology
- Environmental Science
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- Groundwater (GW) quality is critical globally, with Tunisia facing significant challenges.
- The shallow coastal aquifer of Sfax experiences declining GW levels and deteriorating GW quality.
- Seawater intrusion (SWI) and water overexploitation are major pressures on this aquifer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the processes controlling groundwater quality (GWQ) in the Sfax coastal aquifer.
- To determine the primary sources of mineralization affecting GWQ.
- To map the spatial distribution of seawater intrusion.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 10 physico-chemical properties from 37 wells (370 observations).
- Application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify controlling factors.
- Utilized hydrochemical facies evolution (HFE) and Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation within a GIS for spatial analysis.
Main Results:
- Groundwater quality is influenced by both natural rock-water interactions and anthropogenic activities (agriculture, domestic use).
- Groundwater overexploitation contributes to both GWQ degradation and seawater intrusion.
- High SWI hazard identified in Jebeniana and Chaffar-Mahares localities, corroborated by HFE and spatial mapping.
Conclusions:
- Understanding GWQ drivers is essential for sustainable water management in Sfax.
- Integrated hydrogeological and spatial analysis effectively identifies GWQ issues and SWI.
- Developing targeted exploitation and protection plans is crucial for conserving Sfax's groundwater resources.
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