Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco
In this study, hydrogeochemical analyses were combined with geographic information system (GIS) tools to investigate salinization sources of groundwater in the downstream part of the Essaouira basin, and to analyze the spatiotemporal trends in groundwater quality. To assess groundwater suitability f...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3202 |
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| author | Mohamed Ouarani Mohammed Bahir David J. Mulla Driss Ouazar Abdelghani Chehbouni Driss Dhiba Salah Ouhamdouch Otman El Mountassir |
| author_facet | Mohamed Ouarani Mohammed Bahir David J. Mulla Driss Ouazar Abdelghani Chehbouni Driss Dhiba Salah Ouhamdouch Otman El Mountassir |
| author_sort | Mohamed Ouarani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, hydrogeochemical analyses were combined with geographic information system (GIS) tools to investigate salinization sources of groundwater in the downstream part of the Essaouira basin, and to analyze the spatiotemporal trends in groundwater quality. To assess groundwater suitability for drinking purposes, the quality of sampled water was compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Moroccan guidelines. Wilcox and US salinity laboratory (USSL) diagrams were used to evaluate groundwater suitability for irrigation. Hydrogeochemical analyses revealed that groundwater is of Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl types. The analyses of the correlation between the chemical elements showed that the water–rock interaction and the reverse ion exchange are the major processes impacting groundwater degradation in the study area. The study of groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes shows that groundwater quality in the study area is permissible, but not desirable for human consumption. Additionally, groundwater is permissible for agricultural use but with high-salinity hazards. The spatial distribution of the physicochemical elements shows a general upward gradient from the north to the south and from the east to the west. The trend in groundwater quality during the last five years shows a shifting in the quality from the mixed Ca-Mg-Cl to the Na-Cl type. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:49:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c815d54caaa44188b5a8f14ccd6a8b4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:49:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-c815d54caaa44188b5a8f14ccd6a8b4a2023-11-20T21:08:16ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-11-011211320210.3390/w12113202Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, MoroccoMohamed Ouarani0Mohammed Bahir1David J. Mulla2Driss Ouazar3Abdelghani Chehbouni4Driss Dhiba5Salah Ouhamdouch6Otman El Mountassir7International Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoDepartment of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USAInternational Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoHigh Energy and Astrophysics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoHigh Energy and Astrophysics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoIn this study, hydrogeochemical analyses were combined with geographic information system (GIS) tools to investigate salinization sources of groundwater in the downstream part of the Essaouira basin, and to analyze the spatiotemporal trends in groundwater quality. To assess groundwater suitability for drinking purposes, the quality of sampled water was compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Moroccan guidelines. Wilcox and US salinity laboratory (USSL) diagrams were used to evaluate groundwater suitability for irrigation. Hydrogeochemical analyses revealed that groundwater is of Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl types. The analyses of the correlation between the chemical elements showed that the water–rock interaction and the reverse ion exchange are the major processes impacting groundwater degradation in the study area. The study of groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes shows that groundwater quality in the study area is permissible, but not desirable for human consumption. Additionally, groundwater is permissible for agricultural use but with high-salinity hazards. The spatial distribution of the physicochemical elements shows a general upward gradient from the north to the south and from the east to the west. The trend in groundwater quality during the last five years shows a shifting in the quality from the mixed Ca-Mg-Cl to the Na-Cl type.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3202coastal aquifersemi-arid conditiongroundwater salinizationreverse ion exchangeevaporites dissolutionhydrogeochemistry |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Ouarani Mohammed Bahir David J. Mulla Driss Ouazar Abdelghani Chehbouni Driss Dhiba Salah Ouhamdouch Otman El Mountassir Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco Water coastal aquifer semi-arid condition groundwater salinization reverse ion exchange evaporites dissolution hydrogeochemistry |
| title | Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco |
| title_full | Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco |
| title_short | Groundwater Quality Characterization in an Overallocated Semi-Arid Coastal Area Using an Integrated Approach: Case of the Essaouira Basin, Morocco |
| title_sort | groundwater quality characterization in an overallocated semi arid coastal area using an integrated approach case of the essaouira basin morocco |
| topic | coastal aquifer semi-arid condition groundwater salinization reverse ion exchange evaporites dissolution hydrogeochemistry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3202 |
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