In this study the saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers is briefly described and the prevention techniques are discussed. By using two computer models SWI and SHARP, the movement of freshwater and saltwater is analyzed on hypothetical cases and on one real aquifer in Marmaris in the coast of Mediterranean Region. Artificial recharge and subsurface barrier techniques are applied to hypothetical cases as means of controling the saltwater intrusion. The performance of strip recharge and subsurface barrier in reducing the salt water intrusion is analyzed by simulation of the groundwater flow with the codes mentioned above. The results obtained are compared with each other. The results of hypothetical cases are relatively in good agreement. For the real aquifer the results show discrepancy that cannot be ignored.

Magister Scientiae (Integrated Water Resource Management) / The heterogeneity in groundwater systems suggest that not all aquifers are connected in groundwater systems. This study is about the interaction between aquifers within groundwater system. Langebaan Road and Elandsfontein aquifers in the West Coast groundwater aquifer system were chosen as case studies. These units were chosen because the previous studies on groundwater excluded the aspect of connectivity between aquifers from methods perspective which is the focus on the current study. The second reason for the study area was the present of human activities and ecosystems which are proved to be groundwater dependents. Aquifer-aquifer interaction refers to hydraulic connection between two aquifers. The interaction is influenced by hydraulic pressure and lithology of geological strata, their integrity and spatial continuity. While factors for such connectivity are well known, appropriate techniques to establish the extent of connectivity remain poorly understood and hence the need to employ various techniques so that the extent of connectivity between the two aquifers is established. Understanding the connectivity between aquifers is important because such connectivity explains the pathways for the availability of groundwater in each aquifer unit and the associated groundwater quality in each unit that supports human activities and sustain ecological systems.

The Geropotamos aquifer on the north‐central coast of Crete, Greece, is invaded in some places by salt water from the Aegean Sea, with impact on freshwater supplies for domestic and business uses, including agriculture. The geological setting of the study area is considered complex, as Miocene biogenic limestones, marls, clays and conglomerates crop out in the central and the western part and clastic limestones and dolomites of the Tripolis and Plattenkalk nappe (the bedrock) in the eastern part of the study area. The phyllitequartzite nappe (which forms the oldest rock of the study area) lays on the northern part of Geropotamos basin. The local tectonic regime of the study area is characterized by faults of NW‐SE and NE‐SW directions. Investigation of the aquifer using Transient ElectroMagnetic method (TEM) and Vertical Electrical Resistivity (VES) measurement technique has resulted in 1D models and 2D/3D imaging of geoelectric structures, depicting the zones of salination of groundwater in the aquifer. 1179 TEM soundings in 372 sites have been carried out in a detailed survey grid (about 200m in X and Y dimension) and 3 VES soundings were acquired in three different sites (different geological conditions). For the 2 of them, multidirectional measurements were also acquired since the structure is more complex than a 1D model that VES technique is able to model. Moreover, 3 water samplings carried out. At each sampling, samples from 22 boreholes and 2 springs were analysed and 16 chemical parameters were determined. Detailed geochemical analysis, including Piper, Durov, Ternary, Stiff, Wilcox, Dispersion diagrams and Factors controlling the groundwater quality, was accomplished showing very good results and the relationship with the geophysical methods. All data were inserted in GIS environment and Groundwater Quality Maps were produced. Furthermore, Remote Sensing application, geological mapping and hydro‐lithological data showed that the physical characteristics of geomorphology and geology are in great relationship with the chemical and geophysical properties as well. Suggestions that Miocene evaporites led to groundwater salination are unconfirmed, and seawater intrusion is the most probable cause, supported by the results of this research. It is indicated that saline intrusion is likely to occur along fractures in a fault zone through otherwise low‐permeability phyllite‐quartzite bedrock, and it is emphasized the critical role of fracture pathways in salination problems of coastal aquifers.

