Chott Tigri-Lahouita Aquifer

MEDA DATABASE ON TRANSBOUNBDARY AQUIFERS Version 1.0 14/12/07

(ESCWA-UNESCO-UNECA-UNECE)

QUESTIONNAIRE ON TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS IN THE MEDA REGION

Please complete using Word document format.

Please complete a separate questionnaire for each aquifer

Please return by e-mail to: al-mooji@un.org and R.Stephan@unesco.org with copies to: iganouli@civil.auth.gr and a.aureli@unesco.org, by 20th August 2007.

1- NAME OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS, LOCATION & COUNTRIES

Please give the name(s) or other identification property of the shared aquifer, its approximate location (province, department) and say which countries share it.

*Name of the shared aquifer*	*Location (Province)*	*Country shared aquifer*
Chott Tigri-Lahouita Aquifer	Figuig	Algeria

Confined Aquifer, located at the border between Morocco and Algeria and shared between both countries.

2- AQUIFER PROPERTIES

2-1 Please look at the four simplified pictures below and indicate which of them most closely characterises your transboundary aquifer. If none, please provide a conceptual sketch of your transboundary aquifer in the blank box below

Please tick : Example 1 2 3 4 5

2-2 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Aquifer hydrogeological type: porous karstic fissured rock other

Predominant lithology: Dolomite Limestone and Sandstone

Stratigraphic age: Cretaceous

Area extent (km²): 4 400 Population resident in this area and main occupation: -

Thickness: mean (m). : 50 maximum (m) 300

Shared international boundary length : not defined

Dominant groundwater flow direction: W-E from Morocco to Algeria

Link with surface water systems: strong medium weak

No link with surface water

2.3 Map

Please provide a clear map of the transboundary aquifer, including aquifer boundaries and geographical coordinates. The map should preferably be supplied as a GIS-file

Chott Tigri-Lahouita region

2.4 Hydrogeological Characteristics and Groundwater Use

Rainfall: average annual and seasonal distribution: 170 mm / year. The precipitation period is from November to March-April

Recharge / discharge area: Aquifer is recharged mainly by infiltration from precipitation in Morocco. Aquifer is discharged through springs and pumping of groundwater.

Level changes (m/yr) - natural, induced by pumping, or other reason:

§ Natural Level changes (m/yr) : 0

§ Level changes induced by pumping and evaporation (m/yr) : 0

Total available non-renewable groundwater reserves (Mm³/yr):

Total available annually renewable groundwater resources (Mm³/yr): 11

Total groundwater abstractions (Mm³/yr) (estimated where not measured): 1.6 (Morocco side)

Flow in/out across national boundary (Mm³/yr): not defined

Groundwater flow direction and gradient across boundary: W-E From Morocco to Algeria

Water uses (total, by sector, principal uses, current - estimated and future - projected)

Total water use Mm³/yr : 1.6

§ Drinking water use Mm³/yr : 1.6

Deficits and other resource concerns (e.g. quality, extremes, environmental degradation, interactions with surface water bodies / other aquifers)

The chemical quality of the water of aquifer is good for the sand & sandstone formation and mediocre for limestone formation (Nitrate problem).

3- MONITORING DATA

Please note that stakeholders should comply with the WMO Resolution 25 on international exchange of hydrological and related data. (http://www.wmo.ch/index-en.html). If appropriate insert Excel tables into the Word document in order to provide information and available data on quantity, quality and accessibility, including:

· Observation networks

Describe the type of monitoring systems (surveillance, operational, investigative) and present briefly its historical perspective (starting year, changes of equipment or institutions and any other general information)

· Maps, with available scales, GIS and remote sensing imagery

Provide maps showing the monitoring stations in GIS format and any other relevant remote sensing information

· Type of data and monitoring equipment

Give the list of parameters and substances you monitor for quantity, physico-chemical and biological conditions and the monitoring equipment and methodology you use.

· Data archives and their adequacy

Describe the chronology of the data and give your opinion about their reliability

· Institutions in charge

Names and addresses of national and international institutions responsible for monitoring

· Research centres

Same as above for research centres involved in monitoring

3.1 Quantity

· N^o. of monitoring stations : 0

· Frequency of measurements : -

· Water levels : -

· Mean value and typical range : -

· Additional information : -

3.2 Quality

· N^o. of monitoring sites : 0

· Frequency of measurements : -

· Nitrogen compounds : -

· Salinity and major ions : -

· Heavy metals : -

· Pesticides : -

· Industrial organic compounds : -

4. IMPORTANCE OF TRANSBOUNDARY GROUNDWATERS

4-1 Uses and Functions

Does the groundwater in this transboundary aquifer have direct uses and/or other functions?

