OCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN

RURAL WATER CORPORATION

ii
«1

GROUND WATER RESOURCES

of

SUDAN
J

By

RAMSIS B. SALAMA
 u
GROUND 'VAT^R R"S SOURCES
0F SUO 4N

BY RAM S I S B, SALiMA

Abstract

The present minimum annual requirements of water for

Human and Animal population in the Rural areas of Sudan was
estimated to be 275 million cubic meters r the ground water
Basins provide 23.2^ of this amount.

Some 1381 million cubic meters are estimated to recharge

the major Basins annuall;.7"? only 143 million cubic meters of
t h i s recharged water i s used. The Ground Water Resources
(reserves) are estimated to be 41.8 milliard. I t can be
concluded that the ground wator poteniali'sies of the Basins
are extremely high- L^rgo ou-jnti'+i *<s of ground water are
available for future development in Irrigation and domestic
supply.

Rural 'Vater Corporation,

Introduction;

Ground water i s the mosx important mineral in Sudan*

About &Orf of the inhabitants of Sudan depend upon ground water
for their living most of the year,

in the Northern part of the country rain rarely falls

and the country i s mainly desert, away from the river Nile*
the wells are the only source of water*

Southwards a tropical continental type of climate prevails,

except in the extreme south, where the climate i s described as
continental e^uatorialo Both these climatic zones hava distinct
dry season which increases in intensity and duration Northwards*

The river Nile and i t s tributaries are the main watering

points, away from i t , the water pools collected in natural
depressions are used directly after the rainy season, when
this dries out small unlined open wells (Mushush) are used for
water supply* The constant hunt for new pasture land was always
hindered by the availability of water,, The system of open wells
was developed along wadi beds in the alluvial deposits and in
the depressions which collect surface water during tjie Summer.
\11 the urban and semi-urban systems existing today which wore
pasture centres are found along wadi courses or natural depre-
ssions whare water was, available and easy bo get. The settlors
increased in number and need for water increased, new local
techniques of open wells were used with lining of different
materials, well depths increased as the water levels start
falling down. Drilling of wells startel in 1919 in vjl obeid
Town, with steem operating percussion rig. This was followed by
several other wells drilled in different villages to sustain
the water requirements.

Drilling techniques developed, rotary drilling was

introduced in 1958, well locations and designs started to
become a problem when new locations were needed away from the
natural catchment areas. In 1966 the Rural 'Vater Corporation
was created, and the ground water investigation Section was
born. This new baby started to grow with knowledge and
experience during the l a s t ten years, and i t s f i r s t cry was
the evaluation of the ground water resources of the country
from the available data, this evaluation will help in the
planning of future research programmes and the proper u t i l i z a -
tion of the resources.
The main water-bearing formations in Sudan include;
1. The Quaternary to Recent superficial Deposits.
2. The plio-pliestocene Umm Ru.vaba Formation.
!• The Tertiary Basalts.
4, The Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone Formation.
5. The '.weathered!;- Basement Complex Formation.
 — 2—

Of these the most important aquifer i s the Nubian Sandstone

Formation. I t occupies about 28,13^ of thp t o t a l surface area of
Sudan. Fortunately most of t h i s i s situated North of 12' N whore
water i s needed most.
These different formations constitute the major basins of ^u
e i t h e r in a simple form i , e . one geological formation, or in a Com
form, i . e . two or more geological formations,
The complex basins are two in the Nubian, Basalt Formations,
and two : in the Nubian, Umm Ruwaba Formations-.
G-eology of Sudan:
The geological formations which b u i l t the Sudan are:--
1. The Basement Complex (precambrian)0
2. The older granites (Lower Palaeozoic).,
3. Nawa Series (Upper Palaeozoic) c
4. The Nubian Sandstone Formation and the Yirol Beds of the 3'
(Me so zoic).
5. a} Hudi Chert (Tertiry) o
b) Younger granites,
6. Umm Ruwaba Formation (pilo-Plo.i stocene) o
>. a) River gravels (QUarternary),
b) QOZ sand, Clay Plains, red sea-Terrace'-, and reefs
c) Nile valley alluvial^
Geological
The Basement Complex, which i s the oldest rock type in
i s used to include all these igneous.- metamorphic and sedimentary
rocks, that are overlain by horizontal and subhorizontal Paleozoic
or mesozoic sedimentary or igneous rocks,, '.These rocks wore alter-.1,
folded and intruded by igneous ~^:k::j. ol~vated to form a - and- surfacef
and denduded to form the uub-Nubian peneplain*
The l a t e r history cf the region lacks any folding movement
which produces mountain ranges, and the region was affected by the
sea during the deposition of parts of the Nubian Formation,
The sea margin retieated steadily through the Hcceno period.
This sea margin retreat i s visible in Egypt and somal> where as in
the Sudan i t has been under subaerial erosion for a long time
probably since the Cretrceous, As a resulx of this? extensive tract^
were swept clear of the Nubian Formation, and there are few traces
of the post-Cretaceous events.
There are important Tertiary deposits. The Mudic chert wM :h
i s preserved partly because of the protection afforded by the l a t r
sheets of volcanic rocks and partly by i t s resistance to weathori'i;\-
One of the l a t e r i t i c ironstone sheets i s regarded as mid-Tortiary
(Anderew). It caps a peneplain in the 'Vestern part of equatoria
jTrovinceo The third Tertiary deposit i s the volcanic rocks which
'are of l a t e tortiary and they owe their preservation to their bul:.:;
toughness and younger ageu
 - 3 -

