13
Nitrate Water Pollution Risk in the Lower Jordan
Valley
R. Orthofer and W. Loibl
Environmental Planning Department, Austrian Research Centers
2444 Seibersdorf, Austria e-mail: rudolf.orthofer(a)arcs.ac.at
Tel: +43-50550-3873, Fax: +43-50550-3888
Abstract
This chapter describes the spatial risk assessment for nitrate pollution of
groundwater that supplies the Lower Jordan Valley. The assessment is based on
the mapping of inputs and leakage of nitrogen compounds. The major risk factors
are uncontrolled urban wastewater disposal and agricultural fertilizer use and
irrigation. Solid waste dumps and industrial sources are of minor concern. The
spatial risk for pollution of the shallow groundwater in the valley floor depends on
the water table and the potential leakage depth; it is high in areas of high irrigation
and high water tables such as in banana cultivation areas along wadi fans or near
fivers.
1 Introduction
This chapter describes the assessment of the spatial risk for nitrate pollution of
groundwater through an analysis of possible pollution sources based on available
datasets. The chapter contains some results of the research project Developing
Sustainable Water Management in the Jordan Valley that has been supported
through the EU INCO-DC program. The project was carried out through close
collaboration of Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Austrian partners. The team
from the Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf (ARCS) has compiled integrated
and harmonized GIS datasets of the Lower Jordan Valley to assess the spatial
dimension of water supply and water pollution risks. The study area (target area,
TA) has a size of about 1300 km 2 with a population of about 250 000. It stretches
from the mouth of the Yarmouk River, which is located south of Lake Kinneret
(Tiberias) to the northern shores of the Dead Sea. The slopes of the uplands
framing the valley floor border the west-east extension. The study area was
divided into six water regions on both sides of the river: the Bet She'an and Shayk
Hussein regions in the North, the Tubas and Mashare regions in the center, and the
Jericho and Karama regions in the south of the valley. Outside the T A, this study
also considers the mountain areas, which recharge the aquifers that supply the
wells and springs in the T A (water relevant area, WRA). However, with respect to
H. Rubin I P. Nachtnebell J. Fuerst I U. Shamir
Preserving the Quality of Our Water Resources
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2002
Nitrate Water Pollution Risk in the Lower Jordan
Valley
R. Orthofer and W. Loibl
Environmental Planning Department, Austrian Research Centers
2444 Seibersdorf, Austria e-mail: rudolf.orthofer(a)arcs.ac.at
Tel: +43-50550-3873, Fax: +43-50550-3888
Abstract
This chapter describes the spatial risk assessment for nitrate pollution of
groundwater that supplies the Lower Jordan Valley. The assessment is based on
the mapping of inputs and leakage of nitrogen compounds. The major risk factors
are uncontrolled urban wastewater disposal and agricultural fertilizer use and
irrigation. Solid waste dumps and industrial sources are of minor concern. The
spatial risk for pollution of the shallow groundwater in the valley floor depends on
the water table and the potential leakage depth; it is high in areas of high irrigation
and high water tables such as in banana cultivation areas along wadi fans or near
fivers.
1 Introduction
This chapter describes the assessment of the spatial risk for nitrate pollution of
groundwater through an analysis of possible pollution sources based on available
datasets. The chapter contains some results of the research project Developing
Sustainable Water Management in the Jordan Valley that has been supported
through the EU INCO-DC program. The project was carried out through close
collaboration of Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Austrian partners. The team
from the Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf (ARCS) has compiled integrated
and harmonized GIS datasets of the Lower Jordan Valley to assess the spatial
dimension of water supply and water pollution risks. The study area (target area,
TA) has a size of about 1300 km 2 with a population of about 250 000. It stretches
from the mouth of the Yarmouk River, which is located south of Lake Kinneret
(Tiberias) to the northern shores of the Dead Sea. The slopes of the uplands
framing the valley floor border the west-east extension. The study area was
divided into six water regions on both sides of the river: the Bet She'an and Shayk
Hussein regions in the North, the Tubas and Mashare regions in the center, and the
Jericho and Karama regions in the south of the valley. Outside the T A, this study
also considers the mountain areas, which recharge the aquifers that supply the
wells and springs in the T A (water relevant area, WRA). However, with respect to
H. Rubin I P. Nachtnebell J. Fuerst I U. Shamir
Preserving the Quality of Our Water Resources
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2002