Wastewater contains a variety of compounds qualified as pollutants. These undergo incomplete treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The objective of this study is to determine the potential impacts on humans and aquatic environment of 46 organic and inorganic micropollutants using the USE-tox® model. The concentrations used in this study are obtained by analyzing raw and treated wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant of the city of Al-Hoceima, Morocco. The total human health impact score is 10 − 2, generally varying between 10 − 3 and 10 − 9. Ba, Hg, Zn and Cd had the highest score with a percentage of 92% of the total score. For the aquatic environment, impact was estimated for 25 compounds. Pyrene, Anthracene, Benzo(a)Anthracene, Fluoranthene and PCB-77 were the major contributors with an impact ranging from 3.43E + 02 to 1.21E + 01 PDF.m 3 .d. With a value of 3.43E + 02, Pyrene had the highest impact, contributing 73% by itself.

For effective coastal aquifers management, it is strongly required to effectively analyze seawater intrusion (SWI). This study used an integrated approach of hydrogeochemical, statistical, geological, and geospatial techniques to assess the extent of SWI in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer by evaluating the physicochemical parameters of 52 groundwater samples. Two main groundwater facies were identified, Na-Cl (38%) and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 (62%). The correlation matrix and a principal component analysis (PCA) depicted that the high salinization in the study area is influenced by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors, including a potential mixing with seawater. A single indicator or a small number of techniques were insufficient to evaluate SWI owing to the multiple causes of salinization in the study area. As a result, we coupled various geochemical indicators with geospatial methods to assess this complicated phenomenon. Accordingly, several ionic ratios (Cl/HCO3, SO4/Cl, Na/Cl, and Mg/Mg + Ca) and SWI indices (GQIswi and SMI) were overlaid to generate the final map that highlights the regions prone to SWI. Most of the SWI spots were discovered within two kilometers or less from the coast. The saline water detected far from the coast was interpreted as the encroachment of seawater from the Souani area being trapped where the clay-marly substratum is deep. These results support the application of geospatial tools to manage groundwater resources in water-stressed areas with complex aquifer systems, by combining various ionic ratios and indices. These findings will assist decision-makers in the Al Hoceima region in developing suitable groundwater management plans and strategies.

For effective coastal aquifers management, it is strongly required to effectively analyze seawater intrusion (SWI). This study used an integrated approach of hydrogeochemical, statistical, geological, and geospatial techniques to assess the extent of SWI in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer by evaluating the physicochemical parameters of 52 groundwater samples. Two main groundwater facies were identified, Na-Cl (38%) and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 (62%). The correlation matrix and a principal component analysis (PCA) depicted that the high salinization in the study area is influenced by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors, including a potential mixing with seawater. A single indicator or a small number of techniques were insufficient to evaluate SWI owing to the multiple causes of salinization in the study area. As a result, we coupled various geochemical indicators with geospatial methods to assess this complicated phenomenon. Accordingly, several ionic ratios (Cl/HCO3, SO4/Cl, Na/Cl, and Mg/Mg+Ca) and SWI indices (GQIswi and SMI) were overlaid to generate the final map that highlights the regions prone to SWI. Most of the SWI spots were discovered within two kilometers or less from the coast. The saline water detected far from the coast was interpreted as the encroachment of seawater from the Souani area being trapped where the clay-marly substratum is deep. These results support the application of geospatial tools to manage groundwater resources in water-stressed areas with complex aquifer systems, by combining various ionic ratios and indices. These findings will assist decision-makers in the Al Hoceima region in developing suitable groundwater management plans and strategies.

For effective coastal aquifers management, it is strongly required to effectively analyze seawater intrusion (SWI). This study used an integrated approach of hydrogeochemical, statistical, geological, and geospatial techniques to assess the extent of SWI in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer by evaluating the physicochemical parameters of 52 groundwater samples. Two main groundwater facies were identified, Na-Cl (38%) and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 (62%). The correlation matrix and a principal component analysis (PCA) depicted that the high salinization in the study area is influenced by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors, including a potential mixing with seawater. A single indicator or a small number of techniques were insufficient to evaluate SWI owing to the multiple causes of salinization in the study area. As a result, we coupled various geochemical indicators with geospatial methods to assess this complicated phenomenon. Accordingly, several ionic ratios (Cl/HCO3, SO4/Cl, Na/Cl, and Mg/Mg+Ca) and SWI indices (GQIswi and SMI) were overlaid to generate the final map that highlights the regions prone to SWI. Most of the SWI spots were discovered within two kilometers or less from the coast. The saline water detected far from the coast was interpreted as the encroachment of seawater from the Souani area being trapped where the clay-marly substratum is deep. These results support the application of geospatial tools to manage groundwater resources in water-stressed areas with complex aquifer systems, by combining various ionic ratios and indices. These findings will assist decision-makers in the Al Hoceima region in developing suitable groundwater management plans and strategies.

Effective management of coastal aquifers requires a thorough understanding of seawater intrusion (SWI). The Ghiss-Nekor aquifer is one such area where the extent of SWI is unclear. This study aimed to map the extent of SWI using the hydrogeochemical approach combined to geospatial techniques. Accordingly, we coupled various geochemical indicators, including four ionic ratios (Cl/HCO3, SO4/Cl, Na/Cl, and Mg/Mg+Ca) and two SWI indices (GQIswi and SMI), with geospatial methods to generate a map highlighting the regions most prone to SWI. As a result, approximately 20% of the study area was impacted by SWI, with 70% of SWI spots found within 2 km of the shoreline. A saline water detected up to 5 km from the coast was interpreted, through the use of the aquifer's stratigraphic model, as being caused by the intrusion of seawater from the Souani area that is trapped in a deep clay-marly substratum. These promising findings highlight the effectiveness of the applied hydrogeochemical approach and offer crucial information regarding the extent of SWI. This information will aid decision-makers in the Al Hoceima region in creating efficient groundwater management plans to tackle the effects of climate change, especially the shortage of water resources caused by declining levels of precipitation.