Abstract
Comprehensive investigations of groundwater were performed in the Ouazzi Wadi area, north part of Essaouira basin, Western Morocco. In the present investigation, hydrogeochemical data together with environmental stable (18O, 2H, 13C) and radioactive (3H and 14C) were used to get an insight into the processes controlling groundwater mineralization and their recharge modes. Hydrogeochemical approach revealed that the observed groundwater mineralization is linked to (1) dissolution phenomenon of evaporitics minerals (halite, gypsum, and anhydrite) and of carbonates minerals (dolomite), (2) cations exchange processes, and (3) marine effect. Groundwater quality for drinking purpose has been evaluated and compared to WHO standards; the obtained result shows that the consumption of groundwater in the study area requires a treatment before use as drinking water. As for irrigation purpose, using USSL and Wilcox diagram, groundwater remains suitable for plants supporting high salinity. Data inferred from isotopic approach indicated that (1) the groundwater samples are of a meteoric origin and the recharge of the aquifer is assured by direct infiltration of precipitations without notable evaporation, (2) the recharge of aquifers is assured at the Sebt Kourimat region, near the samples 7, 8, and 9, where the high tritium contents are observed, (3) the age evaluations using radioisotope techniques vary between actual age and Pleistocene.
Highlights
In view of surface water scarcity in Saharan, arid and semiarid zones, groundwater remains the main source of water supply to meet domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs
The consumption of groundwater in the study area requires a treatment before use as drinking water
Hydrogeochemical approach revealed that the observed groundwater mineralization is linked to (1) dissolution phenomenon of evaporitics minerals and of carbonates minerals, (2) cations exchange processes, and (3) marine effect
Summary
In view of surface water scarcity in Saharan, arid and semiarid zones, groundwater remains the main source of water supply to meet domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs. Several studies have been realized in the Essaouira basin having partially identified and characterized some of the main mechanisms causing degradation of water quality in some coastal areas of this region, based on the application of geochemical and isotopic approaches (Bahir et al 2000, 2001; Ouhamdouch et al 2017, 2018). These studies have demonstrated that: (1) the groundwater recharge in Essaouira basin is supported by water runoff and precipitation; (2) important contribution of water–rock interaction in groundwater mineralization; (3) anthropogenic contamination was identified. A total of 20 water samples have been collected in 2007 from the Plio-Quaternary (downstream) and Cenomanian-Turonian (upstream) aquifers (depth 9.20–170 m) of Ouazzi Wadi basin. The tritium (3H) content was determined using the electrolytic enrichment followed by liquid scintillation
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