Impact of Pumping on Saltwater Intrusion in the Gaza Coastal Aquifer, Palestine

The Gaza Coastal Aquifer (GCA) is the major source of water in the Gaza Strip. The GCA is a transboundary aquifer, shared by approximately 600 Israeli wells and more than 3000 Palestinian wells. Recent studies show noticeable deterioration in aquifer water quality: chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and fluoride concentrations exceed the maximum contaminant levels in most of the wells in the Gaza Strip. Many agricultural wells are no longer used due to high salinity. This high salinity is an indication of saltwater intrusion, which appears mainly in coastal aquifers due to excessive pumping. This study is an attempt to determine the impact of pumping on the hydraulic head at the coastline of the Gaza Strip