Groundwater quality in arid regions: The case of Hassi Messaoud Region (se Algeria)

This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of the Ghardaïa Continental Intercalare (CI) aquifer for domestic purposes and agricultural irrigation. Twenty-eight (28) grondwater samples were collected and analyzed for different physicochemical parameters. The result of the hydrochemical analysis illustrates that three facies dominate the CI waters: SO 4 -Na, Cl-Na, and HCO 3 -Na. The analysis of the correlation matrix and the characteristic ratios, as well as the calculations of the saturation indices of the main minerals, show that the mineralization of the waters is linked to the dissolution of evaporites (gypsum and halite in particular) and the cationic exchange phenomenon. The assessment of the potability of the water by using the water quality index (WQI) method shows three classes of water quality, namely, excellent (14.28%), good (7.14%), and poor (78.58%). The agricultural water quality was assessed using the parameters; EC, SAR, Na%, KR, PI and MH. The results show that the waters of the continental intercalare aquifer are generally of good quality for irrigation. However, the high salinity of the waters requires good drainage of the cultivated soils.

Section: Hydrogeology Of the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemical Characterization and Water Quality of the Continental Intercalare Aquifer in the Ghardaïa Region (Algerian Sahara)

Mokhtar¹,

Bouselsal²,

Gouaidia³

2021

“…The Hassi Messaoud region is of vital interest to the Algerian economy, as it is one of the ten largest hydrocarbon deposits in the world (Bouselsal 2017). Since the nineties, the region has experienced intense demographic development with increased industrial and agricultural activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fresh groundwater in the Hassi Messaoud region is stored in three aquifers: Continental Intercalary, Senonian and Mio-Pliocene (OSS 2010). Currently, the exploitation of these water reserves in the study area is of the order of 10 hm 3 /year for drinking water supply, 14 hm 3 /year for irrigation and 20.50 hm 3 /year for the petroleum industry, of which 63.4% of the withdrawal are distinct to injection and workover operations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Quality Assessment of Hassi Messaoud Region (Algerian Sahara)

Touahri¹,

Belksier²,

Bouselsal³

et al. 2022

In the Hassi Messaoud region, is groundwater the only source of water to meet daily demands, especially for consumption, domestic needs, industry and irrigation. This study focused on the evaluation of groundwater quality for potability and irrigation supply and the understanding of mineralization processes in the Mio-Pliocene (CTM), Senonian (CTS) and continental intercalary (CI) aquifers. For this study, 38 boreholes were sampled and analyzed for different parameters: pH, EC, TDS and major ions. The assessment of the relevance of groundwater in the study area was tested by the application of the water quality index (WQI) method. The suitability of the water for agricultural use was tested using the parameters of; EC, SAR, Na%, KR, PI and MH. The results illustrate that the groundwater in the study area is grouped into three classes: poor, very poor and unsuitable. Regarding groundwater use in irrigation, the results indicate that the waters of Hassi Messaoud are unsuitable for irrigation according on the EC and Wilcox diagram. The groundwater of the investigated area presents two types of water; Ca-Mg-HCO 3 and Ca-Mg-HCO 3 . The study of the mineralization process of water using the Gibbs diagram and binary diagrams and the indices of saturation showed that the mineralization of water is controlled by the dissolution of evaporites and carbonates, silicate weathering and cation exchange. The participation of anthropic contributions is also noted in the Mio-Pliocene aquifer.

“…The groundwater resources in North Africa's arid and semi-arid regions are small and have a lot of spatiotemporal variability (Hamlat et al, 2018;Bouselsal, 2017). However, these resources, which are not very renewable, are largely exploited to meet the inhabitant's needs for agriculture, industry, and drinking water supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Geochemical and Quality of the Continental Intercalary Aquifer in Béni Ounif (Southwest Algeria)

Abdellah¹,

Bouselsal²,

Aziez³

et al. 2022

The main objective of this work was to study the status of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation uses in the locality of Beni Ounif. A total of 16 samples were taken at different locations in the study area from boreholes to capture the continental intercalary (CI) aquifer for physicochemical analysis. This work used the groundwater quality index (GWQI) method to evaluate water potability. The irrigation water quality was assessed by studying EC, SAR, Na%, KR, PI, and MR parameters. In addition, the mechanisms of mineralization of these waters were highlighted by the study of Piper, Gibbs, bivariate diagrams, and the calculation of saturation indices. The results show that the CI waters would have chemical constituents in accordance with the WHO guide values and the Algerian guide values for drinking water. The GWQI method showed a good quality of CI waters for consumption in the study area. On based the irrigation water parameters, the IC water samples are acceptable for irrigation provided that drainage techniques are applied to the cultivated land for tipsy soil salinization. In addition, the study of Piper, Gibbs, bivariate, and mineral saturation diagrams shows that the CI waters of the study area are of Ca-Mg-SO 4 -Cl type, and the hydrogeochemical processes that control their mineralization are complex, namely, the alteration of silicate and carbonate minerals, the dissolution of gypsum and exchange ion.