Hydrogeologic Units Of Lebanon

Abstract

Based on geomorphologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of its territory, Lebanon is divided into three provinces: the West Lebanon province, the Bekaa province, and the East Anti-Lebanon province. These provinces are subdivided into smaller hydrogeologic units, the basins and subbasins. Significant features used in the subdivision are faults, relief, anticlinal axes, river channels, and water divides. Recharge to groundwater is a percentage of the intake area, the percipitation rate over this area, and the infiltration rate of outcropping rocks. The amounts of recharged water over the three provinces are 1609, 914, and 19 Mm³, respectively. Discharge is surface water from springs and water wells along the Lebanese coast. The discharge from the Lebanese rivers exceeds 3700 Mm³/year, an appreciable amount of which comes from natural springs. The quantity of groundwater pumped by wells or flowing into neighboring countries and to the sea as submarine springs, may exceed 800 Mm³/year.

Resumé

L'écoulement provient des eaux de surface alimentées par des sources et des puits le long de la côte. Le débit des rivières libanaises dépasse 3700 millions de m³/an, dont un pourcentage important provient naturellement de sources. La quantité d'eau souterraine pompée dans les puits ou coulant directement dans la mer et vers les pays voisins par des sources sous-marines dépasse probablement 800 millions de m³/an.