Preface

Chapter 7 **Hydrogeology and Groundwater Geochemistry of the Clastic**

**Aquifer and Its Assessment for Irrigation,**

**Southwest Kuwait 107** Fawzia Mohammad Al-Ruwaih

**VI** Contents

If you search for the word "aquifer" using any search engine on the Internet, you would come across a lot of published material including numerous articles and books on this spe‐ cific topic. In the plethora of these books and articles, one wonders at the need for yet anoth‐ er book on this subject. Anyone even remotely linked with the field of rocks and water would vouch that there are so many facets to this little word "aquifer" that despite the avail‐ ability of so much literature in the water world, this immense literary aquifer is not enough to quench the thirst of many. People have been concerned with aquifers since time immemo‐ rial. Stakeholders of aquifers include water users such as domestic house owners, agricultu‐ rists, industrialists in arid regions, water conservationists and environmentalists in desert zones, politicians in transboundary regions, even military tacticians and economic strate‐ gists in water scarce countries and regions.

Our interest with the field of aquifers was initiated by a series of courses on "flow through porous media" taken during postgraduate studies. These developed the prime concepts of the nature, composition, formation, structure, fracture, and dynamics of rocks carrying var‐ ious types of fluids, be it water, hydrocarbons, or any chemicals spilled and percolated in the ground. Because aquifers are hidden under the ground, it requires multidisciplinary, unconventional, as well as state-of-the-art conventional techniques to fully comprehend the aura of aquifers. Fascinated as we were by what moves under the ground, that fascination still continues.

"Health of aquifers" is one major research area for present-day scientists and engineers. Aqui‐ fers became prone to manmade contamination even before the beginning of the industrial age. Due to increased intensity of pollution because of modern-day lifestyles, concerns for the well-being of aquifer rocks and aquifer fluids are on the rise. All stakeholders are concerned for passing on this resource of life, intact and in usable condition, to the next generations.

In addition to the introductory section, the main text of this book comprises two additional sections, one each on "porous rocks" and the "fluids" they carry. The first section contains research chapters on the physical aspects, structure, and dynamics of the geologic strata called aquifers. The second section contains research chapters dealing with the quality, quantity, pollutions, purification, treatment, and characteristics of water contained in these geologic strata. This book is intended to catch the attention of practicing professionals, the research community, and students and teachers working in areas pertinent to the subject. Readers, for their consumption, will find diversified material in this presentation.

This book provides a collection of diversified papers on understanding and highlighting some critical aspects that address various issues related to aquifers. It provides a deep un‐ derstanding of the issues and problems related to aquifers that may be used by academi‐ cians, researchers, and professionals working in this field. The book project *Aquifers* could not have been possible without the hard work of many eminent professionals, hydrologists, geologists, water resources engineers, scholars, and scientists the world over who undertook analysis of problems and issues, conducted research, found out remedies and solutions, and authored these chapters.

The steadfast attitude, focus on results, and concern for timelines displayed by Ms. Renata Sliva and Ms. Ivana Glavic, Author Service Managers of Intech Open Access Publisher, are recognized for constantly reminding us of the deadlines to be met. The forbearance of our spouses, Sultana Salik and Maher Nigar Shaukat, during the period we were working on this book is heartily appreciated. The management of Abasyn University is also thanked for pro‐ viding us with the academic platform and institutional resources to undertake this assignment.

Finally, the entire concept of IntechOpen Access Publishing is lauded for its global outreach and universal benefit to the human race.

> **Dr. Muhammad Salik Javaid,** Abasyn University, Islamabad Campus Pakistan

**Section 1**

**Aquifers: The Resource**

**Dr. Shaukat Ali Khan** Abasyn University, Peshawar Campus Pakistan
