Overview of Middle East Water Resources
Springs
Auja Spring
Auja Spring issues from limestone of geologic unit Kj into the Wadi Auja that
drains to the Jordan River along the eastern slopes of the
Eastern Mountain Basin. Springflow is influenced by precipitation and
is highly variable — springflow in
1991, a dry year, was about 3.2 MCM; whereas, in
1992, a wet year, springflow was about 18.5 MCM.
Monthly median springflow is between about 0.4 and 1.3 MCM.
Occasionally during the summer and autumn months, the spring ceases to flow.
Water from the spring is fresh, with chloride concentrations generally below
40 mg/L and nitrate below 25 mg/L. Concentrations of chloride
fluctuate annually, but show little long-term trend.
trations of nitrate show a slight increase since the early1980's.
Baquoriyyeh Spring
Baqouriyyeh Spring issues from limestone near the contact between geologic units
Kj and Kk into a wadi that drains to the Jordan River along the southern part of
the Side Wadis Basin. Springflow varies in response to seasonal precipitation. Monthly
median springflow from about 0.2 to 0.4 MCM; the spring never has been observed to cease
flowing. Annual springflow during 1984-86 was between about 21 and 39 MCM.
Although water from the spring is fresh with chloride concentrations less than 2 mg/L,
concentrations of nitrate are high, generally above 30 mg/L. Since the
early 1970's, concentrations of chloride have remained
unchanged. Concentrations of nitrate decreased during
1977-84, and show a slight increase from 1984-96.
Barta'a Spring
Barta'a Spring issues
from limestone of
geologic unit Kj, in the
Western Mountain
Basin into the Hadera
River that drains to the
Mediterranean Sea.
Annual springflow
ranges from about
0.08 to 0.21 MCM,
with most fluctuations
observed during years
of very high precipitation. Heavy precipitation during the
winter of 1991–92
resulted in a nearly
50% increase in annual
springflow, to about
0.21 MCM. Monthly
median discharge
ranges from about
0.008 to 0.011 MCM;
the spring has never
been observed to
cease flowing. Water
from the spring is fresh,
with chloride concentrations below 100 mg/L
and nitrate below 30 mg/L. Concentrations of chloride and
nitrate show only minor changes in response to changes in
discharge, decreasing slightly since the late 1960's.
Water Data Banks Project,
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources,
Middle East Peace Process
Overview of Middle East Water Resources
Information about this document.
