Groundwater protection using wyssling method for perimeter protection: A case study in the Biskra aquifer (south east of Algeria)

The quality of water resources in Biskra has been subject to degradation these last years due to the increasing pollution generated by the very high salinity, Climate Change and anthropic activities. It becomes therefore necessary to install mechanisms and actions aiming at preserving and safeguarding the quality of water resources. To this end, and with the aim of perpetuating this water resource, and avoiding the use of water transfers, the preservation of catchments established in the Biskra plain ( phreatic aquifer), by setting up the perimeters of immediate, close and remote has become indispensable. The theoretical delimitation of the three perimeters was-established using Wyssling method, an application was tested on the wellfieldof Biskra Wadi in the North part at Biskra city. A toolbox was developed in order to carry out some of the operations required (feed area, influence and draw zones, transfer time) for dimensioning the various protection zones (immediate, influence and distant protection zones).The real establishment of these perimeters, by projection on a cadastral plan, has highlighted the sectors that must be protected in the studied region. The methodology utilized in this study will be used as a-guide for the future cartography of the vulnerability of the all aquifers systems in Biskta and for the delimitation-of protection perimeters in order to ensure the effective preservation of water resources geared to the drinking-water network.