Abstract. In many parts of the world, groundwater sources are the single most important supply for the production of drinking water, particularly in areas with limited or polluted surface water sources. Fresh water has become a scarce commodity due to over exploitation and pollution of water. Many countries and international organizations, including Wolrd Health Organization, are seeking to promote people's access to safe drinking water. The situation in Yemen is no exception. Although we rely on groundwater significantly in our lives and our survival, we do not manage it in a way that ensures its sustainability and maintenance of pollution. The objective of this study is to determine the suitability of the groundwater in Al Burayhi and Hedran sub-basin (one of the sub-basins of the Upper Valley Rasyan) as a source of drinking water in the shade of the expected deterioration due to natural processes (water interaction with rocks, semi-dry climate) and human activities. Keywords: assessment of groundwater quality, the spatial distribution of groundwater pollution, Al Burayhi and Hedran sub-basin, Taiz and Yemen.

Fluorosis continues to be an endemic problem in Yemen. More areas are being affected by fluorosis in different parts of this country. The present study aims to identify the intensity and the spatial extent of fluoride concentration in groundwater of the southern part of the upper Wadi Rasyan, Taiz, Yemen. 93 sampling points were selected; the sampling included all types of sources of groundwater and all types of aquifers. The results show that 71% of samples exceed the WHO drinking water guidelines value of 1.5 mg/l, and there are wide variation for groundwater's content of fluoride in the same aquifer (whether, volcanic and alluvial) and in the same of groundwater type, and these variations between the different water types or between the different depths of water (alluvial and volcanic aquifers) are not significantly different. The high concentration of fluoride in groundwater of the volcanic aquifer is likely because of the nature of geology formations by the waterrock interaction result of long-time residence of water in contact with the geology formation. The high concentration of fluoride in the alluvial aquifer likely resulting the waste of urban and industrial activates sources, the over exploration of groundwater, the arid climatic and the activities agriculture.

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