pragmatic approach to study the groundwater quality suitability for domestic and agricultural usage, Saq aquifer, northwest of Saudi Arabia

The present study deals with detailed hydrochemical assessment of groundwater within the Saq aquifer. The Saq aquifer which extends through the NW part of Saudi Arabia is one of the major sources of groundwater supply. Groundwater samples were collected from about 295 groundwater wells and analyzed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2014-08, Vol.186 (8), p.4655-4667
Main Authors: Nazzal, Yousef, Ahmed, Izrar, Al-Arifi, Nassir S. N, Ghrefat, Habes, Zaidi, Faisal K, El-Waheidi, Mahmud M, Batayneh, Awni, Zumlot, Taisser
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural Irrigation - methods
Agriculture
alkalis
Aquifers
Assessments
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Basin geometry
calcium
Chemical contaminants
chlorides
Drinking water
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Ground-water quality
Groundwater
Groundwater - chemistry
Groundwater pollution
Groundwater recharge
Irrigation
Irrigation water
magnesium
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Nitrates
physicochemical properties
Piper
potassium
Resistivity
Saudi Arabia
sodium
Stone
Studies
Topography
Total dissolved solids
Trends
Vadose water
vadose zone
Water analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water quality
Water Quality - standards
water quality criteria
Water Resources - standards
Water sampling
Water Supply - standards
Water wells
World Health Organization
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Summary:The present study deals with detailed hydrochemical assessment of groundwater within the Saq aquifer. The Saq aquifer which extends through the NW part of Saudi Arabia is one of the major sources of groundwater supply. Groundwater samples were collected from about 295 groundwater wells and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, CO₃ ⁻, HCO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, and NO₃ ⁻. Groundwater in the area is slightly alkaline and hard in nature. Electrical conductivity (EC) varies between 284 and 9,902 μS/cm with an average value of 1,599.4 μS/cm. The groundwater is highly mineralized with approximately 30 % of the samples having major ion concentrations above the WHO permissible limits. The NO₃ ⁻ concentration varies between 0.4 and 318.2 mg/l. The depth distribution of NO₃ ⁻ concentration shows higher concentration at shallow depths with a gradual decrease at deeper depths. As far as drinking water quality criteria are concerned, study shows that about 33 % of samples are unfit for use. A detailed assessment of groundwater quality in relation to agriculture use reveals that 21 % samples are unsuitable for irrigation. Using Piper’s classification, groundwater was classified into five different groups. Majority of the samples show Mix-Cl-SO₄- and Na-Cl-types water. The abundances of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ over alkalis infer mixed type of groundwater facies and reverse exchange reactions. The groundwater has acquired unique chemical characteristics through prolonged rock-water interactions, percolation of irrigation return water, and reactions at vadose zone.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-014-3728-3