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Overview on The Natural & Cultural Resources Of The Dead Sea Area |
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PART 1: WATER RESOURCES & INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES:
I. Preface:
The Dead Sea area is a (world-wide) unique natural site. The speciality of this site can be attributed to several factors, such as its location 400 m below sea level and the resulted special biodiversity system due to this location. In addition to that, the area is rich with natural resources like groundwater, surface water and especially the springs system. There are also the high economical value salts of the Dead Sea it self. So, conservation of the Dead Sea environment should be of the top priorities of all countries surrounding it (Jordan, Palestine and Israel).
This introductory paper aims to shed some light on the present condition of the water resources within the dead sea area, in addition to the major industrial activities that occurs in this area. Another major objective of this paper is to suggest several detailed studies to fill the gaps in the available data about the dead sea natural resources, in order to protect and conserve these resources.
II. Dead Sea Morphology:
Presently, the Dead Sea body is composed of two parts, the northern and the southern parts which are separated by the Lisan Island. The main tributary of the Dead Sea is the Jordan river which drains into the northern catchment.
The surface of the Dead Sea decreased from 1031 Km2 in 1947 to 683 Km2 in 1994, while the surface of the salt pans increased from 26 Km2 in 1973 to 180 Km2 in 1983 and up to 221 Km2 in 1994. The southern part was more affected than the northern part; its surface was 251 Km2 in 1947 decreased to 169 Km2 in 1973, and totally disappeared by the end of the seventies.
Causes of this reduction are related to the installation of potash projects and the decrease of the inflow of surface water into the Dead Sea. The following chronological table shows the area changes for the three categorised parts of the dead sea.
Table (1): The area changes for the three categorised parts of the dead sea
Click here to see TABLE 1
III. Water Resources:
1. Surface Water Resources:
The major recharging sources to the dead sea are: The Jordan river, the side wadis and springs on both sides of the sea area, in addition to the Yarmouk river with its supplies to the Jordan river.
In the fifties of this century the total flow of the Jordan river was measured and estimated to be around 1370 MCM/Y, prior to the implementation of the different water projects in Jordan, Syria and Israel. By time this quantity was reducied dramatically especially since 1964 when Israel starts to drain approximately 500 MCM/Y from Tabaries lake to the Israeli territories. This amount risen in recent years to about 700 MCM /Y. Nowadays the total discharge of the Jordan river to the dead sea range between 250-300 MCM/Y.
The discharge of Yarmouk river to the Jordan river was about 476 MCM/Y during the period of 1927-1964, prior to the use of this water by the different riparians. In the last few years this amount declined to a small discharge due to the high water extraction by the different riparians. The present discharge from this river is only as a result of large floods cannot be controlled by the existing hydraulic structures.
In the mid of this century, the estimated discharge from the side wadis and springs to the dead sea were about 400 MCM/Y. This quantity was reduced sharply due to the construction of the dams on the wadis on both sides of the sea, as well as the dryness of several major springs. Table (2) presents a long term average (1963-1989) for the surface water resources within the dead sea basin for the major wadis discharging to the Dead Sea area within the eastern side, regarding its area, precipitation, base flow, flood flow and the disposed wastewater.
Table (2): A long term average (1963-1989) for the surface water resources within the eastern side of the dead sea basin.
Click here to see TABLE 2
The western side area of the Dead Sea include also several wadis draining to the Dead Sea. These are from the north to the south are: Qumeran, Qidron, Darga, Hazezon, David, Mishmar, ishmar Ye'ell, Boqeq and Zohar. The water flow however has been dropping steadily on the western side due to the increased development, where the total flow to the Dead Sea basin from the western side decreased from 1.2 Billions cubic meters (as estimated) in 1900 to about 125 MCM in 1985.
2. Springs of the Dead Sea Area:
The Dead Sea area is famous locally and internationally for its natural springs. On the eastern side of the dead sea area, the area of these springs include all the springs emerging in the catchments draining to the Dead Sea and discharging from different aquifer systems. According to WAJ data files the total number of springs within the Dead Sea catchment area is about 200. These springs are of two types, the thermal springs that discharge their waters to surface from the deep seated aquifers, and the fresh springs that occurs at wadi beds from the carbonate aquifers generating the base flow of the wadies. According to Abu Ajamieh-1980, a total number of 63 thermal springs were investigated in the Zarqa - Ma'in area. Water temperature of these springs ranged between 35 C to 63 C. While in the Zara area, a total of 43 thermal springs were located and investigated, and the temperature of these springs ranged between 40 C to 58 C.
