Overview of Middle East Water Resources
Springs
Kanar West Spring
Kanar West Spring issues from limestone of geologic
unit Kj, near theeastern boundary of the Western
Mountain Basin. Annual springflow is variable, ranging
from about 0.002 to 0.012 MCM, and is influenced by annual precipitation.
During 1992, springflow was 2.5 times as high
as in 1991, as a result of heavy rainfall during the
winter months. Monthly springflow varies from about
0.002 to 0.004 MCM; the spring periodically ceases
flow during the summer and autumn months. Water from the
spring is fresh with chloride concentrations below 50 mg/L
and nitrate below 40 mg/L. Concentrations of chloride have
decreased over the years, whereas, concentrations of nitrate
show a pronounced increase since around 1984.
Qeisiyeh Spring
Qeisiyeh Spring issues from limestone of geologic unit Ks,
along the western boundary fault of the Wadi Sirhan graben,
in the Azraq Basin. Annual springflow during 1983?88
ranged from about 21 to 53 MCM. Monthly
springflow is variable and influenced by precipitation, with
median values from about 0.16 to 0.34 MCM; the spring has
not been observed to cease flowing. Water from the spring is
fresh, with chloride concentrations below
10 mg/L and nitrate concentrations below 15 mg/L between
1977 and 1981.
Zerqa Spring
Zerqa Spring issues from limestone of geologic unit Kj, near
an east-west trending fault in the Western Mountain Basin.
Annual springflow is influenced by precipitation, ranging from about 0.13 MCM in
1963 to 0.96 MCM in 1992. Springflow in 1992 was nearly 4 times greater than in
1991, as the result of extremely high precipitation during the winter of 1991-92.
Monthly median springflow shows similar variation,
ranging from about 0.01 to 0.04 MCM; the spring has not been
observed to cease flowing. Water from the spring is fresh,
with chloride concentrations below 40 mg/L
and nitrate below 10 mg/L. Concentrations of chloride
show a slight decrease since the late 1980's; concen-
trations of nitrate fluctuate annually, but show little
long-term trend.
Um El Turab Spring
Um El Turab Spring issues from limestone of geologic unit Ta, in
the northwestern part of the Yarmouk Basin. Monthly springflow
is variable and influenced by precipitation, with median values
from about 0.004 to 0.014 MCM. The spring has been
observed to cease flowing only once, during the autumn of
1996. Water from the spring is fresh, with
chloride concentrations below 4 mg/L and nitrate
below 30 mg/L. Concentrations of chloride have remained
steady since around 1960, whereas concentrations of nitrate
have decreased somewhat since around 1985.
Water Data Banks Project,
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources,
Middle East Peace Process
Overview of Middle East Water Resources
Information about this document.
