Groundwater Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Arid Regions: Abu Dhabi Pilot Experiment Case Study, By Dr. Mohamed Dawoud, Manager, Water Resources Department, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

1. Groundwater Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Arid Regions:
Abu Dhabi Pilot Experiment Case Study
Dr. Mohamed Dawoud
Manager, Water Resources Department
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
“Learning from land and water projects experiences for smart management”
15-18 December 2013, Amman-Jordan
1
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

2. Dependency of Domestic Sector
on Desalination (100%)
Present Supply Network
Present Storage
6
5
Days
4
3
2
1
0
Kuwait
2
Qatar
Oman
UAE
Bahrain
Saudi
Arabia
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

3. Suitability Evaluation for Groundwater Aquifer
Overall Assessment of Criteria
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
20
23
0
0
14
16
22
26
29
31
52
0
0
0
17
23
28
26
29
0
0
0
15
20
23
23
24
0
0
0
18
24
27
34
E v a lu a tio n C r ite r ia , m in . R e q u ir e m e n ts a n d m a x . P o in ts :
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
ax:
ax.
ax:
ax.
ax.
ax.
ax.
25
10
10
20
15
10
10
p o in ts
p o in ts
p o in ts
p o in ts
p o in ts
p o in ts 0
p o in ts
Abu
D habi
0
40
49
49
45
0
0
43
45
41
57
40
31
37
54
0
25
29
27
37
47
51
0
30
33
34
40
34
42
48
0
49
48
29
30
50
50
29
21
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
21
25
29
31
31
37
40
0
0
41
0
0
0
0
17
20
23
27
29
32
33
36
49
A l K h azna
A s Sad
0
15
17
0
0
0
0
0
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19
22
27
26
28
30
34
32
27
46
41
34
1 4A l
0
0
0
16
19
24
24
23
18
17
20
18
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
23
28
32
31
39
33
33
37
35
29
38
25
20
0
0
0
19
24
30
37
34
33
34
35
31
27
22
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
28
33
37
36
36
33
32
35
37
26
0
0
0
23
28
37
46
40
44
44
43
47
43
44
30
26
24
26
23
21
0
21
27
30
31
38
40
39
38
35
33
28
31
34
36
0
0
0
0
25
36
41
46
60
57
56
57
57
60
56
48
47
39
36
35
31
28
30
35
35
41
42
41
41
45
35
35
28
29
35
37
37
0
0
0
25
28
38
45
54
58
61
70
68
62
68
66
65
59
48
44
43
39
43
44
41
42
47
50
45
44
45
40
37
32
30
32
32
28
0
S u i t a b i l i t y o f A r e a f o0 r
L a r g e -S c a le A S R -P r o je c t
0
24
29
36
45
50
58
65
72
80
79
81
78
76
76
57
56
56
50
5A 0 z Z a f r 5a h1
48
46
52
49
47
47
45
41
35
31
26
25
30
37
0
21
26
34
43
52
63
68
74
88
88
83
86
90
75
75
61
56
59
60
51
58
57
47
47
47
43
35
28
0
21
0
31
0
0
49
18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
A in
Z aro u b
39
0
0
80
88
91
A
91
91
91
90
76
84
82
61
62
55
53
52
57
60
53
48
41
41
37
27
0
31
4
40
37
33
0
0
0
0
53
65
73
80
87
86
86
90
92
90
77
82
87
79
63
31
35
41
51
64
74
79
85
84
79
82
81
68
65
62
57
70
75
57
S
43
B u 5 H0 a m r a h4
57
55
53
50
63
58
54
A 5g 3r a b
48
43
39
33
27
0
A
33
A
B
70
U
H
64
25
34
50 - 60
38
68
42
52
65
71
74
77
71
65
67
46
42
49
47
29
B ate e n
33
52
56
57
58
57
53
50
47
43
31
0
0
39
40
41
51
51
52
49
45
47
46
33
0
0
0
25
0
24
25
0
68
74
66
62
H5 1 w a i l a
u
36
34
32
40
L I W
39
40
58
65
67
65
58
40
33
29
31
0
0
0
40
41
32
33
49
39
37
38
42
41
0
33
0
0
0
0
0
36
29
3 M0 a s h h u2 r 6
27
31
28
30
29
0
0
Q u s a h w 0i r a
0
0
0
0
0
H
62
A
R a m la t A r R a b b a d
A
41
53
55
40
60 - 70
E v a lu a tio n
P o in ts
52
A l F a ih a
A l Q afa
40 - 50
90 - 100
42
55
H
L im ite d S u it e d
31
25
70 - 80
S u ite d
23
20
20 - 30
30 - 40
3
19
82
A S R -P ilo t P r o je c t A r e a
to
N o . o f C r ite r ia fo r w h ic h
M in im u m R e q u ir e m e n t is
n o t f u lf ille d
S
U n s u ite d
0
10 - 20
B
0
0 - 10
80 - 90
S
A
S
A
H
IL
B
A
0
B
0
a fit
el H
0
A r a b ia n G u lf
0
>=10 m
>=10 m
>=10m
< = 2 5 ,0 0 0 p p m
<=5 ‰
>=5 km
<=500
v a ila b le T h ic k n e s s o f V a d o s e Z o n e
v a ila b le A q u ife r S y s te m T h ic k n e s s
v a ila b le A q u ife r T h ic k n e s s
a tiv e G r o u n d w a te r S a lin ity
a tu r a l G e o h y d r a u lic G r a d ie n t
is ta n c e to n e x t B o r d e r / S h o r e
u m b e r o f e x is tin g W e lls
Dubai
Jeb
0
A
A
A
N
N
D
N
0
0
C lu s te r e x c lu d e d if th r e e o r m o r e C r ite r ia n o t fu lfille d
A rz a n a
0
S h a r ja h
0
S u ita b ility o f A r e a s fo r L a r g e -S c a le A S R -P r o je c t
0
Z arrarah
K in g d o m o f S a u d i A r a b ia
0km
25km
0
50km
75km
0
0
100km
0
0
0
H a le ib a
M ender
0
S u lta n a te
of O m an
0
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