Orientador: Sueli Yoshinaga Pereira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociencias / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T09:50:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BatistaFilho_JobJesus_M.pdf: 4294081 bytes, checksum: 28f487525ec460febd41ef1f05e36218 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O presente trabalho estuda a interferência da maré nos aqüíferos costeiros, identificando alterações hidrodinâmicas e químicas em suas águas. A pesquisa foi realizada no estuário do rio Itanhaém, em duas localidades: no Sitio de Pesquisa, com 7 poços instalados, situados às margens do rio Acima, a 3,5 km do oceano, e no CePeRio - Centro de Pesquisa do Estuário do rio Itanhaém, com 1 poço, localizado a aproximadamente 1 km do oceano. O estudo foi executado em 3 etapas, buscando-se conhecer: a geologia dos aqüíferos, suas características físicas, químicas e geométricas. Para os aspectos hidrodinâmicos, englobaram-se o monitoramento do nível d'água superficial e subterrâneo e os cálculos dos parâmetros hidrodinâmicos, como: condutividade hidráulica, velocidade média linear e transmissividade. Para a hidroquímíca foram executadas coletas periódicas, a cada 45 minutos, análise dos parâmetros físicoquímicos: temperatura, pR, Eh, condutividade elétrica (CE), sólidos totais dissolvidos (STD) e salinidade. Foram coletadas amostras em cada etapa para se an$l.lisar a composição química das águas estudadas, quantificando-se os seguintes íons: Na, K, Si, Mg, Ca, Sr, Co, Mn, Cu, P, Zn, Pb, AI, Ba, Cd, N~, Fe, Cr, RC03-, F- ,cr ,Br- ,N ,S042- e PO/- . Os aqüíferos estudados, um livre e um confmado, são compostos de sedimentos arenosos de granulometria fina. O aqüífero confinado é composto de areia com lente df. conchas calcáreas, à profundidade de 20 metros. As águas superficiais monitoradas foram: as dos rios Acima, Itanhaém e do ribeirão Campininha, que margeiam as áreas estudadas. O aqüífero livre, formado por areia fina, e o rio Acima apresentam águas sulfatadas ou cloretadas sódicas. No aqüífero, o STD varia de 40 a 70 mg/L e o pH é ácido (entre 4 e 5); no rio, o STD varia de 90 a 5.900 mgIL e o pH de 6 a 7. O aqüífero confinado, com argila siltosa na sua base e conchas calcáreas na sua estrutura, apresenta águas bicarbonatadas sódicas, com STD variando de 310 a 2.000 mg/L e pH neutro (entre 6 e 7,5). O aqüífero livre, com condutividade hidráulica (10 de 10-4 m/s, possui influência direta das oscilações da maré, com uma variação de amplitude do nível d'água (NA) 5 vezes menor que a da maré; o aqüífero confinado, com K igual a 10-6 m/s, oscila 11 vezes menos que a maré, com maior variação de 1,4 m. A direção do fluxo hidrodinâmico no aqüífero livre é para NW e a do confinado é para WSW, ambos com descarga no rio Acima. O aqüífero livre tem velocidade média linear da ordem de 10-6 m/s e transmissividade de 205 m2/dia, e o confinado 10-8 m/s e 13 m2/dia. Apenas no aqüífero livre, durante subidas fortes da maré, o fluxo hidrodinâmico se altera, derivando para o norte. Hidroquimicamente, as águas subterrâneas variam pouco com a intrusão salina. No inverno, as águas superficiais são mais salobras que em outras épocas do ano, o que está associado a fatores como: a maré mafs alta e a pluviometria reduzida / Abstract: The present work studied the influence of the tide in the coastal aquifers by identifying hydrodynamic and chemical alterations in the aquifiers. The research was carried out in the Itanhaém river estuary in two localities: in the Sitio de Pesquisa with 7 installed wells situated on the banks of the Acima river, 3,5 km from the ocean, and in the CePeRio - Center of Research ofthe ltanhaém river estuary with 1 well located approximately 1 km from the oceano The study was executed in 3 stages that studied the geologic formations of the aquifers and their physical, chemical and geometric characteristics. The hydrodynamic aspects were studied by monitoring of the superficial and underground water leveI, and hydrodynamic parameters such as hydraulical condutivity, linear average velocity and transmissivity were determined. The hydrochemical part of the research was executed with periodic collections of samples every 45 minutes and analyzed for the physical chemical parameters of temperature, pH, Eh, electric condutivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity. AIso, samples were collected for each stage of the study