The movements which hav3 affected the Sudan since the

deposition of the Nubian Forir.nti-.n consisted of gentle warping with
uplift of the Eastern part of the region, accompanied by faulting
in the

This resulted in the rising of the Red sea h i l l s and the

abyssinyan plateaue and the formation of the T..ed sea* The plateaue
has tended to continue i t s rise slightly, t h i s i s shown by marine
sediments now above water on the present coastal plain. Its
height was further increased by extensive volcanicity producing
a thick mantle of lava, capping volcanoes of jebel Marra type.
This elevation of the Eastern margin of Sudan was produced
by & warping movement, resulting in the formation of the 'Nile
valley. Depressions have formed in plain, now filled by i
ated

The t o r t i a r y and Quaternary ioxsrtory-ts- xep-res-ented by non-

marine deposits and by peneplains, and by volcanic accEsiaul&tions.

Ground Water Basins;

The ground water basins are either in a simple form or in a
complex form, according to their geological formations. There ar^
six basins in the Nubian Sandstone Formation, two in th e NuM an/rjnr.
Ruwaba Formation, eight in the alluvial deposits? two in the ijnm
Ruwaba Formations and two in the Nubian/Basalt Formations,
1, The Nubian Basins:
11 Sahara File Basin.
The Nile Basin covers ths ^ r thorn p->r+ of Northern Koriofan
Province and extends from North of Khartoum to the Egyptian
Border. i t covers an area of 273,9ft> square Km, I t ' s separnto
from Sahara Nubian Basin by a basement ridge extending in a
North pastern direction. This ridge outcrops in the surface
in few l o c a l i t i e s , i . e . J. Reheib and j . Magria, i t s extension
Northward was recorded from ^eronagentic survey in the are^..

The geological formations in this area the Nubian

formation and the Basement Complex. The Easement Complex consist
of schists and s l a t e s with interbedded marbles. The area i s cover er:!
by the r'qoz'» deposits which forms expensive sheets and fixe!
dunes. This qoz deposits occur en both banks of the Nile North
of Khartoum but are less commoJi on the east. This i s related t••.
the d i s t r i b u t i o n of the Nubian Sandstone Formation which i s
much more restricted on the rigfrt bank.
 _ 4 -

. The water levels range from 10 meters near the Nile and
f a l l s rapidly moving away fr^m the source of recharge, i t re-
ches a maximum depth of 25 meters in the central part of the
basin. The ground water i s flowing in gelima casis which i s
a natural depression. The fluii'ing water i s also due to the
damming of water by the Basement Complex subsurface r i l g e .

The ground water movement i s from toe South to the Forth,

with a velocity ranging from 0.44 to 1.46 meter per year*

in T»'aii "51 Qa'ab 'Vest of Dongola, the water levels are

near to the surface, H/his i s partly due to the ground water
movement from the east to the west, and the effect of the r e ~
Qkargjjag' water from the Nile together with the damming of wqter
.--j.cn i s caused by the Basement Complex outcropping near Kerima,-
and to the decrease in -velocity caused by the entra^e of the
water from t h i s area to the regional... •fcrend__.o;f ground water
movement.

The saturated thikness of the aquifer ranges from 100-500

meters. Mudstone layers of more than 200 meters - thick are
usually found between 50-500 meters. This mudstone layers appear
to be consistent in the area adjacent to the Nile 7 meters South
of Ed Damer and extending in a southern direction down to l.a^itu'le
16 45" . The water i s usually under water table condition near
the Nile, and becomes semi--confined where the mudstone layer
persistso
The ground water fluctuations together with the environ-
mental isotopes indicates thnt the main source of recharge i s
from the River Nile, together with the under flow from the Blue
Nile Basin.

The water quality of this bnsin has a total dissolved

solods ranging between 200-400 p.p.m., the salinity increases
p a r a l l e l to the direction of ground water movement away from the
recharge zones.

