Modeling groundwater conditions in Al-Wafra area of southern Kuwait

Kuwait is located in an arid region where surface water is generally scarce and infrequent. Groundwater resources are limited and mostly nonrenewable. Groundwater levels and quality have declined considerably as a result of over-pumping practices in the farming areas of Kuwait. Al-Wafra area, in southern Kuwait, is no exception. The groundwater levels have declined by about 10 m over the last decade. Aquifers are subject to depletion under the current pumping rates. This paper simulates the groundwater conditions in AI-Wafra area both quantitatively and qualitatively. To that end, SUTRA, a two-dimensional USGS model, is used to simulate the groundwater flow and solute transport in the areal view. A study domain of 30×15.5 km is considered and a fine grid is adapted to ensure the accuracy of the simulation. Groundwater samples are collected and analyzed. The results of the numerical simulations are compared with field observations. Equi-potential and equi-concentration lines are predicted for the year 2010.