Process of Salinisation of a Lagoon and a Coastal Aquifer in Annaba Area (East Algerian)

The study area is located in a Mediterranean region, so the effects of the climate variations are very important. The authors contribution to this subject is based on the compilation of many results obtained from dissertations and theses that are carried out under their supervision. The main tool used, in addition to other methods, is the water hydrochemistry as it is proved very useful in obtaining good results and helpful in getting objective interpretations regarding the presence and absence of salinity. Several factors are undertaken to show the presence of salts in waters in the plain, the lithology of the geological formations shows that they are composed of alluvium sediments where the permeability is quite high, and this enables hydraulic communication between the fresh water of the aquifer and saline water of the sea. The study of climate shows a decrease of precipitation which favors an important decrease of recharge rate to the aquifer, and hence a decrease of water resource. The strontium which is a good indicator for the origin of salinity shows a variation that indicates a variation in the distribution of the salinity, and therefore diverse origins of salinity all over the studied area. This can infer the presence of marine invasion in the down-stream part of the aquifer, whereas elsewhere salinity is caused by the presence of evaporitic formation, mainly in the up-stream part of the aquifer. In the lake, salinity is explained by the argillaceous matrix in the bottom of the lake.