The amount of water recharged annually i s estimate! to be

136 million cubic meters » The out flow from t h i s basin i s in
the Northern border of the Sudan, this i s estimated to b e some 7.3
million cubic meters.
Three premising 5.reas are recommended for further detail1"1!
studies, the water levels are near, the transmissibilities are
high and good cultivable land i s available,, These areas ares
'«;adi "gl
b) "'adi "^l Qa'ab
'Vadi ^1 Khuewi and 'Padi "ql
O « / o
 ... 5 -
1
2. Sah a_ra_Nobi_an_ Bas :i }L
The Sahara Nubia- r>Hoi:. covers t/.c Northern part of Northern
Darfur Province* I t extends northward from the Tagabo-Meidob
groundwater levide up to the 'Cgyptian border, covering an area
of
o 324; 656 square kilometers.-,
The geological frr:r.?/Lior. c o n s t i t u t i n g t h ' s region are the
Nubian Sandstono formation vhich covers u.ost of the area? the
Basement Complex, vrLxh the ±?.r\: tarv volc^-iies ox Keidob and
Tagabo hills'* Hiese cor.si.yj o:;. :V:;?.o.;vyta;.j -:;:.d b a s a l t . Dykes and
dissected flow occur in the laeidob h i l l s . , and fresh lavas occur
i n and around the Malha crater* In j e b e l Uv.'cinat, which forma a
ring complex around borders of Libya - -n;gypt and Sudan, conglo-
merates, sandstone^ ana s l a t e s are present and ;.o"e g r e a t e r tha
4Q0 meter thick on the south-wtct fl^nk o.f ••he IC-'fr.?. Basin
("r'hiteman) „ $11 the^e sediments v^ere intruded by g;vj,nitc and
riynetic rocks..

The chemical qua-i';;/ of t h i s area mngsc from 500 - 800 p«p.,

around the region oi Ma-i-ha cra"^.~r; so-dii.i:n oa-'hona'^e and bicarbo
(Natron) rich weterj jccur at Iv'ialn?.; natron also occurs in the
at Nakheila Oasis %ni o.t NaLron weU.., The natron in t h i s area vv
suggested to hs ;f "• vrerij" c or:gin { yir-cG !'"'• occurs within an are-:
of feeble volcanicii:y -^d -..leso deposits nay be simply evaporates

The water level " •••'••].'•'-go .fro:" 10 -- 50 meters. Tie water i s

flowing _^n two iooal:-.i. .ecs —
a) El Natron Oaais
b) Nukheila oai-/;-&^
During the v ^: v v; ~^T^"-... "-•"•^1S 'vorr ^o^^rd. in the upper p s r t
of ''/adi Hawar, lake Tun'lor being the l a r g e s t of these,,
The ground water morsment i s from the south to the north with
a velocity ranging from 0,4 - 2«1 meters per year,
The saturated thickness of the aquifer .ranges from 100-1000
mete-rs, two defined channels vdthin the basin are detected fi ;m
the ^eromagnetio survey ?.. the deepst oi'e i s in the Eastern p a r t
and having a No.vth 'last-:rn d i r e c t i o n , t,ie second one i n the
"Eastern side p a r a l l e l "to the f i r s t , The water i s recharged mainly
from r a i n that f a l l s occasionally and seeps through crack and
jointsr. and accumulate :.n fans and wadi deposits (e,g 0 wadi H
and T3O i n Dua of jebel Jv/einato Be"b<veetv. the Nile and Tadi Hawar
few oases were found (:-,g3 Nukheila anc Matron), These oases ar
due s t r u c t u r a l o r i g i n ; being formed by erosion of the core of
an a n t i c - l i n e pitching south-east ward,
 - 6
The water found in the Meidob and Tagabo hills as derived
partly from rainfall, partly from the zone of saturation, and partly
from deep-seated volcanic sources* One the Malha crater springs
occur at the contact of the Nubian Sandstone formation and the
Basement Complex.
The amount of water recharged annually is estimated to be
20.6 million cubic meters per year, and the abstraction rates are
1.2 million cubic meters per year, and the amount of water under
permanent storage is 9740 million cubic metres.
7adi Hawar region which forms the southern margin of the
Sahara area is a promissing area for furture development and
further detailed studies.
3. Central Darfur Basin*
This Basin covers the central part of Darfur Province and
the Western part of Northern Kordofan Province. It pxtends southward
from the Tagabo - I.ieidob ground water do vide, and is connected to
the Baggara Basin in tb.e sou-tii,.. its- surface-^are-a-i-s_ 5-2r924 .square
kilometers.
The geological units which forms the basin are the Nubian
Sandstone Formation and the Basement Complex. The Basement Complex
is formed mainly of schists, acid gneisses, aci:l & basic volcanics &
younger granites. The Nubian Sandstone consists of Sandstone with
extensive beds of mudstones.
The Basement rocks are high at some localities and forms
subsurface ridges, within the basin, these ridges although saturated
with water, but their yield is very low. The water quality has a
total dissolved solids ranging from 100-400 p.p.m.
In the Northern part of the basin the water quality is very
good, at some localities it does not exceed 80 p.p.m. which is very
low and indicates that the aquifer material at this part is siliceous
and that this area is a zone of recharge.
The total dissolved solids increases parallel to the direction
of ground water movement and reaches some 400 to 500 p.p.m. in jebel
Hilla area in the southern part of the basin salinity reaches up to
18000 p.p.m. , this salinity is of local origin .and is due to evaF-
beds within the Nubian Sandstone.
The depth to water ranges from 25 - 100 meter and the ground
water movement is from the north to the south east with a velocity
of 0.3 to 6.0 meters per year.
The saturated thickness ranges from 100 - 350 meters, the
amount of recharge is 47.6 million cubic meters, this basin is
connected to the Baggara basin in its southern part and the amount
of outflow is estimated to be 12.8 million cubic meters, the amo
of water under permanent storage is 794 million cubic meters and
the abstraction rates are 5.63 million cubic meters.
 7

Umm Bayada and Saniya "Iayei, are two promissing areas for
further detailed stud:.?s an:1, future development.-

4. Nuhud_Basing

This basin i s an isolated outliers of Nubian Sandstone,

covering an area of 6?98 square kilometers in the central part
of Northern Kordofan province..

