Investigation of Hydrogeological Parameters in the Eastern and Western Catchments of Erbil City, Northern Iraq

Abstract

In Kurdistan Region-Iraq, drilling wells and extracting groundwater for agricultural purposes, household, and industrial reasons have increased rapidly over the last several decades, making groundwater an essential water supply. This study aims to evaluate groundwater aquifers' hydrogeological conditions and hydraulic properties in the eastern and western sites of Erbil Basin (north Iraq). The groundwater-bearing formations in the study area are the Bakhtiari and Recent formations. Thirty-six (36) groundwater boreholes in which eighteen (18) for each part of the Erbil Basin were taken to characterize and compare the hydrogeological parameters of the area. In Kurdistan Region-Iraq, groundwater uses as one of the significant resources for household, agricultural and industrial purposes have increased rapidly over the last several decades. This study aims to evaluate groundwater aquifers and hydrogeological conditions in the eastern and western sites of Erbil Basin, northern Iraq. The groundwater-bearing beds in the study area belong to the Bakhtiari formations and Recent deposits. From thirty-six groundwater boreholes, in which eighteen (18) water samples for each part of the Erbil Basin, are collected to characterize and compare the hydrogeological parameters of the area. The transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity derived from pumping test data are calculated using (Cooper-Jacob and Theis Recovery).  On the eastern side, the results of transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity by the Cooper-Jacob method are between 0.30 - 28.19 m2/day, 0.001 -0.116 m/day, and 0.03 - 0.98, respectively. On the western side, the transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity are between 0.42 - 141.6 m2/day, 0.001 - 0.701 m/day, and 0.01- 0.92 respectively. Using the recovery method, the results of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity on the eastern side are between 0.28 - 52.52 m2/day and 0.001 - 0.217 m/day, respectively, while on the western side, the transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity were between 2.64 - 161.33 m2/day, 0.011 - 0.798 m/day respectively. Generally, the results of the pumping test by both methods show that the transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity rate on the western side are higher than on the eastern side. The pumping test method is a successful method for identifying hydrogeological parameters of aquifers, highlighting its potential to monitor aquifers and groundwater resource management in the Erbil basin.