4. Suitability Evaluation for Groundwater Aquifer
Overall Assessment of Criteria
HYDROGEOLOGY








Available thickness of the aquifer system
Thickness of the vadose zone (vertical distance surface to
groundwater table)
Aquifer confinement
Quality / salinity of the native groundwater
Aquifer transmissivity and storativity
Groundwater flow gradient and velocity
Present and future use of the aquifer by third parties (agriculture,
municipal, forestry, etc.)
…….
OTHERS






4
Distance to nearest border / coastline
General infrastructure
Present and future land utilisation / development (urban, industrial,
agriculture, etc.)
Environmental aspects, regulations
Concessions (oil, gas, mining, etc.)
…….
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

5. Selection of Thematic Hydrogeological Maps
Geology, Geohydraulics, Hydrochemistry, Hydroisotopes
A rz a n a
T h ic k n e s s o f F o r m a tio n a b o v e E v a p o r ite s
G ro u n d w a te r L e v e l
Abu
Dhabi
A bu
Dhabi
L I W
A
L I W
G r o u n d w a te r S a lin it y
A
Abu
D habi
L I W
G r a d ie n t o f G r o u n d w a t e r F lo w
A
A rz a n a
T h ic k n e s s o f S h a llo w A q u ife r
B i-c a r b o n a te -C o n c e n tr a tio n
Abu
D habi
Abu
D habi
Abu
Dhabi
Jeb
a f it
el H
L I W
A
L I W
R e c h a r g e D is ta n c e
δ-O x y g e n -1 8
D e p th to G ro u n d w a te r L e v e l
A
L I W
δ -D e u te r iu m
( p e r m il V S M O W )
Abu
D habi
L I W
5
A
A
( p e r m il V S M O W )
Abu
Dhabi
L I W
A
Abu
Dhabi
L I W
A
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