Geologically i t ' s formed of Nubian Sandstone Formation,

i t i s in the form of a syncline, occupying a saddle between the
Nuhud u p l i f t in south west and the Tadi ~1± Mali'- - Sodri uplift»
in the North.

The chemical quality of the water i s low ir. total

dissolved solids, being about 500 Popom0
The saturated thickness of--tha aquifer ~:ranges from 150-250
meters, thick mudstone layers are present in the Northern part of
the basin, at some l o c a l i t i e s they form the t o t a l thickness of
the sedimentary column ioe<, 250 meters.
The Heidob well field west of Nuhud town i s the most
exploited part of the aquifer, the abstracted w^tor i s used for
the twon water supply, further detailed studies are required to
know the long time safe yicldc
The annual recharge i s estimated as 15.4 million cubic
meters, t h i s amount of recharge is estimated., from flow out and
isotope analysis.
The d'-pth to water levels ranges from 75 - 120 meters,
the direction of ground water flow io ir^m the -.vest to tho oast
with a velocity of 1.0 to 2-75 mo tors/Year*
5» Sag ^1 Na'am Basin;
This Basin covers a trough which extends along "7adi ^1
Ku, 40 kilometers south from fjl Fasher ; capital of Northern
Darfur Province, and covers an area of 2.-678 square kilometers.
I t ' s connected to centra-"- Larfur Basin through a narrow s t r a i g h t .

The chemical quality i s good as has low values of t o t a l

dissolved solids ranging from 80 - 500 p3p,m, , the sodium
absorption ratio (s. .\.R. ) i s ranging from 1.08 to 3e5o
The depth to water level ranges from 50 - 100$ meters,
the water i s under free water table condition on the fringes
of the basin, whereas ir. the central part of the basi-n where
the mudstone layer i s usually 50 ft, th:ck the water level
i s under semi-artesian pressure.
 - 8 -
The ground water movement i s from the north to the south and
south east with 3 velocity ra A3 ins from I«0 meter/year on the
southern part of the basin to 25 meter/year in the central and
eastern parts.

The saturated thickness ranges from 500 - 2000 meter a mud-

stone layer 50 ft. thick is persistent in the central part od? the
basin, this layer increase in thicknees in the southern part when
i t becomes more than 1000 ft.
The exploitation of the basin .for irrigation purposes i s bein.
developing, clue to the deep water levels the economics of the
i r r i g a t i o n i s rather doubtfull, but i-; estimated for many reasons
as profitable.

6. River .^tbara Basin;

I t extends North to \b\x Haraf water fevide up to the \tbara
Jtiver covering an area of 23; 896- ,;tLLo ureters, and i s bounded by the
r i v e r Nile from the wesir a^& the basement from-in a - e a s t .

The geological formations are mainly the Nubian Sandstone

formation with the t e r r a c e deposits on the r i v e r banks. The gravel:
of the lower /^tbara valley contain much Hud i. chert Formations..
Upstream the t e r r a c e s contain agates which may be derived from the
Gedaref volcanic rocksc
The water l e v e l ranges from few meters near the Nile and the
River /itabara* the water level drops away from sources or recharge
and reaches down to 100 meters.
The saturated thickress from 100 meters i n the northern and
western p a r t of the basin, i t reaches 500 meters i n the central
p a r t where thick muds tone 1 ay?r i s f-und ho+r-eon 50 to 250 meters*
r the construction of Khashm 131 C-irba iam i n the upper
p a r t of River \tbara? the flow i n the lower part becomes seasonal
only during the floods? t h i s groately affected the l i f e of the
c i t i z e n , the development of gro'ind water resource becomes a
necessity.
I t i s expected that some 100.000 cTeddans will be i r r i g a t e d
the grouncl water resources.

