Delineation of potential recharge area using a hybrid model, case of Djelfa Hadjia watershed

Groundwater potential map is important for environmental assessment and water resources management. In this work, a groundwater recharge potential map was established for the watershed of Oued Djelfa Hadjia in Algeria, based on new multiparameters hybrid model. The model has hydroclimatic parameters, geological settings, slope factor, and stream network density factor as inputs. The groundwater recharge estimated by the model range from 0.71 to 14 mm. The model allows delineation of potential area of recharge. The total water abstraction in Djelfa city is about of 14 hm 3 ; however, the calculated groundwater recharge is about 3 mm/year (min 0.71 mm and max 14 mm), which correspond to an average recharge volume of 3.9 hm 3 which mean that the aquifer is under over exploitation.