The application of Vertical Infiltration Systems (VIS) in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Similar challenges concerning water management exist in The Netherlands and in Oman. Both countries need to effectively reduce flood risks, and both countries are under subject of seawater intrusion and try to manage their aquifers to attain a sustainable groundwater system. Whereas in Holland, the high precipitation allows for reasonable natural recharge, precipitation in Oman is low and storm runoff is lost to the sea as a consequence of fast runoff. Attenuating the storm runoff by recharge- and flood protection dams, and infiltrating the stored storm runoff to recharge the aquifer is of high importance to reduce seawater intrusion along the Al Batinah, and other coasts. The use of a Vertical Infiltration System (VIS) was modelled to see if this could contribute to the infiltration and if the seawater intrusion could be reduced.

The model shows that the infiltration at depth can play a vital role in pushing back the seawater intrusion wedge. However, further research is nescessary and more VIS configurations need to be considered, before putting the system under use.