7. Umm Ruwaba Basins;

•1. Sudd Basin;
This i s the l a r g e s t basin in the Sudan. I t covers an area
of 3651268 square kilometers extending from south of "Rahr Tl
\raX> in a south east d i r e c t i o n down to Juba? and North east
up to Renk. Two major basins are connected to t h i s aquifer
and t h e i r outflow recharges, the basinsj
a) The Daggara Basin from the western part of Sudan, and;
b) The Eastern Kordofan Basin from the c - n t r a l part of
Sudan* /
« • /»•
 _ g —
The main geological units which forms this Basin i s the
Iiuwa"ba, which consists of fine sediments,, These sediments are of
clean washed sands with laminated clays* The sands are mainly
without pebbles and are well graded, iron-stained horizons have
been recorded. This formation i s polygentic and the oediment
probably have swept by the Nile and i t s t r i b u t a r i e s , and by the
wadis and khors draining the Nuba Mountains and the adjacent areas.
These deposits are laid down in a series of land deltas*
The ground water in the sudd Basin i s forming a closed Basin,
water i s flowing into this Basin from the Baggara Basin north of
Bahr "51 &rab and from umm Tluwaba B?sin north of " - V areas 7 in
addition to the ground wa'^er of the Sudd B?.sin flowing to i t s
central part.
The Ground '^ater levels in the central part of the Basin
intersect the surface contours of lower elevations? indicating the
p o s s i b i l i t y of the discharge from the aquifer to the stream? and
lakes in the sudd
The ground water- flowing into the central part of the Basin
i s some 200 million cubic meters, the major part of this water i s
believed to be discharged to the surfacee
The water levels are near to the surface, they range from
10-25 meters, the ground water movement i s towards the central
part of the basin, the velocities range from 0,1 to 1.8 meters per
year, which compared to the velocities of the other basins i s very
slow.
The chemical quality of the water i s variable, i t ranges frim
200 - 500 p.p.m. in the peripheral zones of the basin, the salinity
increased gradually with distance and depth, in the central part of
basin where the water current i s sluggish the salinity jumps to
5000 p,p.m.
The annual recharge i s some 341 million cubic meters, the
amount of water unier permanent storage i s 11,000 million cubic
meters, an:l the abstraction rates are 1.8 million cubic mpters, the
saturated thickness i s between 100 - 3000 meters.
2. Eastern Korlofan Basin;
The Eastern KorrLofan Basin covers the central part of N-nrthorn
Korrlofan Province from North of "Si obeid extending in a south east
•direction down the Thite Nile,. The Basin i s covering a NHJ-S1? trough
of a maximum thickness of 2 kilometers. The surface area of the
basin i s 68,392 square kilometers.

The geological formation i s mainly Umm Ruwaba which is cov>r->l

by the qoz sand. The IJnm tfuwaba i s a series of fluviatile and lacu>
trino deposits, with numerous facies chaneges. In places the f^rn---
tion thins down cover the Basement complex.
The chemical quality i s har3 with total dissolved solids
between 500 - 600 p.p.m0 in Bara region and i t ' s high in the oth^r
parts of the Basin ranging from 1000 - 5000 p,pam5
 -. 10 -
The water levels range from 50 -- 75 meters in the northern
parts of the trough,. Fjome of the water- i s under artesian pressure
(Umm Balagei well). The velocity of the water i s slow, between
0,1 to 0c3 meters par jo^i luo Lo the t ^ a l l values of permeability
and- sluggish gradient 0 This is the cause of the high t o t a l
dissolved solids in the eastern part of the Basin0

The saturated thickness ranges between 100 — 500 meters?

The annual recharge i s some 15<0 mi?lion cubic meters?
the basin storage i s about l o 710 million c.ibi?. meters while the
abstraction rates i s abou ':; 4° 5 .Tiillion cubic ne^e:?^, which i s
high.
The main recharge i s from the White Nile, and also from the
surface flow during the rainy seaso:iQ
3o Nubian/umm Ruwaba Basin;
1. Baggara Basin ?,
This basin covers nearly the v.hole areas of southern
Dar fir Province and the western part of Southern Kordof an Province-
The basin i s occupying a big trough extending in a N"' •- S7?
•direction, with step faults characterizing the shape of the basin*
where the deepst part :.s in the centre of the ba?in., The ar°a i s
about 141,316 square kilometers,,
The Nubian and tho Umm iviwaba Foi nations which appear at tho
surface are underlain by Basement Comple: , in some places they ars
overlain by superficial deposits such as cracking clays? l a t e r i t ^ s
and qoz sand.
The chemical quality i s varying as the Basin consists of
Nubian and umm Ituwaba Formati^r.p- Tn tbo pns+ qnd west ; v/hers the
aquifer i s mainly Nubian sandstone the total dissolved solids i s
low ranging between 100 - 40O^ p.. p,m, ; while in r the centre i t
reaches up to 800 ppm where the main water body'is the umm luwa^a
Formation,
The water levels r^.nge fx-om j0 - lb meters, the deepst w .t^r
levels are in the centra-- Part of the aquifer, the saturated thick-
ness i s verying from 100 - 2000 meterso
Ground water is moving from the North, east ani wast to war''. 3
central part of the aquifer, from there che ground water moves in
a south eastern direction towards the Sudd Basin, the velocities
ranges from 0*13 to 1,75 meters per y?a:~> The better velocity
rates are these of the Nubian Formation,.
The annual recharge i s some 155 million cubic meters, the
basin storage i s 7110 million cubic meters while the abstraction
rates i s about 11»9 million cubic meters., the recharge i s being
mainly from Northern, Eastern and "/estern wad i s and Bahr TJ;1 ,\rab;
also recharge takes place by infilora o2 - ^ through the superficial
deposits and wadi f i l l deposits,
* 0 / o "
 - 11 -
2. Blue Nile Basin;
The ul\xe Mile Basin, covers the area between "'liver ^ahal
an:l the Blue Nile in the Blue Nile Province and extends in a N""
direction along the Blue Ni-Le up to Khartoum and i s bordered fr^M
the North "East by ^bu Haraf water devidc and from the west by the
'.Vhite Nile, extending over an area of 75?8O8 square kilometers*

