Deep Water Status in Southwestern Tunisia

Abstract

Due to the water demand growth in southwestern Tunisia, particularly in Segui Gafsa-Tozeur area, the Tunisian Government launched a research program for new water resources in the lower Cretaceous layers within the Hauterivian and Barremian age. The present study highlights the major results of this project and defines the ability of the Barremian and Hauterivian series to be or not as good usable aquifers in this region. Seismic data show that the studied levels are located in deep trough with a very high depth. The water collected from the drilled wells in this region shows a very high salinity (80 g/l to 130 g/l) with a very low water level ( &#45 162 m/TN). These water levels are in hydrological isolation by faulting (faults trending NE-SW and NW-SE) with the Jerid area, where these layers are good water bearing. Thus, the studied series can't be considered as encouraging usable aquifers in the future. These results are crucial to make a decision and represent the guideline for research strategies in South-West Tunisia. Consequently, the government focuses on water search within the Turonian level which showed much more encouraging signs.