No Why not? Irrelevant groundwater resource

Problems with groundwater

(if yes, indicate these in section 5)

or:

Yes Uses Shared Aquifer Groundwater as % of total water use in the area

Total Shared Groundwater as % of total water use in the country:

Total Groundwater as % of total water use in the country:

Other functions Support of ecosystems

Support of agriculture

(Directly from shallow water table)

Preventing land subsidence

Maintaining baseflow and springs

Seasonal heat storage

Any other function

(please specify)

Drinking water supply

4-2 Groundwater abstraction and use in the aquifer

Indicate in the table the percentage of total groundwater abstraction accounted for by each use

Type of use	Percentage	If you do not know the exact percentage, than mark one of the following options
Type of use	Percentage	< 25 %	25 – 50 %	50 – 75 %	> 75 %
Drinking water	100
Irrigation
Industry
Mining
Thermal spa
Livestock
Other (please specify)

Please indicate the year to which these figures apply: 2004

5. WHICH PROBLEMS ARE OBSERVED IN TRANSBOUNDARY GROUNDWATERS?

5.1 Problems related to groundwater quantity

a) Specify if possible the average trend of groundwater level decline (m/year) : 0

b) Indicate in the table the type and scale of problem associated with groundwater abstraction from the aquifer

Problem	Increasing scale of problem
Problem	1. Local and moderate	2. Local but severe	3. Widespread but moderate	4. Widespread and severe
Increased pumping lifts or costs
Reduction of borehole yields
Reduced baseflow and springflow
Degradation of ecosystems
Sea water intrusion
Salt water upconing
Polluted water drawn into aquifer
Land subsidence
Other (please specify)

5.2 Problems related to groundwater quality

Indicate in the table the type, nature and scale of groundwater quality problems in the aquifer

Problem	Nature of problem		Typical range of concentrations	Scale, using classes 1-4 from table above
Problem	Natural origins	From human activities	Typical range of concentrations	Scale, using classes 1-4 from table above
Salinisation	+			1
Nitrogen species
Pesticides
Heavy metals
Pathogens
Industrial organic compounds
Hydrocarbons
Other (please specify)
Nitrate	+			1

5.3 Evidence for transboundary effects

b) Do you observe any decline of groundwater levels (or piezometric levels) caused or probably caused by activities in neighbouring countries?

Yes No

c) Do you observe any groundwater pollution caused or probably caused by activities in neighbouring countries?

Yes No

6. TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Indicate in the table which measures are presently being implemented or need to be applied

Management Measures	Already used and effective	Used, but Need to be improved	Need to be applied	Currently planned
Transboundary institutions (commissions, agreements, treaties, etc.)			+
Groundwater abstraction management by regulation (licensing, taxation)		+
Groundwater abstraction management by incentives or disincentives (subsidies, credits, energy prices, energy supply, etc.)			+
Increasing efficiency of groundwater use		+
Monitoring of groundwater quantity		+
Monitoring of groundwater quality			+
Public awareness campaigns			+
Protection zones for public supplies			+
Vulnerability mapping for land use planning			+
Good agricultural practices			+
Groundwater integrated into river basin management
Wastewater reuse or artificial recharge
Treatment of urban wastewater
Treatment of industrial effluents
Other (please specify)

7. POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE PROPERTIES

Does your country have domestic legislation on water resources ? è yes. In particular, does this legislation include a part on groundwater resources, or is there a separate groundwater legislation? èit includes a part of groundwater resources. Could you give an indication of the main provisions concerning groundwater, such as abstraction, licensing, pollution prevention zoning mechanisms etc.
What is the governmental institutional set-up for water management in your country, at national and sub-national level? (Give full name of institution(s), and a brief description of the relevant internal structure and mandate). è Is there any specific government institution for groundwater management? èyes
Are there any arrangements or agreements with your neighboring States regarding the transboundary aquifers ? èNo. Is there any form of cooperation with the neighboring States on the transboundary aquifers? èNo

8. NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM:

Name : FILALI MOUTEI Jaouad

Institution : Secretary of State to the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment, in charge of Water and Environment

Address… : Administration de l’Hydraulique 20, Rue Hassan Ben Chekroun, Rabat Agdal, Maroc

Tel. : (+212) 37 68 58 24 Fax. (+212) 37 77 60 81 E-mail : fmjaouad@water.gov.ma