The geological units which form the Blue Nile Basin ?.r?
the Basement Complex which is acid gneisses and schists with acil
and basic volcanic rocks. These are overlain by the Nubian sand-
stone formation and the Ilmm liuwaba Formation; along the m i t e TTilo
the beds are more clayey and s i l t y , where as along the Blue Nil?
sandy deposits are more prominent,,
The chemical quality i s varying0 The t o t a l dissolved
solids i s low along the Blue Nile ranging from 300 to 500 p.p,ni..
and high along the 'Vhite Nile ranging between 10C0 - 5000 p.. pom«
This i s due to the variations of the formations, which accordingly
result in variations of permeability recharge,- p o t e n i a l i t i e s nn\
contact time between the ground water and the .£T-'n.£/gi;'jji.

The water levels range from few meters near the rivr.3
down to a maximum of 50 meters away from xhe stream. The dirocti-n
of ground water flow i s paralleled to tho direction of the suri -.co
runoff, i . e . the recharge from the rivers- The saturated thicknv3
i s ranging from 100 - 500 meters,
The average velocity i s from 1 - 2.52 meters per year
which i s rather slow compared to the high permeability rates?
but i s mainly due to the sluggish gradient,,
The basin storags i s about 2270 million cubic meters-
the annual recharge i s about 70.9 million cubic meters, per ycji:
The areas along the Blue Nile are most promissing for
future development.

5° Nubian/Basalt Basin;

1• Gedaref Basin;
The Basin covers the central part of Kassala Province
extending over an area of 28,016 square kilometers.
The geology of the basin i s formed mainly of Nubian
Sandstone formation and Basalts. These basalts are multiple
sheets and i r r i g u l a r intrusions, of •tfurrassic age, being
extended over the Nubian Sandstone formation^ The Nubian Sand •
stone Formation in the Gedaref region i s proved to be older th-ii
the Nubian Sandstone in the rest of Sudan, i»e. they are cla^.r •
fied as ••Gedaref "Formation'', constituted sands, sandy mud stone
and mudstones, which sometimes contain conglomerates. In m*my
 - 12 -
-places the sandstones are s i l i c i f i e i to such an..extend that they
are almost, quartzites et>> Jebel Manta are.-*
' • ''••;••$&•

The base of the Gedgref "formation i s varying due to

variation of pro- Gedaref topography or to post Gedaref earth
movGinent, represented by the large scale warping and faulting.

The water chemistry is good with low values of t o t a l

dissolved soli is ranging from 500 - 400 p,p.m0 in the G(?dar°f
Formation, where as in the basalt the salinity ranges from
1000 to 3000 p.p.m.

The water levels range from 50 75 meters? the watrr i s

moving in a North west direction with a velocity of 0,3 to
3 meters. The water i s ffomyi to be unler artesian pressure?
l o c a l i t y (idd fjl Teen).
The Basin storage i s about "'DO million cubic meters;
the annual recharge i s 41.7 million cubic meters p°r year, while
abstraction rates i s 1.2 million cubic meters per year,
The saturated thickness of the aquifer ranges from
200-500 meters. The recharge is mainly fror- the water seeping
into the mudstone Formation from ^iver Setit, (branch"from "liver
/itbara). The basin is receiving some under flow from adjacent
basin in the borders, this amount is estimated to be 12 million
cubic meters per year.

2* Shagara Basin;
Shagara Basin in the smallest basin covering an area
of 824 square kilometers, west of ^1 Fasher town capital of
Northern Darfur Province, and i s bounded from the west by jebel
Marra, and i s north west of Sag ^1 Naam Basin,
This basin is formed geologically of Nubian Sandstone
Formation and basaltic flow in the centre of the
'Pater levels are near to the surface, about 25 meters,
the saturated thickness of the aquifer ranges between 200-300
meters.
The recharge i s from surface flow during the rainy
season. The basin i s 4.5 million cubic meters, the annual recharge
i s about 1.1. million cubic meters while the abstraction rates
i s 0.7 million cubic meters.

4. The alluvial Basins:

The major alluvial basins are seasonal streams (khors) r
the runoff in those streams does not exceed three months p°r
year, the runoff during this period i s subgtanial, and the aquif
are completely recharged after the rainy season.
e «/ 0 c
 - 13 -
The a l l u v i a l deposits are characterised by high
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y Values and s t o r i t i v i t y figures; the shallow
depths enabled the n a t i v e s to develop t h e i r own technology of
a b s t r a c t i n g wa+er for i r r i g a t i o n rur n os?s«

Those basins are the oldest kcown c u l t i v a t i o n centres

from ground water resources.
Many of these basins are promising future development
centres i f the i n f r a - s t r u c t u r e s are developed,

SlWMiY & CONCrTTSIONg_:

Ground <?ator Resources w i l l be a governing f a c t o r in
the development of many areas i n guian, these resources will
be used i n multipurposes p r o j e c t s , I n d u s t r i a l ; i r r i g a t i o n
and l i v e s t o c k . The appraisal of Ground 'Vater resources i s
expensive and time consuming pro-cedure__i_f. .jexac-t-quantitive
estimates are required.
This work i s a t r i a l to define those resources- they
are based on the available data which in many cases are very
scanty. The .\uthor hopes t h a t t h i s t r i a l will shed some l i g h t
on the importance of these resources, to continue the ground
water research projects within defined basins* The estimates
of resources in t h i s project were always kept on the low side 7
so t h a t when the definote figures are reached they will always
be higher than the estimated ones.

