Water and Environmental Engineering

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    POTENTIAL SOURCES AND MITIGATION MEASURES FOR NITRATE CONTAMINATION USING GIS AND GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS: A CASE STUDY OF YABAD EASTREN WELL (PALESTINE)
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-02-04) Asaf, Ahmad
    The main source of fresh water for Palestinians is groundwater. Monitoring and evaluating its quantity and quality are essential. Recent research has shown that the nitrate contamination of the Eocene Aquifer's (EA) continues to trend upward. High fertilizer use, wastewater seepage are the main cause of nitrate contamination of groundwater. The problem has appeared in Yabad Eastern Well, where the nitrate concentration exceeds the allowable limit according to World Health Organization (WHO) and Palestinian guidelines. This research aims to identify the source of nitrate contamination for the well and to recommend the most relevant management options. It is important to understand this problem by employing the proper methodology. The methodology consists of five steps, starting with studying the historical nitrate contamination of the well. Samples taken from the surrounding wells show that the nitrate concentration is below the Maximum Contamination Level (MCL), and this indicated that the problem had been limited to the well. The study area relevant to the well was determined based on many considerations in order to figure out the contamination occurrence. The research analyzed the groundwater flow direction to determine upstream and downstream areas using ArcGIS. The vulnerability of groundwater to contamination was identified to determine the potential locations of access for the contaminants to aquifer. The assessment of vulnerability was done by using the Geology, Overlying materials, Depth to groundwater (GOD) method. By evaluating the variables affecting contamination at the well, different layers were overlaid. Each layer represents a specific variable, such as groundwater flow direction, vulnerability, and land use. This process helped identify the areas most exposed to contamination. Activities in these areas were classified based on their potential to pollute the aquifer with nitrate. The contamination pathways were also analyzed. The results show that the old town was the most vulnerable location within the study area. This area suffers from high population and poor sewer system. Finally, this research recommends establishing a sewer network. This research suggests utilizing the isotopic method for future studies related to this case to better track the contamination sources for Yabad Eastern Well.
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    IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE WATER BUDGET IN THE FARIA CATCHMENT, PALESTINE
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-01-12) Daraghma, Qais
    Studying the climate change impacts on the elements of the hydrological cycle in the Faria catchment is extremely important, given that the region is classified as semi-arid. Many inhabitants of the region depend on agriculture and there is a pressing need to develop the water supply and understand the future of water under climate change owing to the rapid population growth and the expansion of human activities. The study includes analyzing the changes in the climate elements and studying their impact on the hydrological cycle. The study uses SimClim AR6 (Assessment Report) to model the climate change and SWAT hydrological model for a comprehensive analysis of the effects of climate change. Daily climate data for the period (1990-2021) were used for building the hydrological model and the results were calibrated and verified using the SWAT-CUP software. The statistical performance parameters such as Coefficient of Determination (R2) and Nash Sutcliff Efficiency (NSE) enhanced the reliability of the model. The study analyzed the impacts on the core elements (precipitation, minimum and maximum temperatures, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed) using 23 GCM's under the influence of the medium emission scenario SSP2-4.5 and the high emission scenario SSP5-8.5 to investigate the changes in the five elements over time periods of 2060 and 2100. The results revealed a marked decrease in the seasonal precipitation and relative humidity rates, resulting in a decrease in groundwater recharge rates of -8.81% under the SSP2-4.5 scenario until 2060 to -27.43% under the SSP5-8.5 scenario until 2100. Surface runoff rates result between -15.43% under the SSP2-4.5 scenario for 2060 to -43.31% under the SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2100. A marked increase resulted in the future temperature rates and evapotranspiration by 3.14% under the SSP2-4.5 scenario for 2060 to 9.64% under the SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2100. An increase in the solar radiation rates and variability in wind speeds are expected. The results also showed a decrease in water yield rates by -14.31% under the SSP2-4.5 scenario for the 2060 to -42.50% SSP2-4.5 under the SSP5-8.5 for the 2100, significantly threatening water resources in the future. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find plans and strategies to adapt to this phenomenon and develop water efficiency to enhance water sustainability. The study emphasizes the great importance of promoting hydrological and climatic modelling in order to comprehensively understand the extent to which climate changes affect water resources especially in arid and semi-arid regions. It also recommends that cooperation between decision makers and researchers be strengthened in order to develop research meeting the expected challenges of climate change and adaptation to its impacts.
