Groundwater sources assessment for sustainable supply through photovoltaic water pumping system, in M'zab valley, Ghardaia

The solar photovoltaic water pumping system seems to be the best suited technology to supply water for domestic usage, in the remote desert areas. The Algerian high plateaus and Sahara are the main candidate regions. However, the system performance optimality is generally affected by different dynamic variability parameters, in particular solar radiation and ambient temperature. Nevertheless, other parameters have an important impact on the system performances; as the provided/required water volumes, spatial characteristics of the area, the kind and type of crops, as well as the techniques adopted in collecting and conducting water. In this view, a survey study on spatial area of the M'Zab valley, Ghardaia, has been conducted, including the assessment of the groundwater source behavior. The goal was to select the appropriate wells suitable for standalone PVWPS installations. Accordingly, a field investigation has been carried out throughout different locations of the M'Zab valley to determine the hydraulic structure of the water table and the spatial characteristics distribution of the region. According to the statistical data, obtained, previously, it has been averred that the valley involves abundant water table within static average between 100 and 150 m, on upstream and between 50 and 80 m on downstream. The phreatic water table is reached between 20 and 50 m, as medium averages, whereas, the Ben-Isguen, Bounoura and AL-Atteuf zones are considered to be the suitable for PVWPS installations.