Impact Of Sidi Yakoub And Ouled Mellouk Dam Releases On The Artificial Recharge Of The Alluvial Aquifer In Northern Algeria

Abstract

Artificial recharge of aquifers is a particularly suitable approach for water resources management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where groundwater is overexploited as the primary source of water supply. Various techniques have been applied worldwide to enhance aquifer recharge. This study focuses on examining the dam release technique and its impact on the artificial recharge of the alluvial aquifer of the Middle Cheliff region (Northern Algeria). Two case studies were considered: the Sidi Yakoub and Ouled Mellouk dams. To achieve this objective, piezometric level data from wells located downstream of each dam, collected by the National Water Resources Agency during the high-water period (April) and the low-water period (September), were analyzed. The Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) method, combined with the creation of piezometric maps and monitoring of groundwater reserve variations, was employed to assess recharge efficiency. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of dam releases in sustaining groundwater recharge. After each release operation, groundwater levels in wells rise, indicating that the alluvial aquifer benefits from dam water contributions and is regularly replenished following releases.