Comparison of different indicators for groundwater contamination by seawater intrusion on the Lebanese coast

In order to evaluate the state of groundwater salination by seawater intrusion on the Lebanese coast, the region of Choueifat-Rmeyle, situated in the south of Mount-Lebanon, was chosen as a study zone. Overall, six wells were chosen and water sampling was done for three years starting from 1999 till 2002. Sampling was done on a monthly basis for ten months per year, from July till April. A complete physico-chemical analysis was done for all the water samples taken. Seawater intrusion in the Choueifat-Rmeyle region was studied through the interrelations between the chemical and physical constituents of groundwater. Results showed that the regions of Choueifat, Jiye and Rmeyle were subject to seawater intrusion. This intrusion was directly and simultaneously related to the pumping period and intensity but weakly linked to the quantity of rainfall. It was also related to the geologic nature of the study area. Furthermore, the actual intrusion in the study zone increases the already existing salinity problems. The salinity rates of wells water oscillated between 0.7 dS/m and 5.5 dS/m with the majority above 2 dS/m. This is leading to intolerable levels of water and soil salinity, inadequate for the cultivation of many crops, thus threatening their growth and production and reducing the agrodiversity in the region.