Geological controls on water quality in arid Kuwait

Formation of fresh ground-water lenses in northern Kuwait

“…Whereas CaSO and NaCl are the predominant water types in the brackish ground-water fields (Al Ruwaih et al, 1998), in the freshwater fields, the principal water types are Ca(HCO ) and NaHCO . According to Al Ruwaih et al…”

Stable isotope (chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen), geochemical and field evidence for continental fluid flow vectors in the Al-Khiran sabkha (Kuwait)

“…This aquifer is mainly replenished by upward leakage from the underlying Dammam aquifer (Eocene) system. The transmissivity of the Kuwait Group (Neogene) aquifer ranges from 295 to 3456 m 2 /day and decreases eastwards (Al-Ruwaih et al, 1998). The flow direction has been recognised since the 1950Õs as being from the main recharge area in southwestern Saudi Arabia to the main discharge area in the Arabian Gulf, via the coastal sabkhas (Senay, 1981).…”

Groundwater history and trends in Kuwait

“…The piezometric head of the Kuwait Group indicates that water levels were about 120 a.m.s.l. in the southwestern corner of Kuwait (Al-Ruwaih et al [3]). …”

“…The remaining groundwater in Kuwait is highly saline with a maximum of total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 200,000 TDS. Most of the potable water comes from desalination plants (multi-stage flash distillation units) with a production cost of about $1.5-$3 per m 3 . Fresh water is supplied to the domestic consumer at the rate of about $0.67 per m 3 and for industrial consumers at the rate of $0.21 per m 3 (Al-Rashed et al [2]).…”