Geochemical and isotopic composition of groundwater in the Complex Terminal aquifer in southwestern Tunisia, with emphasis on the mixing by vertical leakage

The Complex Terminal (CT) confined aquifer of the Djerid basin, southwestern Tunisia, was studied using major ion concentrations and stable isotope contents in order to (1) investigate the changes on its hydrodynamic functioning due to the long-term over-pumping and the large-scale flood irrigation practices, (2) determine the principal mineralization processes of its fossil groundwater, and (3) examine the mode of recharge of this aquifer and whether it contains part of modern hydrological regime. The observed geochemical patterns indicated that the main mineralization processes affecting the CT groundwater water/rock interactions and mixing. The native Na > Cl and Cl > SO4 > Ca > Na waters, resulting from the dissolution of halite and gypsum and from pyrite oxidation, interacted with those of the underlying and the overlying aquifers without changing their chemical facies. Stable isotope data provided evidences about upward and downward leakage into the CT aquifer and their relationships with anthropogenic activities. They demonstrated that the long-term over-pumping of the CT aquifer, which contributed to the loss of its potentiometric pressure, favored the upward leakage of the artesian deep groundwater along parts of the major faults. Moreover, the large-scale flood irrigation practices in the oases domain, which ensured the recharge of the shallow water table by return flow, enhanced the downward leakage toward the CT aquifer.