6. Final Selection for ASR Pilot Project Location
Hydrogeological Cross Section
A r a b ia n G u lf
Abu Dhabi
A l A in
A l M irfa
S h u w e ih a t
M a d in a t Z a y e d
E m ir a te o f
A bu D habi
M iz e r ia h
H a m im
0 km
50 km
100 km
150 km
E le v a tio n (m M S L )
6
225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
-2 5
-5 0
-7 5
L iw a
C re s c e n t
A l B a te e n
<
>
>
>
>
>
A l Q a fa / B u H a s a
G W -S h e d
= 1 ,0 0 0 p p m
1 ,0 0 0 -1 ,5 0 0 p p m
1 ,5 0 0 - 4 ,0 0 0 p p m
4 ,0 0 0 - 7 ,0 0 0 p p m
7 ,0 0 0 - 1 0 ,0 0 0 p p m
1 0 ,0 0 0 p p m
fre s h
b r a c k is h
A r a b ia n G u lf
N o rth
S o u th
s a lin e
A q u ita r d / A q u ic lu d e
2530000
2540000
2550000
V e r tic a l E x a g g e r a tio n : 1 0 0 - fo ld
0 km
2560000
2570000
2580000
2590000
2600000
10 km
20 km
30 km
40 km
50 km
2610000
2620000
2630000
2640000
2650000
2660000
225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
-2 5
-5 0
-7 5
L a titu d e (U T M y 4 0 )
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

7. ASR Pilot Project (Infiltration/Recovery Cycles)
OB-10: r= 204.8m
OB-11: r= 433.5m
OB-12: r= 889m
OB-13: r= 181m
OB-16: r= 99.7m
OB-17: r= 366.5m
OB-18: r= 1164.2m
02.12.04
OB-14: r= 533.1m
OB-15: r= 731.3m
115
OB-08: r= 127m
OB-09: r= 691.6m
113
OB-07C: r= 91.4m
OB-07D: r= 92.3m
111
OB-07A: r= 92.1m
OB-07B: r= 91.5m
113
OB-06C: r= 36.1m
OB-06D: r= 38.5m
111
OB-06A: r= 36.9m
OB-06B: r= 35.7m
109
OB-02: r= 55.3m
OB-05: r= 0m
115
OB-01: r= 45.1m
109
-300 -200 -100
Regime of Desalinated Seawater Infiltration and Groundwater Abstraction
105
105
107
107
OB-19: r= 1766.5m
Cum.
Infiltration
/ Abstraction
Volume (m³)
Cumulative Abstraction (RB-01-04)
103
Elevation of Groundwater Level (m+MSL)
Cumulative Infiltration
-1.2E+6 -6.0E+5 0.0E+0 6.0E+5 1.2E+6
18.11.04
04.11.04
21.10.04
07.10.04
23.09.04
09.09.04
26.08.04
12.08.04
29.07.04
15.07.04
01.07.04
17.06.04
03.06.04
20.05.04
06.05.04
22.04.04
08.04.04
25.03.04
11.03.04
26.02.04
12.02.04
29.01.04
15.01.04
01.01.04
18.12.03
20.11.03
06.11.03
23.10.03
09.10.03
25.09.03
04.12.03
Abstraction Rate (RB-01-04)
0
100 200 300 400
Infiltration Rate
103
Elevation of Groundwater Level (m+MSL)
Infiltration
/ Abstraction (m³/h)
Rate
Groundwater Level Monitoring
101
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area
0
7
2,400101
Groundwater Level Fluctuations of Observed Wells

