Processes affecting groundwater quality in arid zones: The case of the Bou-Areg coastal aquifer (North Morocco)

Abstract

The coastal aquifer of Bou-Areg (Morocco) has been studied to identify the main processes causing groundwater salinization, using a multi tracer (general chemistry and isotopes - delta H-2, delta O-18, delta C-13, delta N-15(NO3), delta O-18(NO3)) geochemical approach. Groundwater is characterized by the widespread occurrence of brackish waters (TDS < 500 mg L-1) with high cation contents, which are balanced by elevated dissolved NO3- (reaching a maximum of 208 mg L-1) and Cl-. Lagoon samples represent a mixture of fresh water and sea water, showing a Na/Cl ratio in agreement with that of sea water and an excess of Ca. The high Ca values represent the main peculiarity of the groundwater-lagoon water system. Two types of groundwater could be identified: (i) freshwater, separated from the whole system and located at the limit of the irrigated area, characterized by low TDS, depleted isotopic composition and relatively high quality; and (ii) water mainly recharged by mountain runoff, interacting with local recharge and acquiring salinity from different sources, thus creating a complex system of dilute waters. Hydrochemical results confirm that the high salinity of the aquifer is caused by the coexistence of dissolution of evaporate rocks and carbonates from Miocene strata, water-rock interaction, and human impacts due to agricultural return flows. The latter represents the main contribution to groundwater salinization, especially in the central part of the aquifer, as well as one of the main causes of the general increase in NO3- concentrations. Only locally, in the southern part of the aquifer, close to the city of Kariat Arkmane, the high salinization observed may be attributed to the presence of lagoon water intrusion. The isotopic composition of dissolved NO3- indicates manure and septic effluents, especially in urban areas and in the central part of the plain, and synthetic fertilizers in the agricultural zone as the main drivers for human induced pollution. The study shows that agricultural return flow has significantly modified the chemistry of the system and it is a prime example of the human-induced changes over coastal environments. Saline water intrusion from the lagoon in the shallow aquifer is negligible, while discharge of polluted groundwater into the lagoon has been found to partially alter its qualit

Identifying the effects of human pressure on groundwater quality to support water management strategies in coastal regions: A multi-tracer and statistical approach (Bou-Areg region, Morocco)

“…A preliminary investigation in the coastal aquifer of Bou-Areg and the adjacent lagoon of Nador was conducted to characterize aquifer recharge and salinization processes (Re et al, 2013a). Results showed that recharge is mainly due to mountain runoff, interacting with local recharge sources (ephemeral rivers and irrigation waters) resulting in a complex system of mixed waters.…”

Integrated hydrogeochemical, isotopic and geomorphological depiction of the groundwater salinization in the aquifer system of Delhi, India

“…One data set depicts the salinity in the recent water and implies the anthropogenic factors as the most probable reasons for it, while the second data set consists of modern groundwater with higher salinity, which can be attributed to the dissolution of salts on infiltration through the saline soils (Re et al, 1996;Rao et al, 2014) Afterwards, the third data set appears to support the case of the surface salt dissolution, its leaching to the subsurface, and progressively increasing the groundwater salinity with time. It is clearly evident from the plot that the theory of dissolution and leaching can best stand as the mechanism for the salinity increase up to 4000 s/cm.…”

Evaluation of groundwater mineralization processes and seawater intrusion extension in the coastal aquifer of Oualidia, Morocco: hydrochemical and geophysical approach

“…12 The Na/Cl ratio versus EC Fig. 13 The correlation between Cl − +SO 4 2 − and Na + +K + the water salinity origin and form a mixture tracer (Tellam 1995;Fidelibus and Tulipano 1996;Rajesh et al 2012;Ako et al 2012;Re et al 2013;Xing et al 2013). …”

“…Among these studies, we cited the following: Benkabbour et al (2004), Zouhri et al (2008), Zouhri (2010), El Yaouti et al (2009, Re et al (2013), and Vinson et al (2013).…”