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HYDROGEOLOGY OF DEBRE ZE1T AREA

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE

'

OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN GEOLOGY

BY

TAMIRU ALEMAYEHU

JUNE 1992
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ABSTRACT

The investigated area is located east of Addis Ababa on the

western border of the main Ethiopian rift valley * Being

part of the Ethiopian rift system , it is characterized by

Plio Quaternary volcanism which gave rise to trachytic- domes ,

-
rhyolitic flows , and rhyolitic ignimbrites in the highly

elevated part of the area while olivine basaltic flows and

surge deposits in the lower elevated plain area . The

maximum point in the area is represented by Mt . Yerer with an

elevation of 3100 m above sea level. The plain area has

an average elevation of 1900 m above sea level .

The yearly minimum possible rainfall average in the area is

859.9 mm , the actual and potential evapotranspiration is

606 , 2 and 857.1 mm respectivly and the runoff that

water.
d 3
leaves the basinis 25 . 568 x 10 m «of From these

determinations, the amount of infiltrated water in the area is

<5 3
calculated and the value is 54.39 x 10 m .

The hydraulic parameters , transmissivity and hydraulic

conductivity are determined based on the pumping test

information obtained for few wells , The transmissivity

central part
and permeability of the rocks found in
_ the

of the area is 0 ,9x10 m /s and 4.05x 10 cm/s

“ 3 2
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respectively .

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But. for the aquifers found west of the area , the former is
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8 ,8 x 10 m and the latter is 1.5 x 10 cm/s . But the
storage coefficient is not calculated because of the absence

of observation wells in which the effect of further drowdown

is observed ,

Because of the lack of bore wells in the northern part , of

the area , a thorough study of the actual variation of

groundwater level was not possilble . But based on the

available static level data , for the central part of the

area , appropriate groundwater level contour lines are const -

ructed ,

The chemical analyses result- showed that most waters are

calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate type .

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 CONTENTS
PAGE

•
ABSTRACT 1

• • •
CONTENTS 111

ILUSTRATIONS V

LIST OF FIGURES V

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF PHOTOS viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ix

1. INTRODUCTION 1

v 1 , 1 Objectives 1

1.2 Location and extent of the investigated area 3

1.3 Physiography and drainage 5

1 , 4 Previous work 7

, 1 , 5 Methodological approach of the present work / 7

^
2. GEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK OF THE AREA 10

2.1 Geological history and setting of .

o » 1 Precipitation - ' l kit)

3.2 Evapotranspirati on 27

3.3 Runoff 35

4, WATER-BALANCE 40

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5. HYDRO GEOLO GY 45

5.1 Gener al 45

5.2 Hydrog eology of the area 47

5.2. 1 Volca nic rocks

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47

5.2.2 Alluv ial sedim ents 52

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6. WELL AND > SPRIN G?) HYDRA ULICS 57

6.1 Hydrau lic parame ters

59
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69
7. WATER CHEMI STRY

7.1 Sampli ng and Analys is 69

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7.2 Geoch emica l chara ctere stics 70

7.3 Qualit y crite ria for Domes tic use 77

7.4 Qualit y crite ria for Agricu lture 80

7 5 Qualit y criter ia for Indust ry 85

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CONCL USION AND RECOM MENDA Ti
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ANNEX I
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 LIST OF FIGURES PAGE

1 , Location map 4
i

2. Granulometric analysis of surge deposits found

within the alluvium 18

3.Granulometric analysis of surge deposits

associated with explosion craters 20

26
4 . Mean monthly rainfall depth in 39 years
34
5 Monthly average water balance

.
6 Lithological log for Adea Flour Mill Well 49

50
7 Lithological log for Yerer- Buti Well

8. Yerer- Buti , Graphical solution , Jacob ’s

Non equilibrium method 62

9 Yerer- Buti , Pumping - Recovery curve 63

10.Tedecha ,Graphical solution ,Jacob ’s

-
Non eqilibrium method 64

-
11 .Tedecha ,Pumping Recovery curve 65

12 , Water chemical analysis plot on square

Piper Diagram 72

13. Bicarbonate vs TDS graph , 73

14 , Bicarbonate vs TDS graph 74

15 . Lake level factuation 76

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page

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16 Classifi cation of water for irrigatio n 85

.
17 Classifi cation of water for irrigatio n

based on salinity hazard 86

Annex 8 Soil Moisture 103

Annex 12 Studied area and Mojo river catchment basin 114

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LIST OF PHOTOS

1 , Sample from trachyte domes 115

2. Sample f rom rhyolitic flow 116

3 . Sample from rhyolitic ignimbrite 117

4. Sample f rom olivine basaltic lava flow 118

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deep appreciation for the constant-

supervision to my advisor prof . A, Vernier . I am also

grateful to prof . S. Grassi for his constructive comments.

Special thanks go to Ato Alula Damte , Ato Worash Getaneh , Ato

Semu Mitiku, Ato Seyoum Zenebe , Ato Tesfaye Chernet , Ato

Mulat- u Tebeje and Ato Muluneh for their invaluable help and

encouragement .

I thank prof. Getaneh Assefa for the help he rendered in

solving the stratigraphic problems ,

I am indebted to Mr.P.Bucci , an expert in Water Supply and

Sewerage Authority( WSSA ), for his constant encouragement , Ato

Ezra , Ato Ayana , W/o Kibra for their help in chemical

analysis , Ato Shimels (driver) and for the rest. WSSA and

EWWCA workers.

