Dynamics of shallow groundwater on Lake Kinneret shores
Shaked Stein1
1Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory
Abstract
Lake Kinneret is a major water source in Israel. Although desalination has become the primary water source in the country, water from Lake Kinneret remains crucial for drinking, agriculture, and supply to the Kingdom of Jordan. Therefore, maintaining the quality of lake water, particularly its salinity, is critical, as high salinity levels may fail to meet regulatory standards for agriculture and human consumption. The salinity level in Lake Kinneret is approximately 250 mg Cl/L, which is relatively high for a freshwater source. The salinity in the lake is mainly derived from onshore and offshore saline springs, predominantly located along the lake's western shore. However, an estimated 45,000 tons of chloride enter the lake annually, and the precise locations of these inflows are unknown.
Lacustrine groundwater discharge through the sediments along the lake's shores is suspected to be a significant, non-point source of this salinity. Due to the dynamic regional hydraulic gradient, influenced by fluctuations in both lake and groundwater levels, the inflow through the sediments is also dynamic. Despite its importance, there is limited knowledge about the shallow groundwater surrounding the lake. Key questions include: What is the salinity of this groundwater? What is its chemical composition? Are the salinity and chemical composition spatially homogeneous? How much salt and nutrients are entering the lake through the sediment? What geochemical and biogeochemical processes occur in the aquifer that alter the water quality? What are the sources of both fresh and saline groundwater?
In my talk, I will address some of these questions and propose a method to identify hotspots of high chloride flux into Lake Kinneret by using continuous groundwater monitoring using sensors and water analysis.
