The proposed study aims to assess groundwater quality and suitability of the Upper and Middle Cheliff plains (northwest of Algeria) for irrigation and drinking. Here the groundwater is the main source for domestic, agricultural and industrial activities similarly to any others region of the world. The suitability for drinking and for irrigation was evaluated on the basis of water quality index, salinity risk, hardness risk, sodium risk, magnesium risk, permeability index, water infiltration rate, Kelly index and Wilcox and Richards diagrams. The aquifer system is mainly composed by alluvium (gravel, sand, silt, clay, …) from the Mio-Plio-Quaternary. The results of this study highlighted that the majority of the chemical elements analyzed exceed the WHO's drinking water standards and FAO's irrigation water standards. Based on the GroundWater Quality Index (GWQI) results, the Upper and Middle Cheliff groundwater plains shows Doubtful class in most of the plains. In addition, the GroundWater quality Index for Irrigation (GWQII) shows the predominance of the Good/Permissible groundwater quality class in most of the plains. According to these results, drinking water can cause health problems (a danger) for the human consumption making necessary a proper treatment be able to use it. As for irrigation water, it does not present a danger for irrigating for the vast fields of the region, with the exception of sensitive crops such: garlic, onion, beans and strawberry. The proposed approach demonstrated to be appropriate in assessing the groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking water supply since it can be easy applicable and suitable in humid, arid or semi-arid regions around the world.

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The present work aimed at evaluating the impact of human activity and geology formations on the surface water quality of the Ouled Mellouk dam (Algeria). Methodology aims to assess the seasonal variations of the physicochemical parameters (electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, , Cl−, Ca2+, Na+, , , , and Mg2+) and pollution parameters (organic matter (OM), suspended solids, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD)) during the period from 2007 to 2013. The results of physicochemical parameters show a high salinization recorded essentially during the periods of heavy precipitation or flooding, due to the leaching of dolomitic limestones and evaporitic deposits from the saliferous formations of the Ouarsenis and Doui mountains. The high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and OM observed can be attributed to the influence of anthropogenic factors and the use of fertilizers in agriculture. Principal component analysis (PCA) application shows that salinization (49.92%), anthropogenic pollution (19.38%), and agricultural pollution (12%) are the most significant degradation factors, respectively. Saturation index of carbonates and gypsiferous minerals shows the carbonates tend to precipitate before the gypsiferous minerals, which allowed the chemical elements coming from the dissolution of gypsum and halite to acquire significant contents. The evolution of biological oxygen demand and organic pollution showed slight pollution of the dam water.

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