Identification of intrinsic suitable sites in Gaza Strip for the application of artificial groundwater recharge using a geographic information system multicriteria decision analysis

Gaza coastal aquifer is perceived as the only natural source of water in Gaza Strip (GS), providing water for about 1.9 million inhabitants living in an area of 365 km(2). GS annual mean precipitation is about 325 mm, but this precipitation is not exploited properly to feed the aquifer. This study aims to identify the intrinsic suitable sites in GS for the implementation of artificial groundwater recharge. The most suitable sites were identified using a geographic information system multicriteria decision analysis based on four criteria: hydrogeological aptitude, soil, slope, and land use. Three steps were carried out to find these sites: screening for suitable areas, suitability mapping, and sensitivity analysis. The suitability map was divided into two zones after the screening: available and unavailable. Available areas (70% of total GS area) were further divided into four classes according to the weighted linear combination ranking. The findings show that 60% of GS areas are suitable for artificial recharge application. After that, seven current storm water-collection basins were assigned. Five of them were found to be corresponded with sites suitability analysis. This map is a powerful tool for implementation of recharge techniques in GS.