The discharge from the Dead Sea springs range between 0.005 MCM to 16.9 MCM in average, with a total average discharge volume of 80 MCM. Around 50% of this discharging volume is abstracted from the B2/A7 aquifer and 20% from the Kurnub aquifer system.
Along the western side of the Dead Sea area, there is a group of springs scattered from the north to the south, these are: Ein Boqaq, Ein Sultan (The major source for domestic water for Jerico City), Zohar hot springs, Ein Tamar, Farih and Auja. Unfortunately it was not possible to get information about the discharge of these springs.
3. Dams within The Dead Sea Area:
Several wadies were constructed on the major and minor wadies within the Dead Sea catchment area and the adjacent catchments.
Table (3) below present the name of each dam, location, year of completion and its storage capacity.
Click here to see TABLE 3
4. Ground Water Resources:
The following part present a simple description for the groundwater resources at both sides of the dead sea area.
4.1 Eastern Side of The Dead Sea:
The eastern side of the dead sea basin is located within the dead sea basin, that extend from Amman at the north to Al-Hasa in the south and to Al-Qatrana at the east.
The Dead Sea basin includes not only part of the fields in the central highlands such as Siwaqa - Qatrana water field for domestic supply and the well fields of the Hasa and Abiad phosphate mines, but also the well fields for the potash company and agriculture in the Safi area, at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Within the eastern side of the Dead Sea area, six aquifer systems can be distinguished (from top to bottom):
- The Amman - Wadi Sir (B2/A7) aquifer system.
- The Hummar (A4) aquifer.
- The Naur Aquifer (A2) aquifer.
- The Kurnub(K) Sandstone aquifer.
- The Zarqa (Z) group, in areas where it forms an aquifer.
- The Rum group (Disi) aquifer.
In general, groundwater resources within the Dead Sea area are found in two different aquifer complexes. The first is the upper limestone aquifer system and the second is the lower sandstone aquifer system. These two aquifers are separated from each other by a major aquielude.
4.1.1 The upper limestone aquifer complex:
Groundwater in this system is renewable, where the major recharge source is the precipitation water which infiltrate through the soil and rock courses to the aquifer.
The total estimated groundwater volume within this aquifer is 87 MCM . About 50 % of this storage is discharged back through springs along the upper reaches of the wadis of Zarqa, Main, Wala, Mujib and Karak. In the mean time, groundwater of this aquifer is used for domestic and irrigation purposes through wells along the high lands in the areas of Madaba, Mujib, Qatranah and Karak.
a. Amman - Wadi Sir (B2/A7): The major aquifer system. This aquifer consist of a carbonate rocks sequence presented by limestone mainly, with an intercalation of cherts and marls. The average thickness of this aquifer within the study area ranges between 200 m to 250 m .
Precipitation is the major recharge source for this aquifer, where the outcrops of this aquifer occurs in the higher elevation areas, that characterised by a relatively high rainfall. Part of the recharge to this aquifer is from the underlying (A1-A6) aquielude by the process of upward leakage. Within this aquiclude, fractured and jointed limestone bands that are presented within the marly sequane became locally saturated with time , with low permeability and participate in supplying the ( B2/A7) aquifer, through the scattered springs.
The total recharge to this aquifer was estimated to be about 7 MCM/y , where a non negligible amount of recharge to this aquifer, about 1 MCM/y is from the discharge of the springs located in the upper wadi Zarqa - Ma'in.
4.1.2 The lower Sandstone aquifer complex:
Within the study area, this system include the Kurnub sandstone, the Zarqa group of sandy shales and sandstones, and the underlying Rum (Disi) group of sandsone composition. As the Zarqa and Rum aquifers are hydraulically connected to the overlying Kurnub sandstone aquifer in some areas, they are normally classified as one aquifer complex. This aquifer complex dose not receive any appreciable amounts of direct recharge by precipitation. Due to the very low altitude below sea level and due to the presence of the graben and the Dead Sea which serves as an ultimate base level, the groundwater in the different parts of Jordan is attracted by gravity to flow to the Dead Sea. Water In the sandstone complex comes from different sources like leaking from the upper aquifers, underground flow from Disi area, in addition to a very limited direct recharge to the outcrops. The average total discharge from the lower aquifer complex east of the Dead Sea is around 90 MCM/y of mostly thermal mineralised water.
According to WAJ yearly report,1995, the total number of groundwater wells within the Dead Sea basin was 327 wells and the total abstraction of groundwater from these wells was 89.96 MCM, taken into consideration that the safe yield from the aquifer systems in this area should not exceed 57 MCM/Y. This abstracted water is divided into 34.463 MCM used for domestic purposes, 44.897 MCM used for agricultural demands and 8.845 MCM is used for industrial porpoises.