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    ALGAE FOR NUTRIENTS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER: THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR ENHANCED ALGAL GROWTH
    (An-Najah National University, 2024-10-10) Alhamaydeh, Ahlam
    Treating municipal wastewater using algae to remove nutrients is considered one of the most successful, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive natural methods, as algae grow naturally in wastewater if the appropriate conditions are available for its growth, such as nutrients, temperature, duration, and intensity of exposure to light, as well as the presence of bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship with algae to help it grow. This research studied the effect of artificial light on the growth of algae and its activity in removing nutrients from municipal wastewater. Three beakers of municipal wastewater in which the algae grew, with a volume of 5 liters as a pilot scale of patch reactors, were used and placed in the same conditions which were Temperatures and mixing for 15 days, with varying durations of exposure to artificial light. In the first sample, the algae was exposed to light 24 hours a day and was called the light sample. The second beaker was exposed to light for 19 hours, the fifth was exposed to natural daylight and was called half light sample, and the third sample remained in the day and night cycle, where it was called the natural sample. After 15 days of comparing the three samples, although the results were close in the two light and half-light samples, the algae in the light sample were the most efficient in removing nutrients from wastewater, as their efficiency in removing COD was 95% and phosphorus was 96%. 99.8% ammonium, TSS concentration 737.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A pigment concentration of 129.4 μg/L. In the half-light sample, the effectiveness of algae in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 94%, ammonium was 99.8%, TSS concentration was 237.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 57.2 μg/L. Finally, in the natural sample, the efficiency in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 6%, ammonium was 56%, TSS concentration was 174 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 8 μg/L. These results show the effectiveness of algae as a natural method for removing nutrients from wastewater and the positive effect of light on improving algae growth and its efficiency in the treatment process.
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    GOVERNANCE ASSESSMENT OF BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION IN THE WEST BANK, PALESTINE
    (2022-09-20) Walaa Abu Saa
    Background: Brackish water is one of the sources of water in Palestine. Due to the scarcity of fresh water in the West Bank, solutions must be found to make use of desalinated water for drinking water and agricultural use. Aim: The main objective of this research is to study the availability of small and affordable water desalination and purification systems in the West Bank. Strategies and policies that guide the use of desalinated water were assessed in this research, also the degree of success of this use in the West Bank. Methodology: The Governance Assessment Tool (GAT), is a framework that is used and elaborated in this thesis to assess the use of desalinated water. The developed governance assessment tool is made up of a ‘matrix’ like model consisting of five elements (actors and networks, goal ambitions and perceptions of the problem, strategies and instruments, resources and organization and levels and scales) and four criteria (flexibility, coherence, extent and intensity) Results: The search results are summarized as follows: • The governance system in terms of actors, it's highly supportive. Since most of actors are involved and the interaction between actors are stable and there is trust. It is simple to include new actors and some actors are pressuring to improve the desalination sector. • The governance system is restrictive in terms of problem perspectives and goal ambitions, especially there is aspects of the goals must be reassessed and some changes to the current policy must be done to achieve the goal. • The governance system in terms of strategies and instruments, it's moderate to supportive. All instruments are used but there are some conflicts between them. There is chance to use and combine between various instruments as it's stipulated in law. • The governance system is moderate in terms of responsibilities and resources, the responsibilities are clearly defined but some resources are missing. Also actors enhance collaboration within and across foundation. And the responsibilities can aggregation assigned but there is a Lack of resources to comply with the responsibilities. • The governance system is supportive in terms of level and scale, all levels are involved in the use project but the levels deem little multi-level cases exist and recognize their dependence. It is possible to move up and down levels in some cases. Also most levels are doing to make behavioral change or management reform. Conclusion: The governance system qualities assessment of desalination of brackish water in West Bank showed that in terms of flexibility and extent, the context of governance is supportive. And in terms of intensity and coherence, it's moderately supportive. Keywords: Brackish Water; Desalination water; Governance Assessment Tool (GAT); Water Governance; Water Scarcity.
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