Regional groundwater flow modeling of the Geba basin, northern Ethiopia

Gebreyohannes, Tesfamichael; Smedt, Florimond de; Walraevens, Kristine; Gebresilassie, Solomon; Hussien, Abdelwassie; Hagos, Miruts; Amare, Kassa; Deckers, J. A.; Gebrehiwot, Kindeya

Regional groundwater flow modeling of the Geba basin, northern Ethiopia | Modèle d’écoulement régional d’eaux souterraines du bassin de Geba, Nord de l’Ethiopie Modelado del flujo de agua subterránea en la cuenca de Geba, norte de Etiopía 埃塞俄比亚北部Geba流域区域地下水流模拟 Modelagem do fluxo subterrâneo regional da bacia de Geba, Norte da Etiópia

2017

The Geba basin is one of the most food-insecure areas of the Tigray regional state in northern Ethiopia due to recurrent drought resulting from erratic distribution of rainfall. Since the beginning of the 1990s, rain-fed agriculture has been supported through small-scale irrigation schemes mainly by surface-water harvesting, but success has been limited. Hence, use of groundwater for irrigation purposes has gained considerable attention. The main purpose of this study is to assess groundwater resources in the Geba basin by means of a MODFLOW modeling approach. The model is calibrated using observed groundwater levels, yielding a clear insight into the groundwater flow systems and reserves. Results show that none of the hydrogeological formations can be considered as aquifers that can be exploited for large-scale groundwater exploitation. However, aquitards can be identified that can support small-scale groundwater abstraction for irrigation needs in regions that are either designated as groundwater discharge areas or where groundwater levels are shallow and can be tapped by hand-dug wells or shallow boreholes.

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