Finally , I acknowledge the German Academic Exchange

Service(DAAD), for granting me incountry scholarship

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1 . INTRODUCTIOM

1.1 Objectives

One of the most important issues for , government decision

makers in developing countries is the proper solution of

water supply problems through the implementation of research

programmes on surface and groundwaters in order to satisify

the present and future needs of population , agriculture and

industry ,
/

The most unavoidable condition for the growth and

development of towns , cities etc is certainly the progressive .

fulfillment of its urgent water needs of whatever kind and

from whatever source.

In the Debre Zeit area , which is the subject of the

present thesis , about ten farmers ’ village and two towns are

present . According to the Central Statistical Office , the

present number of population in Debre Zeit and Dukem

towns is about 120 000 , where as farmers which live in 10

villages are about 300 000 , about 5% of them live scattered

in the area.

Taking into account the growth rate of Ethiopian

population ( 2.95% per year), a great number of residents is

to be expected in the next 30 years (about 1 million).

Therefore a large amount of water will be required to

satisfy their necessities , Since the intermittent streams

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which are found in the area serve the farmers only during

the rainy season , a programme for groundwater exploitation to

fulfill the water demand of such fast growing population , is

necessary .
From the agricultural point of view , the only crop which

is largely farmed is Te//, while backyard vegetables and

chick pea - are present only in some places * Since the

area is suitable for large scale mechanized farming and

crop rotation , large amount of water will be necessary ,

which will be provided either by surface water or

groundwater

In the area under investigation , there are few small scale

industries in addition to two Flour Mills. Since Debre Zeit-

is close to Addis Ababa , large factories are supposed to be

constructed in the future.This makes it necessary to know the

groundwater potential of the area .

The aims of the present study are ;

1.to verify the potential of the surface waters coming from

*

r Mt.Yerer and
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to evaluate the possibility of their
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partial utilization and suggest the most accurate

methodologies to intercept them by dams or artificial

channels ;

2.to verify the occurrence of important groundwater reservoirs ,

within unconfined or confined aquifers which could be

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utilized in addition or an alternative to the surface

waters ;

3 # to calculate the water budget for the corresponding

hydrogeological basin ;

4 . to check the quality of surface waters and groundwater

based on InternationalStandared Quality requirement ;

5 , to suggest the water management of the area .

1.2 LOCATION AND EXTENT OF THE INVESTIGATED AREA

The studied area is located 47 km . east of Addis Ababa

on the main road between Addis Ababa and Nazreth . It lies on

the western border of the Main Ethiopian Rift Valley lt . is

bounded by
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8°39 24 N - 8 54 12 " N latitude and
, ,,
38°53 54 E

39°02 ’06 " E longitude.

The investigated area has a total surface of 448 sq. km , while

the one referred to the main catchment basin is about 269.4

sq . km.

The western boundary is given by the water divide which

passes through Dukem town , from north by Mt Yerer , from . east

by the junction of Wodecha and Mojo river and from south by

the rhyolite hill found nearby .

Mt Sokoru .

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1.3 PHYSIOGRA PHY AND DRAINAGE.

The studied area is characteri zed by an extensive Plio -

Quaternary volcanism which gave rise to the peculiar

geomorphol ogy of volcanic environme nts and is deeply modified

by alluvial deposition .
About 60% of the area is rather flat with gentle

slopes , while the rest is character ized by mountains and

hills. Clear elevation contrast exists between the Mt. Yerer

( 3100 m a . s.l. ) and the flat area with mean height of

1900 m a . s l ..
The rock bodies , affected by a severe erosion , form the
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Mt. Sokoru and isolated hills with flat topped surface .

The most important chains are found in the north western

border and in the southern part of the area

,
. In particular

Mt . Yerer is characteri zed by steep slope and rough top

surface . While some hills show steep slopes and gentle

pedimont surface often covered by a thin layer of coluvial

deposits ,

Within the area, numerous cinder and spatter cones occur as

well as craters of old major volcanic centers.

Phreatomag matic tuff rings and lake filled maars are also

frequent They have . a diameter of about 1 km , steep sides

and flat bottoms .

5
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At- places , ferosioh, cut the water - shades forming gullies

characterized by a large depth at the top which decreases

downstream , This is due to the high concentration of runoff

/

in the upper part which rapidly decreases towards the flat

area . Mainly originated from Mt , Yerer and surrounding

highlands , many intermittent streams flow down to Debre Zeit.

While some of them sink in the alluvial deposits , the others

are tributaries of the Wodecha river , the only perennial

river which crosses the studied area collecting also the

waters coming from the western branch of the wider

hydrographic basin of the Mojo river .

While the northern drainage pattern shows a well developed

dendritic pattern , the southern one is not well defined

because the fluvial segments have not yet reached their

latest stage of development .

Probably due to a local tectonical effect , all intermittent-

streams and Wodecha river show a southerly trend towards

Debre Zeit , while all the other tributaries of Mojo river

-
show a north easterly trend .
The vegetation cover is mostly concentrated in the mountain

sides of Mt . Yerer as . shrubs and bushes , and scarcely

distributed in the rest part- of the area , where isolated

Acacia and Eucalyptus trees together with scattered bushes

and other kind of plants are found . This is mainly due