4.2 Western Side of The Dead Sea:
The main recharge to the Jordan valley west flank is rain falling on the Judean Arch. The geological succession in the Jordan valley western flank is hydrogeologically subdivided into stratigraphical units form the aquifer and aquiclude systems. Groundwater flows eastwards towards the Jordan valley and the dead sea and westwards towards the Mediterranean coast. There is a high rate of recharge to the formations due to the fracturing and fissuring, high porosity and permeability condition of the exposed rocks.
Faulting on the western side of the dead sea-Jordan valley tends to influence the groundwater flow regime. Because the axis of the Judean Arch is closer to the lower elevation dead sea-Jordan valley, the eastward flowing gradient is considerably steeper than the gradient of the west and as such groundwater flow to the east is much higher than the westwards flow to the Mediterranean.
The groundwater potential of the Jurassic and lower rocks is unknown as their surface area is limited and fault bounded. They occur at a very considerable depths of the surif and Ain Qinyia anticlines. The Ajlun has a high aquifer value and has been successfully explored. South and east of Jersulum, groundwater in the limestone of the lower Ajlun aquifer is present. Elsewhere the upper Ajlun provides a water of good quality with relatively shallow depths . In areas with high rainfall, the whole of the Ajlun outcrops is regarded as a recharge area.
Chalks overlying the Belqa series tends to be impervious and act as an aquiclude or an aquitard to the groundwater in the Jenin limestone aquifer that overlies them. The greatest potential of the Jenin series is to the north of Nablus. A board syncline lies in the zone of high rain fall and the thick limestone aquifer is completely underlain by chalks. Numerous large springs and shallow wells are characteristic of these formations.
The beit kahil, Yatta and Abu Dis formations are regarded as one thick and extensive aquiclude due to the presence of many marl beds. While the Amman formation has excellent aquifer characteristics, but is limited because it is exposed in an area of low rainfall.
The Jenin limestones of the Nablus - Beit Qad syncline is an aquifer of regional importance. Because of the structural formation of the aquifers in this area, it is more appropriate to look at the aquifers as a groundwater basins rather than individual formations.
Table (4) below present the major groundwater basins and the aquifer systems within the west bank, in addition to the area, recharge and the yearly abstraction for each basin and aquifer.
Click here to see TABLE 4
The three major basins contributing groundwater flow to the western flank of the Jordan rift valley were divided into six sub-areas based on the geological structure which play an important role in determining the flow direction of the groundwater. These are:
a- Northern area: Basalts to the west and south west of lake Kinneret-Nablus- Jenin- Jalbon area, flowing to the north and Northeast.
b- Central area : Western Jordan valley, flowing eastwards highlands to the north of Jerusalem, flowing east and south east.
c- Southern area : Highlands south Jerusalem, flowing to dead sea.
IV. NATURAL RESOURCES & INDUSTRY
The activities of the industrial sector in the Dead Sea area depend on the fact that the Dead Sea area is rich with its mineral and salts resources, These resources are widely used by private companies. The major industrial activities based on the Dead Sea area are the following:
1- Extraction of the Dead Sea Minerals: With regard to the extraction of the Dead Sea minerals, two major industries currently exist along the southern shore of the Dead Sea, these are:
a. The Arab Potash company, which was established in 1956 on the eastern shore of the dead sea. The total production of the APC is about 1.8 million tons/year of Potash salts. It is planned to rise the production of the Potash salts to 204 Million tonnes by the year 2000. In the same field, the Jordan Dead Sea industries Co. (JODICO) was established in 1994 as a holding company, and the Safi salt company was its first subsidiary. The Safi salt plant has an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons of industrial salts and 32,000 tons of food grade salt.
b. The Dead Sea Works (DSW) was established in 1930 on the western shore of the dead sea. The production of the DSW from the different Dead Sea salts for the year 1994 is presented in table (5) below.
Click here to see TABLE 5
2- Cosmetic Industry: On the eastern side there are about 41 small factories working in the field of cosmetic industry, but the production of these factories is very limited and equal about 4.7 million dollars for the year 1997 and cover about 1% of the international dead sea cosmetic market. On the west bank of the Dead Sea and on the Israeli side, there are 50 factories working in the field of Dead Sea cosmetics. The production of these factories is high; equal to about 29 million dollars $ and covers about 58% of the international Dead Sea cosmetic market.
