I Brief Introduction

The objectives of this report are to integrate all the digital and non-digital data into GIS in order to facilitate the groundwater study of Bani kharous and Al Fara Catchment areas. The objectives of the study are to understand the origin and mechanism of recharge using the environmental isotope and to characterize the hydrochemistry of the groundwater using the major cations and anions. In addition this report will be used to provide training for the Department of Groundwater and Surface Water in how to use the environmental stable, radioactive isotopes, and chemistry in hydrogeology.

The study area located in Batinah area and consists of two main catchment areas; Bani Kharous and Al Fara. These wadies are originating from Jabal Al Akhder, which is part of Western Hajar Mountain in the west and extending up to the coast of the Gulf of Oman. The highest elevation recorded for Jabal Al Akhdar is approximately 2000 m above sea level (a.s.l).

There are four identical zones can be distinguished between the Jabal Al Akhdar and the coast: The mountain from where the catchment originating, the frontal mountain, the marginal Wadi plain, and the sandy gravel plain.

The area downstream near the coast is highly irrigated, where the main source of water is the groundwater. The intensive irrigation has caused the sea to invade usable part of the alluvium near the coast aquifer. The salt intrusion has deteriorated the quality of groundwater. The sea intrusion has caused the salinity to increase in the groundwater wells, especially the one located along the coast. The use of some wells became very limited due to its high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).

There are several wells in the study area, where the majority of them have been drilled during the eighties. Most of the wells are tapping the alluvium and has a total depth range between 70 m to 652 m.

The chemical and environmental isotope data that has been gathered during the eighties has been used in this study.