Previous and Current Status of Groundwater Salinity in East of Blue Nile Communities of Sudan

Abstract

In this study a total of 209 well water samples analyzed after well drilling (construction routine analysis, CRA) and a total of 121 well water samples analyzed by the current study (CS) were used to investigate the distribution of TDS and its effect by long-term pumping of groundwater. Results indicated that the majority of TDS levels (<250 mg/l) are dominant in the southern part of the study area and the levels between 500 and 750 mg/l are dominant in the central part, whereas the levels (>750 mg/l) characterized the northern part of the study area. The TDS levels increase progressively from the southern towards the northern periphery of the study area along the recharge flow direction from the Blue Nile. Trendcomparison between the CRA and the CS data indicated that the TDS levels are continuously decreasing during withdrawal-time in accord with the daily pumping rate and aquifer geochemical formation type.