Some 1381 m i l l i o n cubic motors are estimated to recharge

the major basins annually, only 143 m i l l i o n cubic meters of t h i s
recharged water i s abstracted f o r d i f f ? r ? n t purposes.

Several p r o j e c t s are now developing for the use of

Ground ':.'ater in i r r i g a t i o n , some 533,333 feddans are planned
to be i r r i g a t e d from Ground : "ater within the six year plan
s t a r t i n g in 1977.

The continuation of the numerous research work i s

;ial for proper u t i l i z a t i o n of these resources.
 - 14 -
"*N P "^ ^ •

Sal am y. (1966) The Ground "'ater geology of the Gesira>

f . s c . ThesiSf University of Khartoum*'
Davies, S. N. & DTVI^T, ?i.J\M, (1966) Hydrogeology, John -"illey
and Sons, New York,
Hem, j . D . (1956) Study and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the
Chemical ""harcht e r i s t i c a of Natural
•Vater, U, S, G, •?. 7, <3«. 1473.
Hunting Geology & Geophysics Lt<3, , (1970) 'Vater supply & development
in "Darfur Province; Report No* 4«
Iskanderj 7. (1969) \n appraisal of Ground 7ater flesourc?s
of Zalinrei .\rea> Darfur Trovince, "5U''.an
M. 5p, ;\risona°
Karkanis, B.G. (1965) Hydro chemistry of N^r'uh

Khsiralla, M.K. (1967) The Ground 7atcr Geology of the N":-le

Valley M.^c, University of Khartoum*
(1973) application of current T
in Ground "Vater Investigation
7*7»C» ir.iort No, 85^
Tiper, AiMi et al (1939) Geology & Ground 'Vater Hydrology of
Nokelumo \rea TJ, i. Go S. "\ S, ^o, 780.,
Saeed, TJ.M. (1969) Ground 'Vatar .appraisal of the Gash
'liver ;no,sin, G ^ . ? . No,, 17.
Salama, R- B. (1971) Hydro ceo logy of ",'adi Nyala, M. Sc
London,
provision in the Problem ^reas
using water Harvesting Techniques,
"V'.C. "ieport NO. 21.
- et a Geology & Hydrogeology of Southern
Province, "i.7.C, Report Noo 2.
Tahir, M. H. (1975) Hydro geological Investigation of Khor
.\rbaat Basin G. & M.lc b u l l e t i n No. 28.
Talton, 7. C. (1370) Ground '7ater Resources "Valuation,
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
'Vhiteman, ;\.J. (1971) The Geology of the Sudan, Oxfor.
 Ground Water Potentialities of the Basins

Ground Water Basin : Underflow Reeharge^* Basin Stor- ' Abstraction: Percentage of
Milicn xrr : milion m : age million : million Abstraction
hr Year nr Year to Recharge

1 Nubian Basin
1. Sahara Nile Basin 136.0 5500 7.4 5.44
2. Sahara Nubian Basin 20.6 20.6 9740 1.2 5-82
3, Central Darfur Basin 12.8 47.6 794 5.6 11.82
4. Nuhud Basin 1.5 15.4 136 2.5 16.49
5. Sag El Na'am Basin 1.3 14.8 134 1.5 9.89
6. River Atbara Basin 3.7 23.0 0.5 1.90
I I Umm Ruwaba Basin
Sudd Basin 341 = 0 11000 1.9 0.54
2, S y s t e m Kordofan B 2°3 15.8 1710 4.5 28.31
I [I Nubian/Umm Ruwaba B
1. B lggara Basin 22,7 154.6 7110 11.9 7.71
2. Blue Nile Basin 10. 70.9 2270 21.6 30.00
" / Nubian/Basalt Basin
1
1. edaref Basin 6.1 1+1.7 700 10.11+
.jc^ura -acl.w a. v
' 1,1 64.22
» A l l u v :1 a 1 P n r> i v •.
1. iyala 2«Azum 500 80.0 16,00
4 , - b r a 5-Abu
6C -vrbaat 7. Khor Bai

-/AHIS
 Characteristics Of The

Ground 'Vater Basins Depth to 7ater : Saturated Thickness \rea of The Basin
rr.etcrs meters square kilometers
I Nubian Basins
Sahara Nile Basin 10- 2o 100-500 273,980
2c Sahara Nubian Basxn 10-^0 100-1000 324,356
3. Central Darfur Basin 25-100 100-350 52,9^,4
4, Nuhud Basin 100-3.20 150-250 6,798
5« Nafam Basin 50-100 50 0-20 00 2,678
6c liver \tbara Basin 10O--50 0 23,896
II urn Tluwa^g Basins
1« Sudd Basin 10-25 IJO-3000 365,268
2. Eastern Koriofan 68,392
11I Nubi an/urara B.
1. Basin 30-75 100-2030 141,376
2. Blue Nile Basin 10-50 100-500 75,808
IV Nubian/Basalt Basins
1. Gedaref Basin 200-500 28,016
2. Shegara Basin 25 200-350 ,,824
V alluvial Basins:
1. Nyala 2. \zum 3. Kutum
4. Ibra 5. ,\bu Gebeiha 3-10 10-50
6. A.rbaat 7. Khor Barka
8. !3l Gash
 —\— ^ : _"?S0 -ROT

