Etude des ressources hydriques de la région de Béni Ounif

Abstract

The region of Beni Ounif (SO Algeria) extends over an area of 42,730 km2, its population is estimated at 13,000 inhabitants. The climate of the region is of Saharan type, annual precipitation height do not exceed 32 mm. The aquifer system of the region consists of three layers, from bottom to top we can distinguish: the intercropping continental sheet of lower Cretaceous age, consisting of an alternation of sandstone-clay layer, it is surmounted by the sheet of Turonian-age terminal complex, calcaro-dolomitic in thickness of 50 m, and the surface is the surface free layer consisting of quaternary alluvium. The hydrochemical study of the aquifers of the Béni Ounif region shows that the waters of the superficial aquifer are very mineralized by adding the continental Intercalaire (CI) aquifer. Assessment of the potability of surface water is acceptable for drinking water supply with the exception of a few boreholes where nitrate and sulphate concentrations exceed Algerian standards. For the water catchment area of the albian, the assessment of the drinking water quality is done by the method of the water quality index (WQI), shows that they are of excellent quality. The water representation on the Riverside diagram shows that the waters of the surface water are of excellent, good and acceptable quality for irrigation, and CI waters are of good and acceptable quality for irrigation