Management of groundwater salinization under a climate change scenario in an aridarea

<p>Most future scenarios for water resources are predicting water scarcity, with a decrease in the amount<br>of precipitation and limitation on groundwater recharge for the next five decades. In arid and semi-<br>arid areas, the water quality is a great problem and groundwater salinization is one of the principal<br>causes of degradation of water resources worldwide.<br>Menzel Habib aquifer is located in the northwest of Gabès region (southeastern Tunisia), included in<br>the arid Mediterranean bioclimatic area, with dry hot summers and relatively warm winters.<br>Groundwater geochemistry from the study area shows a Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO 4 dominant facies.<br>The high groundwater mineralization and its correlation between total dissolved solids and major ions<br>suggest a contribution of SO 4 , Cl, Na, Ca and Mg in groundwater salinization processes.<br>The salinization of groundwater is mainly associated with the Triassic evaporites, with the dissolution<br>of halite, anhydrite and gypsum, occurring in the area, and related to the tectonic context of the<br>region. Additionally, other geochemical processes occurred, such is the cation exchange mechanisms.<br>Changes in precipitation patterns and intensity, with water scarcity, low recharge and excessive<br>pumping have affected groundwater quantity and quality. Nowadays, the occurrence of climate<br>changes scenarios is a major drawback for water use for irrigation and drinking water supply in arid<br>and semi-arid regions, such as Menzel Habib aquifer.</p>