Ground Vater Bacins : I'resent State of: Management state : Future : «,reas for future D?v—
Development po tentialie Silopment & Detailed
studios
I Nubian Basin.s
1 . Sahara Nilev Undeveloped Required excellent 1. "?adi ^1 Khuwei "^1 oa .h
2« :7adi ^1 Kuggdam
2c Sahara Nubian Undeveloped Required excellent 1. "'adi Hawar,
3, Central Darfur Basin Developed Required Good l o Umm By ad a
2. Saniya Haiyei
4. Nubin Basin Developed Vc Essential Go o d lo Haidob F i e l d
5° Sag Tl Na'am Basin Developing V. •^ssen+j. a l Excellent %<• The whola Bisin
6. iiv?r \tbara Basin Undeveloped Ttequire.! excellent lc Lower riivor ;tbara
I I Umin T^uwaba Basins
1 . Sudd Basin Undeveloped rtequirc-d Excellent Regional study to esta-
blish northern areas.
2. I as tern Kordofan B. Developed Hequired Fair
i n ; Nubian/Umrii liuwaba B.
l c laggara Basin Developing Essential Good T°wn localities from
town supply.
2. Ilue Nile Basin Developing V. Essential excellent •VLnng t h e Blue Nile
IV Fubian/Basalt Basins
IT*"Godaref Basin Developed Required poor —
Shagera Basin ".'ell Developed V. Essential Fair —
z.
V. \ l l u v i a l "asins
1 . ",'adi Nyala Developing v. •^s c 3-:-ntial Q • ->d I 1. Down stream to Nyala
2. "'adi *sum Undeveloped Essential G^od 1. Dankuch 2-IJran Bala
3 . T^iver Gash 'Veil Developed Essential Good 2alengi
4. 7adi Kutum Developed •^sspntial Good i t Kutum area
5. Khor Barka Undeveloped v. Essential Good Tokar Delta
6. ,*bu Gebeiha Abu Gebeiha Essential Good
7- Arbaat Tell Developed Acquired Good
8. I bra Undeveloped Fair
ground 7ater Basins T K I V
m /day : m/i a y m/km m/yp-

I_ Nubian Bajin
1. Sahara Nile Bav.i^ iO0-1000 3-10 4.3 xlO --•3
4 0.44-1.46 10"',, -10"
2. Sahara Nubian Basin 500-1030 1-5 1.13 ;T 10 0.41-2.06 10" - 13"
_3 -4
3. Central T)arfur Basin 300-700 0.5-10 1,75 x 10 0.32-6.4
-4
4. Ijuhud Basin 300-1000 5-15 5.0 x 10 1.0 -2.74 10 2 - 10 - 4
x 10 - 3
_ A
5. SaG ^1 Nafam Basin 500-1300 1-20 3-5 1.33-25-5 10" 2 _io
100-1000 -3 10" 2 _1O- 4
6. rLiver Ankara Basin 3-T-IO 1,0 x 10 1.1 -3.65
II_Ugm Ruwaba Basins
1,0 x 10 " 3 0.18-1.8
1. sudd Basin 100-530 Oc5-5 5>0 x 10 ^ 0.09-0.27 -io
3*0 x 10" 4 0.05-0.15
2. Western Kordofan Bo 10 0-500 0,5-5 5-3 x 10" 4 0.1 -0.27 1 3 " 4 -1C
I I I Nubian/unm ftuwaba Be 3,6 x l 3 " 4 0.13-1.97
1. JlaSCara Basin 250-750 1-15 1 , 2 xlO"
3
0.45-6.75 13-2 - 1 0 " 4
75 0.27-4.10
2. Blue *<ile Basin 533-2303 13-33 2.3 slO"
4
3.84-2.52 13-2 _ 1 D - 4
IV Nubian/Dasalt Basins
3
1. Gedaref Basin 10 0-250 3.5-5 1.7 xlO" 0.31-3.1 ID" 4 -10 5
2. ShaC-?ra Basin 130-250 3.5-5 9.0 xlO- 4 3.16-1.6 io- 4
V alluvial Basins
IT"Ni'ala 2. Tizum 3. Kutum
300-3000 3-20 10 - 2
4. I t r a 5. Abu Geboiha
6. Arbaat 7. Khor Barka
 GPTUND WATFR BASINS IF SUDAN

rr~"i UmmRuwaba

ertiarv
olcanics

[~-"'j Nubian

|> " | Basement Complex

 2H£U^ B'\3IKS IT" SUTDAT'
ALLUVIAL B'.SINS

HOUR V ^- fr/t>

* *S2>*