Study of the Behavior of Some Pollutants and the Vulnerability to Chemical Contamination of Groundwater in the Region of Ouargla (Southeast Algeria)

Abstract

Over the recent years, the region of Ouargle has registered remarkable entropic and natural anarchy. This drastic evolution produced an important contamination of the shallow aquifer by pollutants. This region was being subjected to a large degree of vulnerability favorized by waste water discharges (domestic and irrigation). These factors expose the shallow aquifer water to a severe pollution. To assess this pollution, regular monitoring of water quality was conducted (February 2009, 2010, 2011 period). The obtained results show that the groundwater is non-potable for human consumption. Consequently a severe irrigation risk threatening plants and soil is then established. The determination of organic pollution index (OPI) has been evaluated by plotting its evolution map over the region of Ouargla. This study has enabled us repering the more vulnerable pollution site. In such environment the elimination of pollution sources becomes urgent.