The unique oasis of Zousfana, on the western edge of the Grand Erg Occidental, Taghit is the pearl of the oases of Saoura, a palm grove of 180 ha over an 18 km length crossed by Oued Zouzfana. It regroups the different types of landscapes of an arid zone (erg, hamada, barga – a small hill, oued ...). Taghit is known for its hydraulic civilization, the oasis in its hostile environment has survived thanks to the exploitation of rare groundwater irrigation according to the traditional customs applied to the whole of society. The peasants spur out the water resources through foggaras and traditional wells. But the intervention of modern irrigation techniques in an anarchic way has disrupted the fragile mode of irrigation and the abandonment of the palm grove. The over-exploitation of groundwater by the use of boreholes and motor pumps leads to the drying up of water sources, mists and traditional wells. Today, only 45 000 palm trees are productive and less than 1500 fruit trees. There are 500 fellahs in the entire agricultural area of Taghit, the majority of them is fleeing work in the oasis because of the lack of income from it. When comparing the results of analyses from different campaigns (2015 and 2008), a spectacular increase in the salt concentrations in the groundwater of the different palm groves is noticed. According to our investigations, the main causes of this jump are: the overexploitation of the water tables by motor pumps, the abandonment of land inside the palm grove, the lack of maintenance of the gardens, the exploitation of domestic wastewater in the irrigation. According to this preliminary study, it is important for the State to make farmers aware of the role of their traditional irrigation systems in the continuity of the oasis and life in it.

This paper presents the groundwater modelling of Beni Abbes palm grove in Southwest Algeria. Beni Abbes oasis alluvial aquifer is part of the Saoura Valley aquifer system, including a loose slick contained in a Quaternary alluvial em-bankment that fills the Beni Abbes basin. To address local needs, industry and agriculture, groundwater has been intensively exploited in recent years. Groundwater of the Beni Abbes oasis in the Saoura Valley oasis chain, is composed of a com-plex system, whose layer of alluvial terraces ensures a vital role for a 40-hectare palm grove. Due to its architectural position in the local aquifer system, the alluvial aquifer is mainly fed by the Great Western Erg and sometimes by the Saoura River floods. Based on the hydrogeological, hydrochemical characterisation and hydrodynamic modelling of the alluvial aquifer system of the Beni Abbes oasis, the mathematical model of finite difference and finite difference at steady state leads to the estimation of the hydrodynamic parameters of the aquifer and the evaluation of the complete water balance. The main results of this study provide a better understanding of the geometry and functioning of this aquifer currently in a state of concern. Furthermore, it is necessary to undertake integrated water resource management in this oasis in order to ensure sustainable development.