Shallow aquifers in the Tulul al Ashqaf area in NE Jordan are actually perched aquifers confined to the thick alluvium in the area. They are recharged locally and seem to result from rapid infiltration into the permiable course-grained alluvium via surface runoff.

The significance to these aquifers is two-fold. The obvious significance arises from the potential use of these waters in areas where such resources are sorely lacking. In another sense, they represent windows into the process of recharge in arid regions. Thus they may help us to understand why, where and how much recgharge occurs in these areas. Moreover, knowlegde of why recharge is so high in these areas may help in determing how to enhance recharge in other arid areas. Recharge may be into shallow aquifers, as is the case here, or into the deeper upper aquifer. In both cases, water which would have been subject to evaporation and pollution at the surface would be protected and potentially used later, at the convenience of the user.

The area has been the subject of intense study over the past two years. Satellite photographs of the area were used in order to try and determine where new shallow aquifers may be in the area. The idea is that while three areas are known to have shallow water reserves, it is quite conceivable that there are more of them in the area. Satellite data was used to identify areas which may potentially have these aquifers. Inormation used include geomorphic and soil humidity and plant density data. Based on this initial survey, a ground survey was conducted in order to find the best areas for future exploration. Subsequent geoelectrical surveys suggest four new locations which seem to contain shallow water. Wells are being planned in the very near future in the areas which have been identified as being promissing in the geophysical surveys.

A detailed study of surface runoff characteristics of the area is also being planned as part of a doctoral research program to be conducted by Khaldoon Qudah, who is working towards his Ph.D.