Implementation of GIS and Geographic RDBMS Prototype for Water Resources Management. Zeuss-Koutine Basin (South of Tunisia)

The scarcity of shallow water, which is a delicate matter in southern Tunisia, is relatively compensated by groundwater resources. Indeed, the South contains 25% of water reserves of the country whom 10% are superficial water. The different hydrogeological studies show that the Zeuss-Koutine region is composed of several aquifer systems, which may be subdivided into two distinct levels;a superficial and a deep one. Such water resources show signs of localized over- exploitation which has a serious effect on the change of the hydrosystem characteristics in this region. Recently, Tunisia proves to be very interested in the contribution of new technology in particular Geographic Information System (GIS) to resolve the problem of water resources deficit in Tunisia essentially in semiarid southern part, in addition to the increased exploitation of groundwater resources, not renewable basically in last years. Hence, preserving water resources in the short and long term is a must. This fact might be achieved by the geographical information system (GIS). To respond to this object, detailed hydrological and hydrogeological studies are efficient, and a Geographic Relational Data Base Management System (RDBMS) by MERISE model was created in this study for organization of all these data in a structured way (method) and was easily exploitable under it. In addition, a lithostratigraphic correlation by the GIS is very important for understanding of the aquifer geometry and hydrodynamic interactions. The correlation among multi data shows a high degradation increasing from the South to the North (both quality and quantity of the Zeuss-Koutine groundwater). That is why another study of the water quality (salinity) and exploitation is considered crucial.

Potential risk of soil irrigation with treated wastewater over 40 years:a field experiment under semi-arid conditions in northeastern Tunisia

In Tunisia,water scarcity is only adding pressure on water demand in agriculture.In the context of sustainable development goals,Tunisia has been reusing treated wastewater(TWW)as a renewable and inexpensive source for soil fertigation and groundwater(GW)recharge.However,major risks can be expected when the irrigation water is of poor quality.This study aims for evaluating the potential risk of TWW and GW irrigation on soil parameters.Accordingly,we evaluated the suitability of water quality through the analysis of major and minor cations and anions,metallic trace elements(MTEs),and the sodium hazard by using the sodium adsorption ratio(SAR)and the soluble sodium percentage(SSP).The risk of soil sodicity was further assessed by SAR and the exchangeable sodium percentage(ESP).The degree of soil pollution caused by MTEs accumulation was evaluated using geoaccumulation index(Igeo)and pollution load index(PLI).Soil maps were generated using inverse spline interpolation in ArcGIS software.The results show that both water samples(i.e.,TWW and GW)are suitable for soil irrigation in terms of salinity(electrical conductivity<7000μS/cm)and sodicity(SAR<10.00;SSP<60.00%).However,the contents of PO_(4)^(3-),Cu^(2+),and Cd^(2+)exceed the maximum threshold values set by the national and other standards.Concerning the soil samples,the average levels of SAR and ESP are within the standards(SAR<13.00;ESP<15.00%).On the other hand,PLI results reveal moderate pollution in the plot irrigated with TWW and no to moderate pollution in the plot irrigated with GW.Igeo results indicate that Cu^(2+)is the metallic trace element(MTE)with the highest risk of soil pollution in both plots(Igeo>5.00),followed by Ni^(2+)and Pb^(2+).Nevertheless,Cd^(2+)presents the lowest risk of soil pollution(Igeo<0.00).Statistical data indicates that Ca^(2+),Na+,Ni^(2+),and Pb^(2+)are highly distributed in both plots(coefficient of variation>50.0%).This study shows that the use of imagery tools,such as ArcGIS,can provide important information for evaluating the current status of soil fertility or pollution and for better managing soil irrigation with TWW.

Using GIS for the Comparison of Intrinsic Parametric Methods Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution in Scenarios of Semi Arid Climate. The Case of Foussana Groundwater in the Central of Tunisia

Groundwater vulnerability maps have become a standard tool for protecting groundwater resources from pollution. They are especially valuable in the decision making process related to land use planning. In fact, mangers have mostly little experience and expertise at hand to decide which land uses and activities are to be allowed in certain areas without causing a negative impact on the quality of groundwater. Hence, numerical modeling of various hydrological parameters and assessment of vulnerability to potential pollution of water resources in Tunisia has been the subject of several studies since 1980. These water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, overexploited, poorly distributed and most especially polluted including Mioplio quaternary Foussana Aquifer located in the western of the Kasserine area in the central Tunisia, which is considered as an economic resource priority because it is used in irrigation and domestic consumption. The area of the aquifer is essentially occupied by agricultural areas characterized by an important use of chemical fertilizers which are in addition to the discharge of industrial zones, an ongoing risk to the groundwater quality;this prompts us to a hydrological study and vulnerability late attributed to improve management of water resources in the study area. In this context, the use of GIS and remote sensing seems to be an effective tool the aquifer vulnerability evaluation, by applying various methods: standard DRASTIC, GOD, SINTACS and SI. The application of these methods shows that the most vulnerable zone is the southern part of the Foussana aquifer. So these maps could serve as a scientific basis for sustainable land use planning and groundwater management in the study area.

