This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the South-Atlas Tinghir-Errachidia-Boudenib trough situated in the arid southeastern region of Morocco. The primary objective is to assess the quality of groundwater intended for both drinking and irrigation purposes. Advanced multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) will be utilized to decipher the hydrogeochemical processes influencing groundwater mineralization. Furthermore, the research will determine the suitability of groundwater for irrigation using various indices, including Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Percent Sodium (Na%), Permeability Index (PI), and the Piper trilinear diagram.During February 2023, a systematic collection of fifty groundwater samples took place, spanning different aquifers such as those from the Senonian, Infracenomanian, Quaternary, and Paleozoic formations. These samples were subjected to thorough analysis to evaluate their quality, typology, origin, and irrigation suitability.The study's findings reveal that the majority of groundwater constituents in the South- Atlas Tinghir-Errachidia-Boudenib trough exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO) drinking water standards. The Piper diagram shows three major types of hydrogeochemical facies detected in different aquifers of the study area. The majority of the samples belonged to Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 followed by Na-K-Cl-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3. Three unique processes governing groundwater hydrochemistry were identified using multivariate techniques: The first group (which matches PC1), which consists of [EC, Na+, Cl-, TDS, TH, Mg2+, SO42-, and Ca2+], represents the mineralization axis found in the southern portion of the research area's Infracenomanian aquifer (between Aoufous and Erfoud) and the Goulmima region in the south. Al, K+, and pH are found in the second group (matches PC2), which is situated in the southern portion of the research area on the Paleozoic aquifer. Some samples are also found on the Senonian aquifer in the eastern Boudnib region. The third group (PC3 matches) is made up of [HCO3- and Fe2+], and it is mostly found in the Senonian aquifer in the northeastern region of the study area (Boudenib and its surroundings). The Senonian samples demonstrated excellent SAR, Na%, and PI, values, whereas most groundwater samples from other aquifers showed good to permissible suitability for irrigation. Furthermore, the water-rock interactions and agricultural fertilizers were highlighted as key factors influencing groundwater compositions.
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