Hydrogeology

Strategic storage of groundwater

Hydrogeological and geophysical studies of natural aquifers and the development of the best methods for water resource management

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Exploration and development of the sources of groundwater

Exploration for groundwater and the identification of their locations, sources, and qualities for different purposes

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Calculation of groundwater reserves

calculation of the areas and volumes of water-bearing layers and the, the drainage areas

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Hydrological and hydrochemical mapping

Collection of water samples and their physical properties
Analyses of water samples in the SGS laboratories for their major and trace element contents and bacteria

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Calculation of groundwater reserves

Conduct of integrated hydrological and hydrochemical surveys and create to identify the quantity and quality of groundwater and its different uses

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Requests for reports and data

Requests for reports, maps and previous hydrogeological and hydrochemical dataa

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients

Government sector - private sector

Studies and research on rising groundwater levels

Identification of the sources and the factors of rising groundwater levels and the suggestions for their optimal solutions to groundwater problems

Department

Hydrogeology Department

Prospective Clients :

Government sector - private sector

Overview

This laboratory houses a diverse range of instruments and equipment that offers a wide range of services for the analysis of groundwater, surface water, and drinking water qualities. These services include the determination of the physical, inorganic, and microbiological contents and characteristics of water. Besides the support provided to the SGS projects, the laboratory also supports the laboratory needs of other sectors, including other government agencies, universities, private and local communities. The analytical methods used in the laboratory are based on well-established and internationally recognized procedures, such as those published by the USEPA, the ASTM, and the Saudi national standards. These capabilities include but not limited to:

Physical and chemical analyses

The different quantitative chemical techniques, such as ion chromatography, spectrophotometer, and titration (Fig. 1), are used to determine the chemical contents of water samples (major and trace elements), and also their physical properties, which include their:

• conductivity
• color
• turbidity
• hardness

Laboratory equipment for ion chromatography, spectrophotometer, and titration

Trace elements Analysis

The laboratory facility for trace metals analysis specializes in the determination of dissolved metallic elements in water samples. The facility features several Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission and Mass Spectrometers for element analysis

Trace elements

The Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission and Mass Spectrometer for trace element analysis

Microbiological Tests

The USEPA has classified total coliform and fecal coliform bacterial contents as major parameters that are analyzed in the determination of the level of safety in water quality analysis (Figure 3). The SGS microbiological laboratory uses the filtration system technique to estimate the numbers of bacteria present in a water sample.

• Total coliforms
• Fecal coliforms

Device for the determination of bacterial contents of water samples