Simulations of Some Scenarios of Management and Restoration of Berrechid Aquifer (Morocco)
Karima El Bouqdaoui1, Mostafa Aachib2

1Karima El Bouqdaoui, Department of Sciences Aïn Chock University, Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco.
2Mostafa Aachib, Hassania Department of  Public Works, Casablanca, Morocco.

Manuscript received on 18 April 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 25 April 2019 | Manuscript published on 30 April 2019 | PP: 1735-1741 | Volume-8 Issue-4, April 2019 | Retrieval Number: D6296048419/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: Morocco’s water resources are highly irregular in space and time. The use of 91 to 94% of the resource mobilized for agriculture over the past two decades, during long periods of drought combined with increased water needs, have clearly highlighted the weaknesses in the balance between water needs and resources. By creating imbalances, in quantity and quality, in most of the country’s aquifers, including the Berrechid aquifer, which is also vulnerable to soil surface pollution, unlike confined aquifers, which are relatively protected by their impermeable roof. To overcome these problems, adequate management of groundwater resources is required.To simulate hydrodynamic and hydrodispersive phenomena, we used MODFLOW and MT3DMS software, interfaced with GMS. The conceptual model established previously, which faithfully reflects variations in the piezometric level, in particular the decrease due to the succession of dry periods, is used as a basis for proposing suitable scenarios for the optimal management of these groundwater resources. Various simplified scenarios for the management and restoration of the Berrechid groundwater are examined, in particular artificial recharge and the reduction of the volumes of water pumped for irrigation. The results show that halving current withdrawals would improve the current situation of the Berrechid aquifer by avoiding the emergence of drying zones in 2025. This model that we have developed could therefore be a useful tool for groundwater management and protection in the region.
Keywords: Berrechid, Groundwater, Restoration, Protection, Modeling, MT3DMS, MODFLOW

Scope of the Article: Data Management