3- Extraction of Raw Materials: These industries are focusing on extracting silts, sands and gravels for different construction activities. Within the Karama and Ghor Al-Rama areas, a total number of 14 Quarries is located and producing about 3450 m3/day. In addition to that, there are 4 quarries located in the Ma'in area producing about 1600 m3/day.
4- Agricultural Industry: Several factories on both sides are working in the field of grading and packing fruit and vegetables.
5- Agricultural Supporting Industry: Manufacturing of polystyrene containers for fruit and vegetables. Several manufactures are working in this field in both sides of the Dead Sea are.
6- Palestinian Industrial Activities: The industrial sector on the Palestinian areas within the Dead Sea Basin is very limited due to several political and economical factors. But after 1993 several investors began to plan activities in the area, to construct industrial projects such as:
- Steel Factory.
- Bottled Water Factory.
- Concrete Factory.
V. Required Detailed Studies
In order to fill the gaps in the available data about the natural resources of the Dead Sea area, and to insure the total accuracy of the proposed environmental master plan for the Dead Sea, the following field and office studies should be conducted:
1. A comprehensive quantitative and qualitative groundwater resources evaluation within the Dead Sea area. The objectives of this study are to:
a - Identify the present situation of the groundwater resources, regarding the used aquifers, the number of wells, volumes of abstraction for different water demands.
b - Water quality evaluation study, in order to identify any deterioration of the quality of the groundwater and try to give solutions to halt this deterioration.
2. A special study should be conducted regarding the present situation of the brackish water resources. This study should focus on estimating the volume of brackish water and how this volume can be used through a low cost desalination technique to cover the water demands for the touristic sector. As well as the ability of using this water for irrigating tolerant and semi- tolerant plants.
3. Detailed comprehensive study on the present condition of the springs in the Dead Sea area. This study should focus on field investigation of the major springs in that area, locate each of them and measure their discharge accurately. Also, the site of each spring should be evaluated in order to locate any negative impacts effecting the quantity and quality of the discharged water and find a solution to eliminate these impacts or at least reduce their effect.
4. A field survey for the agricultural lands within the Dead Sea area. This survey should include estimating the areas of agricultural activities, the Crop pattern, methods of irrigation and the economical situation for this sector. The study results should include a plan to improve this sector by suggesting a suitable crop pattern that fits with the water quality and consumes less amount of water, in addition to introducing modern irrigation methods in order to reduce the consumption of groundwater and make agricultural investments economically feasible.
5. Conduct a series of environmental impact assessment studies to evaluate the effect of the following activities on the Dead Sea environmental condition.
a. The uncontrolled use of pesticides in the agricultural sector, and its effect on the surface and groundwater resources, in additions to its effect on the human health.
b. The presence of light industries such as the quarries and the agricultural products industry.
c. The negative impact of the uncontrolled tourism on the surface water resources in the Dead Sea area, with a special focus on the thermal springs.
6. The industry of salts extraction from the Dead Sea should be subjected to an environmental Auditing study. This study should focus on reducing the main negative impacts of this industry on:
- Land, water and air pollution.
- Urban structures, including their construction.
- Loss of natural resources.
- Health and safety risks.
7. In order to conserve the water quality and the natural environment of the Jordan River, it is very important to conduct an evaluation study and field survey to identify the negative impacts of the following:
a. The Israel water carrier: This project utilises the upper Jordan river, and includes saline water separation from the springs north and west to the sea of Galilee, using a saline water carrier which surrounds the lakes and then discharge the water into the Dead Sea.
b. The wastewater disposed from the Israeli settlements within the Jordan River area
8. On the Palestinian side of the Dead Sea and in the area of Palestinian Ghors, the total population is approximately 71,000, with people living in 29 communities and suffering a total absence of services and infrastructure. To fulfill the requirements of sustainable development and environmental protection of the Dead Sea area, the following studies should be conducted:
a. Evaluate the present drinking water resources and the distribution system. The result of this study should focus on rehabilitating and designing a new water resources distribution system, able to cover the increasing domestic water demands for the people in this area, and for any feature development project.
b. Due to the absence of a wastewater network in the Palestinian area of the Dead Sea, a special study should be conducted for designing a wastewater collection network and wastewater treatment stations.
c. A Soci-economical study should be conducted focusing on improving the social and economical condition of the Palestinian areas within the dead sea basin.
d. As part of the integrated sustainable development of the dead sea area, a special study should be conducted to upgrade and improve the Palestinian agricultural sector, through introducing new irrigation methods and new crop pattern of high economical return.
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