Study of Seasonal variation and Index Based Assessment of Water Quality and Pollution in Semi-Arid Region of Morocco

Authors

  • Rachida El Morabet Lades Lab, FLSH-M, Department of Geography, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Mohammedia, Morocco
  • Larbi Barhazi Lades Lab, FLSH-M, Department of Geography, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Mohammedia, Morocco
  • Roohul Abad Khan Department of Civil Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdessamad Hejjaj National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy, Cadi Ayyad University, Mohammedia, Morocco
  • Rachid Harrara African Laboratory for Mining and Environment, Mohammedia, Morocco
  • Soufian Bouhafa Lades Lab, FLSH-M, Department of Geography, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Mohammedia, Morocco
  • Amadur Rahman Khan Faculty of Engineering and technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
  • Nadeem A Khan Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025, India
  • Sergiy Yeremenko Institute of Public Administration in the Sphere of Civil Protection, Kiev, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2021.037

Keywords

groundwater quality, physicochemical parameter, dissolved solids, cation/anion ratio, electrical conductivity, pollution index

Abstract

Water resources quality assessment a basic requirement for ensuring its sustainability. Groundwater resources being restricted under the earth crust are at high risk of being polluted as compared to rivers which flow continuously. This study evaluated groundwater quality in Mohammedia prefecture, Morocco in terms of physicochemical parameters and seasonal variation. The physicochemical parameters analysed were Temperature, pH, EC, TDS, Na+, Ca2+, K+, NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42. Seasonal variation was evaluated for winter and spring seasons. The water quality was assessed in terms of overall water and Pollution index. Cation/anion ratio to TDS revealed evaporation and rock weathering dominance. Based on Pollution index, water quality of 88% samples was in excellent to good category in winter season. The pollution index during winter season was <1 for all sample locations. In Spring PI was >1 only at Location P1 which was attributed to NO2-. In Spring season 78% water samples were in Good to excellent category. The decrease in concentration during spring season was attributed to lack of soil-water interaction with reduced infiltration rate. The increase in concentration of parameters was attributed to anthropogenic activities. Further studies are needed to establish relationship between infiltration rate and pollutants concentration with respect to precipitation during monsoon season. Even though water quality in majority areas was fit for consumption and domestic use still further analysis should be carried out in terms of heavy metals and other emerging pollutants.

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2021-09-23

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1.
EL MORABET, Rachida, BARHAZI, Larbi, KHAN, Roohul Abad, HEJJAJ, Abdessamad, HARRARA, Rachid, BOUHAFA, Soufian, KHAN, Amadur Rahman, KHAN, Nadeem A and YEREMENKO, Sergiy. Study of Seasonal variation and Index Based Assessment of Water Quality and Pollution in Semi-Arid Region of Morocco. Ecological Questions. Online. 23 September 2021. Vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 113-125. [Accessed 13 January 2025]. DOI 10.12775/EQ.2021.037.

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Vol. 32 No. 4 (2021)

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Copyright (c) 2021 Rachida El Morabet, Larbi Barhazi, Roohul Abad Khan, Abdessamad Hejjaj, Rachid Harrara, Soufian Bouhafa, Amadur Rahman Khan, Nadeem A Khan, Sergiy Yeremenko

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