Relevance of the indicator to sustainable development

February 21, 2018 | Author: Anonymous | Category: Social Science, Law, Tort Law
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GROUNDWATER LEVEL AND SALINITY IN THE MOUNTAIN AND COASTAL AQUIFERS 1. SALINITY OF GROUNDWATER IN THE MOUNTAIN AND COASTAL AQUIFERS 1970–2011

Milligrams of chloride per liter

275

Maximum recommended concentration in drinking water(1) 250 225 200 175 150 125

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

100

Coastal aquifer

Mountain aquifer

(1) Under “The Nation’s Health Regulations (Sanitation Quality of Drinking Water), 1974 [Integrated Version – 2000]”: Maximum recommended concentration in drinking w ater – 250 milligrams of chloride per liter; maximum permitted concentration in drinking w ater – 600 milligrams of chloride per liter.

2. GROUNDWATER LEVEL IN THE MOUNTAIN AND COASTAL AQUIFERS 1970–2011

20

15

10

5

0

-5 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Level relative to height of sea level (meters)

25

Coastal aquifer

( 35 )

Mountain aquifer

Description of the indicator The indicator presents data on chloride concentration and the level of groundwater in the two main aquifers in Israel. These data are useful for the investigation of groundwater quality.

Relevance of the indicator to sustainable development An increase in the salinity of groundwater can influence the environment, society, and the economy in many ways, such as: impairing the quality of drinking water and the quality of water used for irrigation; salination of soil, which harms agricultural crops; creating a future need to invest in advanced treatment methods or in desalination; reduction of pumping capacities; and limiting the ability of the water economy to handle future crises. Groundwater level and salinity indicators are central to the determination of the quality of drinking water abstracted from various sources. Groundwater provides about 60% of the annual water consumption in Israel. In the recent years, the proportion of groundwater out of total water consumption in Israel might change due to increased usage of desalinated sea water. Nevertheless, groundwater continues to be an important source of water in Israel. Most of the groundwater is abstracted from two main aquifers: the Mountain Aquifer and the Coastal Aquifer. Ongoing monitoring of the quality and availability of groundwater is essential for the continued existence of these reservoirs as sustainable sources of water.

Selected findings 

The average salinity in the Coastal Aquifer continues to rise. In 2011, the average chloride concentration in drills in the Coastal Aquifer reached 223 mg/l chloride (milligrams of chloride per 1 liter of water).



In recent years, the chloride concentration in the Coastal Aquifer has increased by an average of approximately 2.3 mg/l chloride per year.



The increase in salinity of the Coastal Aquifer is affected by over-pumping, which causes a drop in water levels and ingress of sea water. It is also affected by droughts, irrigation, recharging of effluents, and recharging of water from the National Water Carrier.



In the hydrological year 2009/10 (from October 2009 to September 2010), 52.2% of the volume of water pumped from the Coastal Aquifer was of good quality (up to 250 mg/l chloride and less than 45 mg/l nitrates), 29.3% was of satisfactory quality (up to 400 mg/l chloride and less than 70 mg/l nitrates), and 8.6% was of poor quality (over 400 mg/l chloride or at least 70 mg/l nitrates). The quality of the remainder was unclassified. According to data from the Hydrological Service, approximately 51,000 tons of chloride were added to the Coastal Aquifer during that year, primarily as a result of human activity (35% from irrigation and 29% from the Dan Region Reclamation Project).

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In 2009, the average chloride concentration in the Mountain Aquifer drillings reached 143 mg/l chloride, similar to the average concentration in previous years. In contrast to the Coastal Aquifer, the Mountain Aquifer is not exposed to factors that increase salinity such as ingress of sea water or recharging of water from the National Water Carrier.



According to data from the Hydrological Service, in the hydrological year 2009/10, approximately 79% of the water pumped from the Mountain Aquifer had a salinity level of less than 250 mg/l chloride. The multi-annual analysis of the Hydrological Services reveals that in 87% of the drillings, no trend of change in salinity could be identified. In 11% of the drillings, an increase in chloride concentration was observed, and in 2% of the drillings a decrease was observed.

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