Elucidating the sources and mechanisms of groundwater salinization in the Ziz Basin of southeastern Morocco

Lgourna, Z.; Warner, Nathaniel R.; Bouchaou, Lhoussaine; Boutaleb, Saïd; Hssaisoune, Mohammed; Tagma, Tarik; Ettayfi, N.; Vengosh, Avner

doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3396-1

Cited by 26 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…1, Tab. 3). As shown by Lgourna et al (2014), based on the two field campaigns carried out during May 2009 and April-May 2010, concentrations of nitrates in the area of the ziz basin ranged from 0 to 316 mg dm −3 ; in total 25% of wells exceed the recommended limit of 50 mg dm −3 . This may imply anthropogenic contamination derived from local agriculture.…”

Section: Water Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Three geographical geology-based sub-basins in the Ziz basin were found: the Jurassic limestone of High Atlas Mountains extending from the southern flank of the Mountains to the major South Atlas Fault in the piedmont; Cretaceous and Cenozoic formations from the South Atlas fault to Jbel Erfoud and Paleozoic formations outcropping to the southern part of the studied basin. Erfoud oasis is located within Limestone, Schists, and Sandstone of Carboniferous, with some alluvial deposits of Quaternary (Lgourna et al 2014).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of the quality and irrigation purpose suitability of alluvial water in Erfoud, Morocco

Latos

Szczucińska

Kozłowski

2019

Quaestiones Geographicae

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Dry areas are especially exposed to the risk of water shortages and elevated mineralization. High water salinity, caused by low precipitation, high evaporation and human impact, usually strongly limits the use of the water for irrigation. The aim of the study was to assess the quality and irrigation purpose suitability of alluvial water in the Erfoud oasis, Morocco. The samples of water were collected from 20 wells in June 2017. We observed excessive concentrations of many parameters i.a.: NO3, Cd, Ni, Na, NH4, Cl, SO4, Fe, Cr. To determine the possibility to use the water for irrigation purposes, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (%Na), permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), magnesium hazards (MH) and electrical conductivity (EC) were assessed. The values of KR and MH qualified the waters as unsuitable for irrigation purposes. The observed %Na indicates that the groundwater is permissible for irrigation purposes, and permeability index, that it is of moderate quality. However, water classification using the SAR vs EC diagram confirms its high and very high alkali and salinity hazard. The mean EC value of the water was 9.5 mS cm−1.

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Section: Water Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the quality and irrigation purpose suitability of alluvial water in Erfoud, Morocco

Latos

Szczucińska

Kozłowski

2019

Quaestiones Geographicae

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“…In southeastern Morocco (Drâa and Ziz-Gheriss-Guir-Maider basins in Figure 2a), chemical and isotopic investigations [19,42] indicated that the main mechanism of groundwater degradation in the shallow aquifers in the Drâa and Tafilalt Oases is via the dissolution of gypsum and halite) in the unsaturated zone of the High Atlas Mountains. The source of nitrate contamination is from excessive use of agricultural fertilizers and septic tanks [43].…”

Section: Inland Aquifersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moroccan Groundwater Resources and Evolution with Global Climate Changes

et al. 2020

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In semi-arid areas, many ecosystems and activities depend essentially on water availability. In Morocco, the increase of water demands combined to climate change induced decrease of precipitation put a lot of pressure on groundwater. This paper reports the results of updating and evaluation of groundwater datasets with regards to climate scenarios and institutional choices. The continuous imbalance between groundwater extraction and recharge caused a dramatic decline in groundwater levels (20 to 65 m in the past 30 years). Additionally, Morocco suffers from the degradation in groundwater quality due to seawater intrusion, nitrate pollution and natural salinity changes. Climate data analysis and scenarios predict that temperatures will increase by 2 to 4 °C and precipitation will decrease by 53% in all catchments over this century. Consequently, surface water availability will drastically decrease, which will lead to more extensive use of groundwater. Without appropriate measures, this situation will jeopardize water security in Morocco. In this paper, we zoom on the case the Souss-Massa basin, where management plans (artificial recharge, seawater desalination, and wastewater reuse) have been adopted to restore groundwater imbalance or, at least, mitigate the recorded deficits. These plans may save water for future generations and sustain crop production.

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“…Morocco is one of the countries that must cope with an important water deficit . Also, these regions are particularly sensitive to variability induced from climate changes , Born et al, 2008, Lgourna et al, 2014, Ait Brahim et al, 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotopic Characteristics and Water Interaction of Ifni Lake and Spring of Tifnoute Valley (High Atlas Mountains, Morocco, North of Africa)

Lamyaa

Agoussine

Igmoullan

et al. 2018

ESJ

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Geochemical and isotopic investigations were carried out to indicate the interaction process between Ifni Lake water and high valley of Tifnoute springs. A total of 18 water samples were collected and analyzed. The Ifni Lake constitutes a veritable water resource in the study area, and this water can be the origin of alimentation the springs located in the high valley the Tifnoute. This study aims to improve the interaction between Ifni Lake water and the springs of high valley of Tifnoute. It is mainly focused to identify the origin of groundwater recharge and mineralization. The environmental isotope (deuterium (δ2H) and oxygen-18 (δ18O)) measurements allowed understanding the hydro geochemical process, the origin of the mineralization of the water. Also the results identify the relationship between the waters of Ifni Lake and the spring's water of high valley of Tifnoute. The isotopic compositions reveal that the origin of Ifni Lake water is meteoric, and the water infiltrates directly in the groundwater without any evaporation.

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Elucidating the sources and mechanisms of groundwater salinization in the Ziz Basin of southeastern Morocco

Cited by 26 publications

References 20 publications

Assessment of the quality and irrigation purpose suitability of alluvial water in Erfoud, Morocco

Assessment of the quality and irrigation purpose suitability of alluvial water in Erfoud, Morocco

Moroccan Groundwater Resources and Evolution with Global Climate Changes

Isotopic Characteristics and Water Interaction of Ifni Lake and Spring of Tifnoute Valley (High Atlas Mountains, Morocco, North of Africa)

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