(Scientific Research, 2014-08-03) Shoqeir, Jawad Hasan
Sustainable water supply problem becomes strategic when inelastic demand levels are overhauling
maximum available supplies. The situation is more acute when the groundwater recharge area
is heavily populated, consist of urban, industrial and agricultural areas and above all have typical
karstic morphology and extensive regions of thin or null soil cover. During winter season the infiltrated
water mixed with the wastewater leaking from poorly designed cesspits and wastewater
overflow from the treatment plants of the adjacent settlements. Currently, most of the recharge
area is disturbed due to the ongoing urban development in Beitar Elite and Tzur Hadassah in conjunction
with the planned Security Fence (apartheid wall) threatens to extend over ~70% of the
aquifer recharge area. Such massive destruction in a small watershed leads to considerable decrease
in springs discharge and could completely dry-out the springs at the upper part of the valley.
The aim of this research is to improve understanding of the hydrologic processes controlling
water quantity and quality of springs discharging small (<1E6 m3/yr) basin in the mountain aquifer.