Characterization of the groundwater flow system in the hillside and coastal aquifers of the Mersin-Tarsus region (Turkey)

In the region between Mersin and Tarsus cities, located along the Mediterranean Sea coast in southern Turkey, the demand for groundwater has increased dramatically as the available surface water supplies have already been developed. Fundamental information is required to characterize the existing groundwater system in this area in order to establish a sustainable groundwater-use policy. For this purpose, hydrochemical and environmental isotopic data were collected and integrated with available geological and hydrogeological information to develop a conceptual model of the system. Results, backed up mainly by depleted stable isotope composition and infinitesimal tritium content, suggest that most of the groundwater along the coastal zone is supplied by the neighboring mountain belt while local precipitation has also contributes to aquifer recharge. The validation of the conceptual perspective by a steady-state numerical groundwater flow model reveals that about 90% of the recharge to the aquifer system is supplied by the deep flow of karstic groundwater fed from the Taurus Mountains. Monitoring of changes in the recharge regime of the mountain sector seems to be critical in establishing future groundwater use policies.