and analyzed for the following íons: Na, K; Si, Mg, Ca, Sr, Co, Mo, Cu, P, Zn, Pb, AI, Ba, Cd, Ni, Fe, Cr, HC03-, F- ,cr ,Br- ,N ,sot e P043- . The aquifers, one phreatic and one confined,rare both composites of fine sand sediments. The confined one is a sand layer with presences of limestone shells and has a depth of 20 meters. The surface waters were also monitored in the Acima river, the Campininha brook and the Itanhaém river, which border the study area. The phreatic aquifer is formed of fine sand and with the Acima river has sodium sulfated or chlorinated and sodium bicarbonated water. In the aquifer, the TDS varied between 40 and 70 mg/L and pH was acidic (between 4 and 5). In the river, the TDS varied from 90 to 5,900 mg/L and pH was 6 to 7. The confined aquifer, with silt clay and limestone shell, had sodic bicarbonated waters with the TDS varying from 310 to 2,000 mg/L and pH neutral (between 6 and 7,5). The phreatic aquifer with hydraulical condutivity (K) 10-4 m/s had a direct influence from tidal oscillations with a variation of phreatic leveI amplitude 5 times lesser than that of the tide. The confined aquifer with K of 10-6 m/s, oscillated 11 times less than the tide for variations of larger than 1,4 m. The hydrodynamic flow direction for the phreatic aquifer was to NW and for the confined one it was for WSW, both with discharges in the Acima river. The phreatic aquifer had linear average velocity of the order of 10-6 m/s with a transmissivity of 205 m2/day and for the confined the values were 10-8 m/s and 13 m2/day. In the phreatic aquifer the hydrodynamic flow was modified during strong flows of the tide northward. Hydrochemically, the groundwater varied slightly with saline intrusion. In the winter, the river had the biggest ionic concentrations in comparison to the other seasons which were associated with factors such as the tide being higher in and the low precipitation at that time of year / Mestrado / Geologia e Recursos Naturais / Mestre em Geociências

La recherche a porté sur les contraintes reliées à la modélisation des écoulements des eaux souterraines en aquifère côtier. Dans ces aquifères, la présence concomitante d’eaux douces et d’eaux salées modifient les patrons d’écoulement classiquement représentés par l’équation de Darcy. L’influence de la salinité de l’eau sur ses propriétés (densité) et sur la perméabilité du milieu complexifie la représentation mathématique des équations d’écoulement et la résolution des systèmes d’équations. Par ailleurs, l’influence des hétérogénéités du milieu rend plus difficile et hasardeux le paramétrage des modèles et leur calibration. Pour ce faire, nous avons proposé d’utiliser les résultats d’investigations géophysiques et isotopiques des eaux. Une meilleure description du milieu souterrain et l’imagerie de l’interface eau douce/eau salée peut en effet aider à un meilleur paramétrage et à une validation accrue de la simulation des écoulements des nappes côtières. Les mesures géochimiques telles celles des isotopes du radium ont aidé à la validation des flux et concentrations simulés. Notre approche a été appliquée sur la partie aval de la nappe de la Crau. La comparaison des résultats simulés par le modèle aux données de terrain résultant des suivis réalisés ont montré l’intérêt et l’applicabilité et la validation de notre approche méthodologique / The research has focused on the constraints related to the modeling of groundwater in coastal aquifer. In these aquifers, the concomitant presence of freshwater and saltwater alters the flow patterns typically represented by the Darcy equation. The influence of salinity on density and permeability complex the mathematical resolution of flow equations. Moreover, the influence of heterogeneities of aquifer makes it more difficult and risky the model parameterization and its calibration. We propose to use fort that the results of both geophysical and isotopic investigations. Thus, we hypothesize that the description of the subsurface and the imaging of the freshwater/saltwater can help to setup and validate the simulation of groundwater in coastal aquifers. Also we have shown that geochemical measurements such as radon may help to validate the simulated flow. Our approach was applied on the downstream part of the Crau aquifer. The comparison of simulated results to data resulting from monitoring has shown the usefulness and applicability of our approach.

