KISR completes research on freshwater resources
The Water Research Center at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has completed a study titled “The Origin and Evolution of Freshwater Reserves in Northern Kuwait Aquifers Using Hydrochemical Techniques,” funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The research focused on assessing Kuwait’s freshwater resources, analyzing natural and human factors influencing groundwater quality and sustainability in the Rawdatain and Umm Al-Aish areas.
By examining groundwater flow, geochemistry, and aquifer recharge characteristics, the study aimed to:
- Identify potential recharge sites in the Rawdatain and Umm Al-Aish depressions.
- Understand the geomorphological factors shaping freshwater lens formation.
- Estimate recharge water volumes and the time required for replenishment.
- Investigate the chemical evolution and movement of recharge water in the region’s freshwater aquifers.
Key findings indicated that the groundwater flows from Umm Al-Aish to Al-Rawdatain, as revealed through topographical and subsurface rock composition analysis. Geochemical investigations, utilizing statistical analysis, geochemical diagrams, and groundwater thermodynamics, highlighted mineral weathering processes and ion exchange along the flow path.
The study found improvements in water quality in some areas, with reduced total dissolved solids and chloride concentrations in specific wells, signaling freshwater recharge. However, some wells contained saline water, suggesting that despite the natural groundwater flow, freshwater infiltration from rainfall remains limited.
The project was led by Dr. Chidambaram Saparthinam, with Adnan Akbar as the Principal Investigator.
