Seawater intrusion (SWI) is one of the most challenging and widespread environmental problems that threaten the quality and sustainability of fresh groundwater resources in coastal aquifers. The excessive pumping of groundwater, associated with the lack of natural recharge, has exacerbated the SWI problem in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, appropriate management strategies should be implemented in coastal aquifers to control the impacts of SWI problems, considering acceptable limits of economic and environmental costs. The management of coastal aquifers involves the identification of an acceptable ultimate landward extent of the saline water body and the calculation of the amount of seaward discharge of freshwater that is necessary to keep the saline–freshwater interface in a seacoast position. This paper presents a comprehensive review of available hydraulic and physical management strategies that can be used to reduce and control SWI in coastal aquifers. Advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches are presented and discussed.

In this study the vulnerability of the Wadi Ham aquifer, located in the Fujairah Emirate of the UAE, to seawater intrusion (SWI) is assessed using a 3D finite element (FE) model. The numerical model is developed based on available hydrogeological data in real scale. By simulation of the aquifer for the next 10 years and by maintaining the current rates of pumping (in year2015), the progress of seawater intrusion in year 2025 is followed by further depletion in freshwater storage of the Wadi Ham aquifer. In order to control this problem, the model is subjected to a management strategy involving surface recharge of the aquifer with treated wastewater