Excessive pumping in coastal aquifers results in seawater intrusion where optimal and efficient planning is essential. In this study, numerical solution of single potential solution by Strack is combined with genetic algorithm (GA) to find the maximum extraction amount in a coastal aquifer. Seawater intrusion is tracked with the potential value at the extraction well locations. A code is developed by combining GA and a subroutine repeatedly calling MODFLOW as a numerical solver to calculate the potential distribution for different configurations of solution (trial solutions). Potential distributions are used to evaluate the fitness values for GA. The developed model is applied to a previous work by Mantoglou. Another heuristic method, simulated annealing (SA) is utilized to compare the results of GA. Different seawater prevention methods (i.e. injection wells, canals) and decision variables related to those methods (i.e. location of the injection wells or canals) are added to model to further prevent the seawater intrusion and improve the coastal aquifer benefit. A method called &ldquo / Alternating Constraints Method&rdquo / is introduced to improve the solution for the cases with variable location. The results show that both proposed method and the regular solution with GA or SA prove to be successful methods for the optimal management of coastal aquifers.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are amongst the most vulnerable states in the world. They are subject to a number of stresses including economical, climatic and spatial restraints. This thesis investigates the effects that certain critical ‘stresses’ will have on the groundwater reserves of SIDS. Mauritius was chosen as the case study for this project because of three main reasons, which were that 1) islands of the Indian Ocean are the least studied compared to the pacific and Caribbean islands, 2) there is no actual groundwater model for the aquifers of Mauritius and finally 3) information and background knowledge was more accessible to the author.  Two critical aquifers of Mauritius were chosen according to their respective vulnerability (extraction rates of groundwater, geological features, and rainfall patterns), Aquifers II and V. The aquifers were calibrated using data that was published by the Mauritian local authorities and through an extensive literature review. Aquifer II and Aquifer V were modelled using the software ModelMUSE and a steady state model (with a time series of 100 years) was used to calibrate the models using limited data that was obtained through the literature review. Aquifer V was successfully modelled while Aquifer II gave inconsistent results. A transient model using four scenarios inspired by the IPCC scenario analysis was used to investigate the salt water intrusion as well as the piezometric levels in both aquifers. The scenarios (run for a period of 100 years, i.e. until 2100) were of varying degrees of severity and included the main drivers of change that were believed to affect the groundwater consumption of Mauritius. The attributes that were targeted in this thesis were: economy, demography, technology and climate. These were then converted into quantifies inputs that were used in the model to assess the migration of the saltwater/freshwater interface in the aquifers. Scenario 4 which involved low recharge rate of the aquifer, high sea level rise, low GDP growth and increasing population subjected the aquifer to a reduced water table, and consequential sea water intrusion of the order 1.5 km across the cross section analysed. Scenario 3, which consisted of investment in green technology, increase in recharge of the aquifers on the other hand gave the more optimistic results with the salt water - fresh water interface moving seawards. Scenario 4 rendered unusable around 50 % of the wells in the aquifer while Scenario 3 on the other had the effects of increasing the freshwater lens of the Aquifer V. Measures such as sustainable urban drainage systems, managed aquifer recharge and Seepcat (a method which involves placing a series of pipes around coastal aquifers to