Groundwater quality and nitrate pollution in the Nador plain, Algeria
2022
Djema, Manal | Mebrouk, Naima
The alluvial plain of wadi Nador is a semi-arid coastal area where groundwater resources have been widely affected by marine saltwater intrusion. This phenomenon is probably not the only one responsible for the excessive salinity of the water. To better understand the origin of this mineralization, nineteen water samples were collected from the study area in October 2018, and physico-chemical analyzes were done. The results show that the electrical conductivity values vary between 1.4 and 4.2 mS/cm, as well as a clear dominance of chloride, calcium and sodium ions. Significant contamination by nitrates also occurs, since more than 42% of the samples exceed the potability standard of the World Health Organization (set at 50 mg/L). Statistical and hydrogeochemical studies have highlighted the existence of several natural and anthropogenic factors involved in the acquisition of the mineralization mechanisms of these waters, such as minerals dissolution (calcite, halite, gypsum, etc.), leaching of the unsaturated zone, the return of irrigation water as well as nitrate pollution, which can have multiple sources (natural, agricultural or domestic).
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