Associate Professor of Hydrogeology and Chairperson
Geological Museum Director

American University of Beirut- (Lebanon)- Department of Earth SceincesAssistant Professor of Hydrogeology- American University of Beirut- (Lebanon)- Faculty of Arts and Sciences- Department of Geology

Researcher- Georg August University- Göttingen (Germany)
Research Cooperation Project: Protection of the Jeita Spring
Project owner: Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR). Germany

Project Hydrogeologist- Project Environmental Geologist
Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD)

Hydrology

Hydrogeology

Water resources

Monitoring

Published Books, Book Chapters, and Edited Volumes:
• Book: Margane, A., Makki, I., Raad, R., Schuler, P., Abi Rizik, J., Doummar, J., Königer, P., Hahne K., Stoeckl, L. 2018. Hydrogeology of the Jeita Groundwater Catchment in Lebanon. Geologisches Jahrbuch Reihe B, Heft B 106. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, Stuttgart, Germany

• Book Chapter: *Doummar J., Fahs M., Aoun M., ElGhawi R., Othman J., Alali M., and Kassem. H.A. Assessment of water quality and quantity of springs at a pilot-scale: Applications in semi-arid Mediterranean areas in Lebanon. 2023.

American Geophysical Union books: Threats to Springs in a Changing World. Editors: Katz and Currell https://doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10508719.1

Refereed Journal Publications Published:

1. Siegel L., Goldscheider N., Petitta, M., Xanke, J., Andreo, B., Bakalowicz, M., Barberá, JA., Rachida Bouhlila, R., Doummar, J., et al., 2023. Distribution, threats and protection of selected karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Mediterranean regionHydrogeology Journal. Volume 31 (8); 2231-2249

2. Cinkus, G., Wunsch, A., Mazzilli, N., Liesch, T., Chen, Z., Ravbar, N., Doummar, J., Fernández-Ortega, J., Barberá, J. A., Andreo, B., Goldscheider, N., and Jourde, H. 2023. Comparison of artificial neural networks and reservoir models for simulating karst spring discharge on five test sites in the Alpine and Mediterranean regions, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss. 27 (10), 1961-1985 https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-365.

3. Fahs M., Koohbor B., Shao Q., Doummar J., Baalousha H., and Voss C., Effect of Flow‐Direction‐Dependent Dispersivity on Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers. 2022. Water Resources Research. 58: 8.

4. *Doummar J., Hassan Kassem A. Gurdak J.J. Sensitivity Analysis of an Integrated Numerical Flow Model Output to Key Model Parameters Used in Common Qualitative Vulnerability Assessment Methods. Groundwater for Sustainable Development 2022. 17. doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100737.

5. Younes, A. Koohbor, B., Belfort, B., Ackerer, P., Doummar, J., Fahs, M. Modeling variable-density flow in saturated-unsaturated porous media: An advanced numerical model. Advances in Water Resources, 2022. 159, doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2021.104077.

6. Sbai, M.A., Larabi, A., Fahs, M., Doummar, J. A New Normalized Groundwater Age-Based Index for Quantitative Evaluation of the Vulnerability to Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers: Implications for Management and Risk Assessments. Water 2021, 13, 2496. doi.org/10.3390/w13182496

7. ElGhawi R., *Doummar J., Pekhazis K. 2021 Multi regression analysis of stable isotopic composition of karst springs for the identification of influencing parameters and catchment delineation: Application to Lebanon. Environ Earth Sci 80, 230, doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09519-4

8. Dubois E, *Doummar J., Pistre S, Larocque M. 2020 Calibration of a semi-distributed lumped model of a karst system using time series data analysis: the example of the Qachqouch karst spring. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 4275–4290, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-4275-2020.

9. Koohbor B., Fahs, M., Hoteit, H., Doummar, J., Younes, A.,Belfort, B., 2020. An advanced discrete fracture model for variably saturated flow in fractured porous media. Advances in Water Resources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2020.103602

10. Olarinoye T., Gleeson T., Marx V., Seeger S., Adinehvand R., Alloca V., Bartolome B., Arfib B., Auler A., Binet S., Bittner D., Blatnik M., Bolger T., Chen Z., Coxon G., De Vita P., Doummar J., Fournier M., Goldscheider N., Gunn J., Guo F., Sanchez L.H. Howden N., Hunt B., Charlier JP., Jones G., Jourde H., Karmann I., Koit O., Ladouche B., Liu Z., Mazzilli N., Mudarra M., Parise M., Pu J., Ravbar N, Sivelle V., Skoglund R., Stevanovic Z., Wood C., Worthington S., Hartmann A., 2020. World Karst Spring hydrograph (WoKaS) database for research and management of the world’s fastest-flowing groundwater. Sci Data 7, 59. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0346-5

11. *Doummar J., Hassan Kassem A., and Gurdak J.J., 2018. Impact of historic and future climate on spring recharge and discharge based on an integrated numerical modelling approach: Application on a snow-governed semi-arid karst catchment area. Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.08.062

12. *Doummar, J., and Aoun, M. 2018. Assessment of the origin and transport of four selected emerging micropollutants sucralose, Acesulfame-K, gemfibrozil, and iohexol in a karst spring during a multi-event spring response. Journal of contaminant hydrology. DOI.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2018.06.003

