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Assessment of Groundwater Quality and the Main Controls on Its Hydrochemistry in a Changing Climate in Morocco (Essaouira Basin)

Author

Listed:
  • Otman El Mountassir

    (High Energy and Astrophysics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco)

  • Mohammed Bahir

    (High Energy and Astrophysics Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
    International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Abdelghani Chehbouni

    (International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
    Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR), Centre D’études Spatiales de la Biosphère (Cesbio), 31401 Toulouse, France)

  • Driss Dhiba

    (International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Hicham El Jiar

    (International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay My Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

Abstract

Groundwater is essential for both water supply and environmental conservation, especially in semi-arid and desert areas. Managing groundwater resources requires a thorough understanding of groundwater characteristics and dynamics. The hydrogeochemical properties and evolution of groundwater in the Essaouira synclinal basin in northwest Morocco were studied in this research, with 105 water samples collected in 2009, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The Water Quality Index (WQI) and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) were developed to determine groundwater quality for consumption and irrigation purposes. The chemical evolution of groundwater is mainly dominated by evaporite, mineral carbonate dissolutions, and cation exchange. Contamination by nitrates is particularly severe in agricultural and tourist areas. The WQI of the 2019 campaign showed that 6.7% of groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking; 76.7% are poor quality water; and 13.3% are very poor-quality water; while only 3.3% are drinkable. According to IWQI, the total study area has been split into 50% (good), 43.3% (bad), and 6.6% (unfit), respectively, and no excellent groundwater areas have been identified. Therefore, the water is suitable for agriculture but must be treated for drinking. The presence of evaporation and maritime intrusion and the contribution of recent precipitations to aquifer recharging were demonstrated by stable isotope content.

Suggested Citation

  • Otman El Mountassir & Mohammed Bahir & Abdelghani Chehbouni & Driss Dhiba & Hicham El Jiar, 2022. "Assessment of Groundwater Quality and the Main Controls on Its Hydrochemistry in a Changing Climate in Morocco (Essaouira Basin)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:8012-:d:852816
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Esmaeil Asadi & Mohammad Isazadeh & Saeed Samadianfard & Mohammad Firuz Ramli & Amir Mosavi & Narjes Nabipour & Shahaboddin Shamshirband & Eva Hajnal & Kwok-Wing Chau, 2019. "Groundwater Quality Assessment for Sustainable Drinking and Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Abdulaziz G. Alghamdi & Anwar A. Aly & Sami Ali Aldhumri & Fahad N. Al-Barakaha, 2020. "Hydrochemical and Quality Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Al-Madinah City, Western Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Ememu, A.J & Nwankwoala, H.O, 2018. "Application Of Water Quality Index (Wqi) For Agricultural And Irrigatio nal Use Around Okpoko, Southeastern Nigeria," Engineering Heritage Journal (GWK), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 2(1), pages 14-18, January.
    4. Muhammad Hasan & Yanjun Shang & Mohamed Metwaly & Weijun Jin & Majid Khan & Qiang Gao, 2020. "Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Coastal Areas of Pakistan for Sustainable Water Quality Management Using Joint Geophysical and Geochemical Approach: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
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    Cited by:

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