8. ASR Pilot Project Results
100 m
R B -0 1
75 m
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -1 6
In filtr a tio n B a s in
50 m
O B -0 2
25 m
O B -0 1
0 m
125 m
150 m
175 m
200 m
225 m
a fte r 2 5 d a y s
In filtr a te d V o lu m e : 1 4 9 ,5 0 0 m ³
In it ia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
60
-2 5 m
O B -0 2
-5 0 m
O B -0 2
-7 5 m
O B -0 2
-1 0 0 m
O B -0 6 A -D
-1 2 5 m
120
S c re e n e d
S e c t io n
o f W e ll
80
140
-1 5 0 m
O B -0 1
B e f o r e S ta r t o f In f iltr a tio n
N a tu ra l G ro u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
-1 7 5 m
O B -0 6 A -D
In itia l E C o f G r o u n d w a te r
East
-2 0 0 m
-2 2 5 m
O B -0 1
225 m
O B -0 6 A -D
200 m
O B -0 1
175 m
O B -0 6 A -D
150 m
O B -0 5
125 m
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
100 m
O B -0 8
75 m
O B -1 3
In f ilt r a t io n B a s in
50 m
O B -1 6
25 m
R B -0 1
0 m
O B -1 0
120
-2 5 m
O B -0 7 A -D
-5 0 m
O B -0 2
-7 5 m
O B -0 1
-1 0 0 m
O B -0 6 A -D
-1 2 5 m
O B -0 5
-1 5 0 m
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
140
W est
E ast
-1 7 5 m
O B -0 8
O B -1 0
-2 0 0 m
m +M SL
W est
-2 2 5 m
O B -1 3
m +M SL
250 days continuous injection
80
40
60
a fte r 2 5 d a y s
O B -1 6
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -0 2
O B -0 1
O B -0 6 A -D
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
O B -0 8
140
O B -1 3
O B -1 0
20
40
In f ilt r a t e d V o lu m e : 1 4 9 ,5 0 0 m ³
120
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -1 6
O B -0 5
O B -0 8
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
80
O B -1 3
140
O B -1 0
20
In itia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
120
a fte r 7 5 d a y s
In filtr a te d V o lu m e : 4 3 2 ,7 0 0 m ³
60
In it ia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
40
80
a fte r 7 5 d a y s
O B -1 6
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -0 2
O B -0 1
O B -0 6 A -D
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
O B -0 8
O B -1 3
O B -1 0
20
140
60
In f ilt r a t e d V o lu m e : 4 3 2 ,7 0 0 m ³
120
40
In itia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -1 6
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -1 6
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
O B -0 8
60
O B -1 3
140
O B -1 0
20
80
120
40
In f ilt r a t e d V o lu m e : 8 8 3 ,1 0 0 m ³
120
80
In it ia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
In it ia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
a fte r 1 5 0 d a y s
O B -1 6
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -0 2
O B -0 1
O B -0 6 A -D
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
O B -0 8
O B -1 3
O B -1 0
20
140
a fte r 1 5 0 d a y s
In filtr a te d V o lu m e : 8 8 3 ,1 0 0 m ³
60
80
40
60
120
In filtr a te d V o lu m e : 1 ,4 8 2 ,4 0 0 m ³
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
a fte r 2 5 0 d a y s
In filtr a te d V o lu m e : 1 ,4 8 2 ,4 0 0 m ³
In it ia l G r o u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
In itia l G ro u n d w a te r L e v e l
100
O B -0 8
120
a fte r 2 5 0 d a y s
O B -1 6
R B -0 1
O B -0 7 A -D
O B -0 2
O B -0 1
O B -0 6 A -D
O B -0 5
R B -0 3
O B -0 4
O B -0 8
O B -1 3
O B -1 0
20
140
O B -1 3
140
O B -1 0
20
40
80
80
60
60
40
40
8
20
-2 2 5 m
-2 0 0 m
-1 7 5 m
-1 5 0 m
-1 2 5 m
-1 0 0 m
-7 5 m
-5 0 m
-2 5 m
0 m
25 m
50 m
75 m
100 m
125 m
150 m
175 m
200 m
225 m
20
-2 2 5 m
-2 0 0 m
-1 7 5 m
-1 5 0 m
-1 2 5 m
-1 0 0 m
5 m
-5 0 m
-2 5 m
25 m
50
7 m
100 m
1 5 m
150 m
175
2
m
Consultancy Services- 7 for Artificial Recharge0 mand Utilisation mof the 5 Groundwater 2 Resource in them Liwa0 0Area 2 2 5
m

9. Lesson Learned and
Recommendations
• GCC countries depend on desalinated water for domestic
water supply.
• Emergency reserve in the surface reservoirs and
distribution network is 2-5 days.
• Increasing the storage capacity using surface reservoirs is
costly and not environmentally friendly.
• Groundwater storage using the artificial recharge
technique is a promising tool for strategic water reserves
in all GCC countries.
• Storing the fresh water in groundwater aquifers is safer
and more reliable in terms of time and location.
• It is recommended to carry out more extensive studies to
evaluate the feasibility of artificial recharge schemes.
9
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area

10. Thank You
10
Consultancy Services for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area