prevent the intrusion of salt water) were recommended to decrease the salt water intrusion risk and eventually increase the fresh water lens of the island on various spatial and time scales. It is suggested that the coarse groundwater model developed for Aquifer V of Mauritius be refined and applied to different aquifers of the island. Moreover it is also recommended for future work that discontinuities in the geology be integrated in the groundwater model. A more detailed and nuanced water balance is also recommended to get more accurate initial conditions for the model. This thesis, by providing a coarse model to tackle the impending challenges that await Mauritius, can support a more sustainable water management of the country. / Small Island Developing States (SIDS), små önationer under utveckling, är bland de mest sårbara staterna i världen. De är utsatta för ett antal stressfaktorer inklusive ekonomiska, klimatrelaterade och rumsliga restriktioner. Detta examensarbete undersöker effekterna av några kritiska stressfaktorer på grundvattenreserverna i dessa önationer. Mauritius valdes som fallstudie för detta projekt på grund av tre huvudsakliga orsaker. Dessa var att öar i Indiska Oceanen är de minst studerade jämfört med atlantiska och karibiska öar, att det inte finns någon riktig grundvattenmodell för akvifererna på Mauritius och slutligen att information och bakgrundskunskap var mer lättåtkomligt för författaren. Två kritiska akviferer på Mauritius valdes utifrån deras respektive sårbarheter (uttagshastighet av grundvatten, geologiska egenskaper och nederbördsmönster). Baserat på detta valdes Akvifer II och Akvifer V. Akvifererna kalibrerades med hjälp av data publicerat av mauritiska lokala myndigheter och genom en omfattande litteraturstudie. Akvifer II och Akvifer V modellerades i programmet ModelMUSE och en steady state-modell (med en tidsserie på 100 år) användes för att kalibrera modellerna med hjälp av begränsad data som erhölls under litteraturstudien. Inmatningsvärdena erhölls från vattenresursenheten på Mauritius, från vilka genomsnittliga värden över en tidsperiod om 15 år togs fram och användes som begynnelsevillkor för steady state-modellen. Akvifer V kalibrerades med framgång medan Akvifer II gav inkonsekventa resultat. Detta hänfördes till de stora skillnaderna i topografin i Akvifer II, vilka bidrog till att fel uppstod under uträkningen. En tidsberoende modell med fyra scenarios inspirerade av FN:s klimatpanels scenarioanalys användes för att undersöka saltvatteninträngningen samt grundvattennivån i båda akvifererna. Scenarierna (körda över en period om 100 år, d.v.s. till 2100) var av varierande viktighetsgrad och inkluderade de främsta drivkrafterna som ansågs påverka Mauritius grundvattenförbrukning. De attribut som fokuserades på i denna avhandling var: ekonomi, demografi, teknik och klimat. Dessa omvandlades sedan till indata som användes i modellen för att bedöma migrationen av saltvatten/sötvattengränsen i akvifererna. Scenario 4 som innebar liten grundvattenbildning i akviferen, hög havsnivåstigning, låg BNP-tillväxt och ökande befolkning utsatte akviferen för en reducerad vattennivå, och påföljande havsvatteninträngning av ordningen 1,5 km över den analyserade tvärsektionen. Scenario 3 gav å andra sidan mer optimistiska resultat då saltvatten/sötvattengränsen rörde sig mot havet. Scenario 4 medförde att ungefär 50 % av brunnarna i akviferen blev oanvändbara. Åtgärder såsom hållbara stadsdräneringssystem, kontrollerad grundvattenbildning och Seepcat (en metod som innebär att man placerar en serie rör runt kustområden för att förhindra saltvattenintrång) rekommenderas för att minska saltvatteninträngningen och så småningom öka öns färskvattenlins på olika rumsliga och tidsrelaterade skalor. Det föreslås att den grova grundvattenmodellen som utvecklats för Akvifer V i Mauritius förfinas och appliceras på olika akviferer på ön. Därtill rekommenderas att diskontinuiteter i geologin integreras i grundvattenmodellen i framtida arbete. Genom att applicera modellen kan viktig information användas för en hållbar vattenförvaltning på Mauritius i framtiden.

