Consideration of the use of direct recharge in analytical models of flood-wave response: a case study of the Merguellil alluvial aquifer, central Tunisia

In a stream–aquifer system, adequate knowledge of the aquifer hydraulic parameters is paramount for the analysis of groundwater/surface-water interaction. In such systems, analytical flood-wave response models are commonly used to assess these parameters. However, when an important means of direct recharge (precipitation) occurs simultaneously with the stream flood waves, the classical flood-wave response model (i.e. when only stream flood waves are considered as an input signal) leads to overestimated and variable values of the aquifer hydraulic parameters. In this study, an analytical flood-wave response model was implemented to determine hydraulic parameters of the Merguellil alluvial aquifer (central Tunisia) taking into account the recharge rate as a second input signal. An array of three piezometers and a river-stage gauge equipped with an automated Diver data logger were installed in the floodplain of the Merguellil Wadi. The results showed a good agreement between the observed and modelled hydrographs when the recharge rate was considered, which allows the model to provide the same value of diffusivity (50–70 m2 h−1) in the three piezometers and for all flood events being tested. However, when the recharge rate was not taken into account, the model gave an overestimated diffusivity with a very poor hydrograph match. Overall, the methodology described in this paper can be applicable to any area in the world because of its simplicity and its better estimation of aquifer hydraulic parameters.