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Ammar R, Kazpard V, El Samrani AG, Amacha N, Saad Z, Chou L. Hydrodynamic influence on reservoir sustainability in semi-arid climate: A physicochemical and environmental isotopic study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2017; 197:571-581. [PMID: 28431370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Water scarcity and increasing water demand require the development of water management plans such as establishing artificial lakes and dams. Plans to meet water needs are faced by uprising challenges to improve water quality and to ensure the sustainability of hydro-projects. Environmental isotopes coupled to water physicochemical characteristics were investigated over a biennial cycle to assess both geomorphological and environmental impacts on the water quality of a reservoir situated in an intensively used agricultural watershed under a Mediterranean semi-arid climate. The particularity of the semi-arid climate and the diverse topography generate a continental and orographic rain effect on the isotopic composition of precipitation and the water recharged sources. The studied reservoir responds quickly to land-use activities and climatic changes as reflected by temporal and spatial variations of water chemistry and isotopic composition. Increasing changes in precipitation rate and dry periods significantly modified the water isotopic composition in the reservoir. During the first year, hydrogen (δD) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes are depleted by 6 and 2‰ between dry and wet season, respectively. While a shift of -2‰ for δD and -1‰ for δ18O was detected during the second annual cycle. Environmental isotopic compositions demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of groundwater inflow to the central (Cz) and dam (Dz) zones of the Qaraaoun reservoir. The Cz and Dz can be considered as open water bodies subjected to dilution by groundwater inflow, which induces vertical mixing and reverse isotopic stratification of the water column. In the contrary, the river mouth zone acts as a closed system without groundwater intrusion, where heavy water accumulates and may act as a sink for contaminants during dry season. Groundwater influx acts as a dilution factor that renews the hypolimnion, and minimizes the perturbations induced by both internal biogeochemical reactions and external hydrological variations. Attention should be devoted to the hydrogeological location of planned reservoirs, which should take into account the vicinity of shallow water table to insure good water quality and water sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawaa Ammar
- Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, P.O Box 5, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath-Beirut, Lebanon; Service de Biogéochimie et Modélisation du Système Terre - Océanographie Chimique et Géochimie des Eaux, Département Géosciences, Environnement et Société, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus de la Plaine - CP 208, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium; Earth and Life Institute - Environnemental Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, bte L7.05.10, 1348 B, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Véronique Kazpard
- Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, P.O Box 5, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath-Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Antoine G El Samrani
- Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, P.O Box 5, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath-Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nabil Amacha
- Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, P.O Box 5, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath-Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Zeinab Saad
- Platform for Research and Analysis in Environmental Sciences, Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, P.O Box 5, Campus Rafic Hariri, Hadath-Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lei Chou
- Service de Biogéochimie et Modélisation du Système Terre - Océanographie Chimique et Géochimie des Eaux, Département Géosciences, Environnement et Société, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus de la Plaine - CP 208, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
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Wazne M, Korfali S. Spatial and temporal assessment of metal pollution in the sediments of the Qaraoun reservoir, Lebanon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:7603-7614. [PMID: 26739989 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-6022-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study reports on metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) pollution in the sediments of the Qaraoun reservoir over a span period of 9 years (2004, 2008, and 2013) along with key major environmental indicators. This time period corresponds with the onset of the rapid economic and industrial development of the reservoir region. For the first time, this study assessed the degree of environmental pollution by using indices such as enrichment factors (EF), contamination factors (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and geoaccumulation index (I geo). Moreover, sequential extraction was used to study the operationally determined chemical forms of the metals and their spatial and temporal distribution in the sediments. Correlation coefficients were also calculated to delineate the origin and association of the metals. Total metal concentrations and the environmental indices indicated increased pollution with time. Total organic carbon data showed a remarkable and significant increase in the organic fraction in 2013 relative to previous years. The increase in the organic fraction in the sediments was accompanied with a shift in cadmium [Cd] and lead [Pb] fractionation from the carbonate fraction to the organic fraction. The enrichment of the metal in the sediments along with the increased organic content is expected to exacerbate the metal bioavailability in the reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Wazne
- School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon.
| | - Samira Korfali
- Natural Science Division, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 13-5053, Chouran, Beirut, Lebanon
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