Brackish springs are relatively frequent phenomena in coastal carbonate formations and their existence has been extensively reported in Mediterranean coasts. In fact, more than 300 brackish springs have been identified only in the coast of the former Yugoslavia. They essentially consist of inland or submarine karst outlets discharging waters with flow-dependent salinity. The phenomenon is particularly surprising in inland springs, where high flow rates with significant salinities (presumably coming from the sea) may be discharged several meters above sea level. In addition to its scientific interest, brackish springs hold a strategic potential as a source of water in areas with often limited water resources. In order to design their appropriate management a quantitative understanding of their controlling mechanisms both in general and at every particular spring has to be achieved.These mechanisms have been studied for many years but some controversy still remains. It is clear that they are related to deep well developed karst systems. Under these conditions, groundwater flows in a turbulent mode through a network of interconnected conduits immersed in a porous matrix with slow Darcyan flow velocities. Surprisingly, different models to explain the functioning of the system, although based on different conceptual and methodological approaches lead to similar results. This sugests that a global study on the salinitzation mechanisms of brackish springs should be undertaken. Here, we first derive the equations governing turbulent flow for density-dependent fluids and describe different mechanisms of salinization of inland brackish springs, in order to compare with the spring discharge and concentration response for those mechanisms of salinization.The insights gained in this analysis are applied to the study of S'Almadrava spring (Mallorca, Spain). This spring discharges up to 2 m3/s with salinities of 20 mS/cm at an elevation of 8 m.a.s.l. It generally displays an inverse relation between discharge rate and concentration (i.e., discharging higher salinity waters for low flow rates, and vice versa). A hypothetical but geologically feasible dual permeability model is proposed to reproduce observed salinity variations for both the dry and wet seasons but also to explain the secondary salinity peaks observed after every rainfall event. Model results agree with observations, but the lack of geological information at depth impedes model validation. Therefore, a second validation of the conceptual model is undertaken based on high-frequency geochemical observations. Due to the highly dynamic conditions of the system, the geochemical data was analyzed using fully coupled reactive transport modelling. The interpretation of geochemical data not only helps on validating conceptual models but also yields information on the water-rock interaction processes occurring at deep carbonate systems. In fact, one of the processes initially proposed to explain the occurrence of well-developed karst systems at depth, is the enlargement of tectonic fissures by carbonate dissolution due to the mixing of fresh and seawater.The theory of dissolution by mixing waters is based on the fact that when two solutions are mixed, concentrations in the mixture are volume weighted averages of the two end-members, but the thermodynamic activities of the species controlling the water-mineral reactions are non linear functions of the mixing ratio. Therefore, two end-member solutions in equilibrium with a solid phase could lead to an undersaturated mixture depending on several factors, most notably CO2 content and ionic strength. Observation of mixing and carbonate dissolution at depth has not been possible because of technical difficulties. More accessible to observation is the seawater mixing zone in coastal aquifers where calcite undersaturation and/or calcite dissolution have been reported numerous times. Yet, dissolution in coastal environments is not always clear and oversaturation or lack of dissolution in mixing zones have also been described. This apparent inconsistency on field observations around the world prompted the studies of the second part of the thesis. Flow-through laboratory experiments were performed in CO2-controlled atmosphere in order to quantify the dependence of the dissolution of calcite with the mixing ratio, and the role that CO2 variations may have on enhancing the dissolution capacity of the mixture. Results show that, although dissolution occurs, the major carbonate dissolution in aquifers must be considered only in a geological time scale. Sanford and Konikow (1989) predicted the location and magnitude of long term porosity development of coastal aquifers, based on a two step method. We compare their results with a reactive transport model approach in 1D and 2D, showing that reactive transport is required to properly understand the phenomenon because it is found that dissolution is controlled not only by geochemical factors but also by the rate at which fresh and salt water mix (i.e., by dispersion).