Ultraviolet Radiation for Microorganism Inactivation in Wastewater

The purpose of this research stream is to evaluate the kinetics of bacterial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to establish the influence of UV doses on the kinetics of disinfection, to study UV-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and to underline the influence of suspended solids on the inactivation kinetics of these strains. Furthermore, and due to the lack of readily available information about the influence of temperature on microorganism inactivation processes subsequent to inactivation with UV radiation, a series of batch studies were performed at 5℃, 25?C, 37.5℃ and 50℃. This paper investigates the impact of UV irradiation on bacterial strains of P. aeruginosa inactivation in both primary and secondary wastewater effluents and to show the influence of filtration in the process of disinfection of water by UV irradiaton. Our results indicate that the effect of temperature within the normal operating range of most treatment plants, i.e., 25℃ to 37.5℃, was found to be not statistically significant on the kinetics of the UV disinfection process. However, the kinetics of the UV disinfection process was highly affected by system operating at extreme temperatures, i.e., at 10 and 50℃. In a temperature range of 25℃ to 37.5℃, the inactivation of P. aeruginosa strains varied according to the incubation time and did not exceed 4 U-Log. Consequently, having more than 102 organisms/100ml of P. aeruginosa in treated wastewater would cause serious health and environmental problems. Low inactivation was observed when the operating temperature was reduced to 10℃ regardless of the incubation time tested. In contrast, a considerable increase in the inactivation rate was noted when the temperature of the disinfected wastewater was increased to 50℃. Hence, as 5℃ and 50℃ are outside the operating range of most treatment plants, as in our country, Tunisia, it is reasonable to assume that the effect of temperature change on the kinetics of UV disinfection process is negligible.

Hydrological Modeling Using GIS for Mapping Flood Zones and Degree Flood Risk in Zeuss-Koutine Basin (South of Tunisia)

This study lies within the scope of a strategy of prevention from inundations by the contribution of new technology in stage of the hydrological and geomorphological modeling for protection against the floods in a medium of weak at the average risk in South-eastern Tunisia, starting from the catchment area of Zeuss-Koutine. Considering the lack of studies we were brought to extract the area catchment in question, and to deduce its geomorphological and hydrometric characteristics, starting from the digital terrain model. We could obtain, by overlaying maps of slopes, indices and flows, the hydrological zonation of the catchment area of Zeuss-Koutine. The hydrological study of the basin’s slopes of Zeuss-Koutine is not lying out that very little physical information rests primarily on cartographic processes. The use of the latter can be regarded as an allowing indicator, by the crossing of the explanatory factors of the surface flow (slopes and direction of flow), to define a set of homogeneous hydrological zones in the level of the hydrological characteristics (average slopes, altitudes, roughness, etc). It is mainly a question of better taking account of the physical properties of the basins slopes.

Modeling of secondary treated wastewater disinfection by UV irradiation: Effects of suspended solids content

This work aimed to study UV-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to propose a formulation of the kinetics of secondary treated wastewater disinfection and to underline the influence of suspended solids on the inactivation kinetics of these strains. Some investigations were carried out for the validation of some simulation models, from the simplest, the kinetics model of Chick-Watson reduced to first order, to rather complex models such as multi-kinetic and Collins-Selleck models. Results revealed that the involved processes of UV irradiation were too complex to be approached by a simplified formulation, even in the case of specific strains of microorganisms and the use of nearly constant UV radiation intensity. In fact, the application of Chick-Watson model in its original form is not representative of the kinetics of UV disinfection. Modification, taking into account the speed change during the disinfection process, has not significantly improved results. On the other hand, the application of Collins-Selleck model demonstrates that it was necessary to exceed a least dose of critical radiation to start the process of inactivation. To better explain the process of inactivation, we have assumed that the action of disinfectant on the survival of lonely microorganisms is faster than its action on suspended solids protected or agglomerated to each others. We can assume in this case the existence of two inactivation kinetics during the processes （parallel and independent） of the first-order. For this reason, the application of a new kinetic model by introducing a third factor reflecting the influence of suspended solids in water on disinfection kinetics appeared to be determinant for modeling UV inactivation of P. aeruginosa in secondary treated wastewater.

Monitoring the variation of soil quality with sewage sludge application rates in absence of rhizosphere effect

Agricultural soils in semi-arid regions have frequently been degraded due to adverse climatic conditions,organic matter depletion,and poor farming practices.To enhance soil quality,this study examines the reuse of sewage sludge(SS)as an available source of organic matter in a typical Mediterranean sandy-loam soil.Accordingly,we studied the cumulative effect of two annual applications of 40,80 and 120 tons of sludge per ha on soil quality in absence of vegetation.The dose-dependent improvement of organic matter content was the most significant event that reflected sludge application rates,and consequently influenced other soil properties.Accordingly,soil structural stability increased by 13.3%,28.8%and 59.4%for treatments SS-40,SS-80 and SS-120 respectively as compared to unamended control.Structural stability improvement was also confirmed by the dose-dependent variation of other edaphic factors including calcium content,the microbial quotient as well as Welt and C:N ratios.These param-eters are involved in cementing soil aggregates by cation bridging,the formation of microbial mucilage,and clay-humic complexes.Soil magnetic susceptibility(SMS)was measured in situ as a possible rapid tool to evaluate soil condition.SMS showed significant correlation with sludge dose and stability amelioration testifying to the aggregation role that can play Al2O3 and particularly Fe2O3 minerals added by the hematite-rich sludge.Besides,analytical results and field observations revealed no trends of soil salinization or acidification by excessive sludge amounts.By avoiding the rhizosphere effect,outcomes could reflect the resilience and intrinsic capacity of the soil to cope with excessive sludge loads.