13. *Doummar, J., Margane A., Geyer T., and Sauter M. 2018. Assessment of key transport parameters in a karst system under different dynamic conditions based on tracer experiments: the Jeita karst system, Hydrogeology Journal. DOI: 10.1007/s10040-018-1754-x

14. *Doummar, J., and Aoun, M. 2018. Occurrence of selected domestic and hospital emerging micropollutants on a rural surface water basin linked to a groundwater karst catchment. Journal of Environmental Sciences. pp. 77: 351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7536-x

15. Safi A., El-Fadel, M., Doummar, J. Alameddine, I., Abou Najm, M. Synergy of climate change and local pressures on saltwater intrusion in coastal urban areas: Effective adaptation for policy planning". Water International. v. 43/2- p 145-164

16. *Doummar, J., Geyer, T., Baierl, M., Nödler, K., Licha, T., and Sauter, M., Carbamazepine breakthrough as indicator for specific vulnerability of karst prings: application on the Jeita spring, Lebanon. Applied Geochemistry, v. 47, 150-156

17. *Doummar J., Sauter M., Geyer T., 2012. Simulation of flow processes in a large scale karst system with an integrated catchment model (Mike She) - Identification of relevant parameters influencing spring discharge. Journal of Hydrology, v. 426-427- p 112-123.

18. Doummar J., Massoud M., Khoury R., Khawlie M., 2009. Optimal water resources management: case of lower Litani River, Lebanon. Water Resources Management, v. 23 11- 2343-2360.

Principal Investigator:
1. July 2025: Water quality situational analysis and water quality strategy for Lebanon. Client UNICEF and Ministry of Energy and Water- Lebanon. Total Value: 132,000 USD
2. September 2025: Strormwater management Strategy for Lebanon. in collaboration with Issam Fares Institute. Client Government of the Netherland and Ministry of Energy and Water-Lebanon: 182,000 USD
3. January 2024. Hydrogeological and Geological assessment of three landfill siting in South Lebanon. CELIM- - Impact to Change. Italian Organization. Total Value: 9,000 USD
4. June 2023. Validation of different modelling approaches to simulate flow in heterogeneous karst systems based on high resolution collected data. University Research Board (URB). Total Value 30,000 USD.
5. September 2020: Erasmus Mobility for Professor and staff – Higher Education Student and Staff Mobility. Exchange with Slovenia. June 2023. Visit to University of Ljubljana- Department of Earth Sciences.
6. February 2022-. BMBF (Federal German Ministry of Research) and Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden. MEWAC-FEMAR – Feasibility of MAR for safe and sustainable water supply. Total value: 25,000 Euros
7. June 2020-December 2021. UNICEF: Conceptualization of flow in a snow-governed groundwater catchment in Lebanon: A science- based approach for future guidelines for sustainable water management. Total value: 31,000 USD (2020-2022)
8. June 2019. University Research Board (URB): Quantification of the interaction between a karst spring and surface water flow using tracer experiment transport: continuous monitoring and transport modelling to foster integrated water basin management. Total value: 30,000 USD (2019-2021)
9. December 2019. PRIMA (H2020): KARMA Karst Aquifer Resources availability and quality in the Mediterranean Area. Total Value: 86,000 Euros (2019-2022)
10. April 2019. UNESCO IGCP: The Water-Energy-Food and Groundwater Sustainability Nexus (WEF-GW Nexus). Total Value: 50,000 USD (2019-2023)
11. March 2018. ACACIA WATERS-Government of Netherlands: Testing of the applicability of Managed Aquifer Recharge on a pilot well site-Bekaa- Lebanon, part of the Project ‘Strengthening Lebanese Water and Agriculture Sector’. Total value: 25,000 USD (2018-2020)
12. July 2015. Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (EBML). Geology and Hydrogeology of the Ghadir Surface Water Catchment. Total Value: 21,900 USD (July-September 2015)
13. June 2015. University Research Board. Extensive multi-tracer experiments to estimate transport parameters in two karst aquifer systems under different dynamic conditions: Application on Assal and Qachqouch catchment areas- Lebanon. Total value: 2,500 USD (2016)
14. September 2014. PEER (USAID-National Academy of Sciences). Assessment of real evapo-transpiration and recharge processes on two karst pilot groundwater catchments (Lebanon) using an integrated spatially distributed numerical model: Applications for water resources management purposes. Total value: 161,000 USD (2015-2017)
15. June 2014. URB: Estimation of mean groundwater age using environmental tracers (CFC, SF6, 3H, and 3He) in two pilot catchment areas; a karst aquifer and a fractured sandstone aquifer in Lebanon. Total value: 20,000 USD (2014-2016)

• Elected in the World Economic Forum Young Scientists Community (Class of 2020)
• Selected to join a leadership program from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Cohort 2023-2024).

Joanna Doummar is an associate professor of groundwater hydrology at the American University of Beirut- Department of Earth Science in Lebanon. Joanna's research focuses on water quality and quantity assessments in Mediterranean, semi-arid, and snow governed karst and fractured aquifers. Her research projects include the high-resolution monitoring and collection of time series data, subsurface characterization, and development of numerical groundwater flow. This approach is essential to drive, using science-supported evidence, policy and infrastructural interventions for GW protection and sustainability on pilot scale.