An overview of control of salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers

Abstract

The increasing demand for fresh water is being met presently by groundwater resources on a larger scale. Unplanned exploitation of fresh water in coastal aquifers has aggravated the already existed problem of sea water intrusion in several parts of the world. Further deterioration of the situation has to be prevented at this stage by adopting a suitable management scheme dealing with the control of saline water intrusion. Although considerable development has been made in understanding the behaviour of salt water fresh water relationships in groundwater systems since the time of Badon Ghyben and Herzberg, salt water intrusion control methods are yet to be explored to the full extent. This paper presents an overview of major theoretical and field investigations regarding the techniques for control of salt water intrusion. 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.