Influence of Structural Factors on Groundwater System - West of Iraq

Abstract

Water is a vital component to the development of any area. It is easy for the importance of groundwater in water supplies to be underestimated. This study focus on determining the structural effects on geological formations resulted by vertical, oblique and transverse faults and folds and their influence on groundwater occurrences in their formations, flow and hydrogeological parameters in Khan Al- Baghdadi area which located in Anbar governorate in the west of Iraq. Determination of geological formations and water-bearing layers in the area depends on preparation of longitudinal and lateral geological cross sections. These cross sections prepared depending on exposures and extensions of geological formations in the area and 14 wells. The influences of plunging anticline fold affect on groundwater flow. In the western plunging anticline, the groundwater flow path divided into northeast, south and southeast. Abu-Jeer sub surface fault significantly changing groundwater level especially in Kubaisa area. Water levels varied within Euphrates aquifer between northeast and southwest of the area.