Abstract
The Hajeb Layoun-Jelma basin, located in the central Tunisia, is the principal source of water supply for Sidi Bouzid and Sfax region. The over-abstraction from this groundwater, since 1970, and the intensive agriculture activities led to the degradation of the water quantity and quality. The quality evaluation for this groundwater is very important tool for sustainable development and decision for water management. A total of 28 groundwater samples, from shallow, springs, and deep aquifers, were collected, storage and analyzed to evaluate its quality suitability for domestic and agriculture purposes using geographic information system and geochemical methods. For the both aquifers, the abundance of cations: Na > Mg > Ca > K, and of anions in the order: Cl > HCO3 > SO4. The dominant hydrochemical facies, for the shallow aquifer and springs, are Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl; for the deep aquifer, the geochemical facies are Na-Cl, Ca-Mg-Cl, and Ca-Cl. The comparison of the major parameters and the chemical data with the World Health Organization standards and the national standards indicate that this groundwater is suitable for drinking, except in some samples, with high salinity concentrations. The water quality was assessed, for drinking uses, using “water quality index,” “entropy,” and “improved water quality index.” The results mentioned that the improved water quality index is the best method which indicated that the poor water quality coincide with the Na-Cl water type. The entropy method and the water quality index present the optimistic methods. The irrigation suitability assessment was made using various parameters (SAR, TH, % Na, PI, MH, KR, EC). The results revealed that the majority of samples in Hajeb Layoun-Jelma basin are not appropriate for irrigation uses.
Highlights
Responsible editor: Xianliang YiWater is the principal component in the earth which supports the life of all living
The abstraction increases since the mid-1980s and the continuous decline of piezometry make the degradation of the quality and the quantity of this groundwater
The Water quality index” (WQI) and the entropy water quality index (EWQI) indicate that most shallow and deep samples present excellent to medium water type and only 7% presents poor water
Summary
Responsible editor: Xianliang YiWater is the principal component in the earth which supports the life of all living. Groundwater is a very important source of water, in the semi-arid and arid region It supports all types of uses (drinking, irrigation, and industrial) (Hamzaoui-Azaza et al 2020). Groundwater is threatened by severe problems caused by natural/ anthropogenic factors, such as the extensive agricultural activities, the marine intrusion, the population growth, and the industrial development (Zammouri et al 2013) This factor engendered a degradation in the quality and the quantity of groundwater in many countries: for example, Ameur et al (2016) found that the water quality, in the northeast Tunisia, is at poor level due to the nitrate pollution that originate from the excessive use of nitrate-rich fertilizers. This factor engendered a degradation in the quality and the quantity of groundwater in many countries: for example, Ameur et al (2016) found that the water quality, in the northeast Tunisia, is at poor level due to the nitrate pollution that originate from the excessive use of nitrate-rich fertilizers. Adimalla (2019) conducted a study on the effect of the rapidly urban activities (South India) on water quality and the human health risk
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
