Groundwater Dynamics in Tributary Streams of Muger and Holota River Catchments
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Integrated hydogeological study using major ion hydrogeochemistry and environmental
isotope tools were employed to characterize groundwater dynamics in tributary streams of
Muger River Catchments in the north and Holota River Catchments in the south.
Hydrogeochemical study reveals that water types vary from early stage of geochemical
evolution (CaHCO3 type) to the highest level of geochemical evolution (NaHCO3) and from
low TDS to high TDS and NaHCO3 type are observed only in the downstream part of Holota
River catchment. In relation to stable isotopes, highly enriched groundwater from deep wells
were also observed in the downstream part of Holota River catchment. Radon concentration
has been observed in the main Holota River and low in tributary streams. However, Radon
concentration is low in main Muger River but high in its tributary streams that flow through
acidic rock units. The stable isotopes signature of the deep aquifer in Holota River catchment
illustrates that, the groundwater is recharged through long subsurface path relative to the
deep aquifers found in Tributary streams of Muger River catchment. Radon signature shows
that main Holota River is recharged from the groundwater at some segments whereas it is not
the case for Muger River. And finally, groundwater level map together with isotopic
signature show that groundwater divide shifts from surface water divide towards Muger
River catchment and the groundwater flow converges towards Holota River flow direction.
Key Words: Groundwater dynamics, Muger River, Holota River, Stable isotopes, Radon
Description
Keywords
Groundwater dynamics, Muger River, Holota River, Stable isotopes, Radon