THE CENOMANIAN-TURONIAN CALCAREOUS AQUIFER OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN GALILEE, ISRAEL

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Abstract
The regional Cenomanian-Turonian aquifer of central and Western Galilee is divided into two, partly connected, subaquifers. The different rates of karstic erosien in the subaquifers depend on differences in lithology, initial porosity, degree of exposure and structural position. The springs of Western Galilee are natural outlets, some of them draining the lower subaquifer and some the upper one. Those that drain the upper subaquifer show a rapid decay and a good correlation with precipitation. Those of the lower subaquifer show a relatively slow decay and point to a big storage. Replenishment equations, as well as average replenishment estimates, were obtained for three out of five of the springs. An hydrometeorological balance was made up and compared to the flow estimate in the western catchment area of Galilee. Both gave similar results. The groundwaters of this area are generally of the bicarbonate type with low salinity, typical of an intake area. The salinity increases toward the base levels to the west and the south, where the waters become of the chloride type. In some places the high salinities could be related to the mixing of fresh water with small amounts of sea water.
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