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The increasing population in search for better social and economic development in coastal areas puts groundwater resources under pressure because of the high fresh water demand for domestic and agriculture use. Seawater intrusion is widely recognised as major concern in coastal aquifers across the globe and is influenced by multiple factors, being climate variation which is projected to adjust recharge of groundwater because of decreased precipitation patterns and to increase sea level variations and over-abstraction due to high freshwater demand as a result of increased population and agricultural practices, thereby inducing salinization in groundwater. The coastal aquifer in Heuningnes Catchment is not exempted from these issues and salinization is a major concern in the area affecting groundwater quality. In Heuningnes Catchment and South Africa in general there is limited knowledge on the application of integrated approach for assessing groundwater quality especially salinization mechanism in coastal aquifers. The main goal of this research is to test and demonstrate the viability of using joint interpretation approach of geophysics, geochemical and geological information to investigate groundwater quality in coastal aquifers thus improving on the understanding of using such approach. This work offers the initial thorough assessment of groundwater quality and understanding of the salinity sources and hydro-geochemical processes governing the chemical composition of groundwater in the region. Thus provide advice on the fitness of this water for consumption and irrigation purposes. Thirty-two groundwater samples were collected and analysed for (Mg2+), (Ca2+), (Na+), (K+), (Cl-), (SO42), (HCO3-), (pH, TDS and EC). To estimate fitness of groundwater quality for consumption purposes WHO (2011) and SANS241 guideline were used and for irrigation utilization the water quality indices (EC), (Na+%), (SAR), (RSC), (KR) and (MR) were used. Statistics approaches were employed to ascertain the primary geochemical processes governing the chemical composition of groundwater in the research region. Lastly, the spatial distribution maps were created by means of ArcGIS. Electrical resistivity method was used to map the extent of saline distribution within the subsurface. The findings of this study revealed that groundwater in the region is alkaline type and TDS, EC, Na+, Cl- exceeded WHO and SANS241 guidelines for consumption water. The geophysical investigation revealed that the sandy clay/clayey sand, fine sand and fractured sandstone units make up the coastal aquifer systems within the area. Further, revealed that these aquifers were saturated with fresh, saline or brackish water depending on the subsurface layer. The presence of saline and brackish was confirmed by the chemical results which indicated a Na+-Cl- type as a dominant water type. Also classifying groundwater based on EC and TDS supports these findings. The foremost hydro-geochemical processes that controls the salinity and quality of groundwater in the study region as indicated by Gibbs plot are water-rock interaction followed by evaporation process. Furthermore, analysis of hydrochemical data also proposes that weathering of silicate minerals, ion-exchange and dissolution of carbonate minerals amended ion concentration in groundwater thus influencing salinisation in certain parts of the study region. Also assessment of ionic-ratios displays influences of marine sprays as well as seawater, on the chemical structure of groundwater within the Heuningnes Catchment aquifer. Valuation of groundwater quality and its fitness for ingestion and irrigation purposes, the results indicated that shallow groundwater in the area is not suitable for any use; however, groundwater from deeper boreholes was found fresh and appropriate for irrigation and household purposes. Findings of this study indicated that salinity is the major groundwater quality issue for this area and that monitoring of groundwater quality in Heuningnes Catchment is limited. The absence of consistent monitoring program on groundwater quality makes it difficult to ascertain long term trends on groundwater quality parameters. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for regular groundwater quality monitoring to assess the trends of these parameters in order to make an informed decision as to what can be done for mitigation purposes.

The prediction of coastal groundwater movement is necessary in coastal management. However, the study in this field is still a great challenge due to the involvement of tidal-groundwater interactions and the phenomena of hydrodynamic dispersion between salt-fresh water in the coastal region. To date, numerous theories for groundwater dynamic have been made available in analytical, numerical and also experimental forms. Nevertheless, most of them are based on the zeroth-order shallow flow, i.e. Boussinesq approximation. Two main components for coastal unconfined aquifer have been completed in this Thesis: the vertical beach model and the sloping beach model. Both solutions are solved in closed-form up to higher order with shallow water parameter ([epsilon]) and tidal amplitude parameter ([alpha]). The vertical beach solution contributes to the higher-order tidal fluctuations while the sloping beach model overcomes the shortcomings in the existing solutions. From this study, higher-order components are found to be significant especially for larger value of [alpha] and [epsilon]. Other parameters such as hydraulic conductivity (K) and the thickness of aquifer (D) also affect the water table fluctuations. The new sloping solution demonstrated the significant influence of beach slope ([beta]) on the water table fluctuations. A comprehensive comparison between previous solution and the present sloping solution have been performed mathematically and numerically and the present solution has been demonstrated to provide a better prediction