Impact of climate change and human activities on groundwater resources in the Alluvial Aquifer of upper Cheliff, Algeria

In the agricultural plain of Upper Cheliff, the human activities increased water demand. The objective of this study is to identify the impact of the anthropogenic activities on groundwater resources of the alluvial aquifer in the Upper Cheliff (Algeria) due to intense agricultural activity. The groundwater recharge reduced by 30% in the 50 years from 1970 to 2020 in this alluvial aquifer due to the mean yearly growth rate of the population of 20 δ and associated with the water use rate increasing from 25% to 50%. In addition to that, the water seepage in the network of drinking water coming from groundwater pumping is up to 10%. The use of water for irrigation agriculture is increased 30% over the period of 50 years due to the development of agricultural programs, which have significant effects on the status of the water resources in the aquifer. As a result, groundwater levels dropped by 2–15 meters in most areas, except in some irrigation areas in this plain. We also observed a decrease in water discharge from wells by 30–60% of the alluvial aquifer, and an expansion of the area of polluted groundwater with high concentrations of certain chemical parameters.