Abstract
The groundwater hydrochemical characteristics of the Azraq Basin were investigated and evaluated statistically. The presence of an underground saline water body in the Qa’ Al-Azraq area has made this specific part of the basin. 38 samples from 38 GW wells were collected to understand the GW hydrochemistry of the Azraq unconfined aquifer that is mainly composed of marl, evaporites, limestone and clay formations. The PCA analysis indicates that Na, Mg, Cl, Ca, and K contribute the variance in the chemical composition of the GW samples. Piper, Durov and Wilcox diagrams indicated that the water types are mainly earth alkaline with prevailing SO4 and Cl, and alkaline water with prevailing SO4 and Cl. The main processes in the basin are dissolution or mixing and reverse ion exchange in which Na and Cl are prevailing. The GW is mainly oversaturated concerning aragonite, calcite and dolomite as indicated by the excess input of Mg and Ca ions from the rock-water interactions, while anhydrite (CaSO4), halite (NaCl), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) are generally undersaturated. The effect of the agricultural activities in the study area is reflected by the positive correlation between NO3 and PC2. Wilcox diagram indicates that the samples are in the medium to very high salinity slots with the majority in the high salinity slot and in the low and medium alkali hazard zone, while few samples show high to very high alkali hazards. The simulated salinity for the next 30 years shows alarming danger and requires immediate attention as the Qa’ area is expected to become saline with TDS values of 2500 to 4600 mg/l, unsuitable to use for domestic and/or agricultural purposes.
Highlights
The water demand in the Arab Peninsula region rises as a result of population growth in its country as it was considered one of the highest in the world (Awadh et al, 20182020)
This control was identified by the principal component analysis (PCA) results
The PCA analysis indicates that about 57% of the elemental variance is derived from the primary eigenvector (PC1), while the second eigenvector (PC2) explains about 17% of this variability
Summary
The water demand in the Arab Peninsula region rises as a result of population growth in its country as it was considered one of the highest in the world (Awadh et al, 20182020). In Jordan, 12 main groundwater basins are presented and groundwater represents the main source of fresh water, accounting for more than 65% of the total 900 MCM of fresh water supplied through a given year. This necessitates the need for a better understanding of the nature of groundwater, its long-term availability and limitations (Ibrahim, 2018). The presence of a saline water body in Qa’ Al-Azraq is influenced this study to focus on this area where accelerated deterioration of the groundwater is documented both by the groundwater samples in the previous studies and the salt accumulations on the Qa’ floor and around the Azraq wetland reserve (Fig. 1) (INWRDAM, 2019; Ibrahim and El-Naqa, 2018). Surface runoff is about % 30.4 of the rainfall and groundwater recharge of the area is about % 26.2 of the rainfall
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