Unravelling Deep Aquifer Communication in the Coastal Sahel Region: Insights from Geophysical Methods in the Tunisian Oriental Atlas

Understanding the communication pathways of deep aquifers in the Tunisian Oriental Atlas along the southern Mediterranean margin, particularly within the coastal Sahel region, is of utmost importance for designing effective well drilling strategies and reducing risks for groundwater drilling. In this study, we employed Gravity, Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) methods and the variation of the piezometric level to investigate the structural setting and aquifer characteristic. Gravity and TDEM are two geophysical methods that provide insights into the density variation of underground bodies and reveal resistivity distribution at different depths, respectively. By integrating these methods, we aim to unravel the intricate hydrogeological system in the study area. Our findings highlight a major fault line with a significant water level discrepancy, which is crucial information for groundwater exploration and exploitation. This study provides insights into the hydrogeological dynamics of the coastal Sahel region, facilitating the design of new drilling strategies. The gained knowledge supports informed decision-making in selecting optimal target production zones, ultimately minimizing drilling risks and promoting sustainable groundwater management in the Tunisian Oriental Atlas.