HYDROGEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER IN THE SEBSEB REGION, GHARDAÏA PROVINCE (SOUTHERN ALGERIA)

Abstract

The study of the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the groundwater samples made it possible to assess the impact of this process on the degradation of the quality of borehole water in the province of Sebseb. Samples taken from 10 boreholes across the study region were analyzed for the determination of physicochemical characteristics such as pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and total dissolved solids (TDS). Examination of the variation in the hydrogeochemical composition of groundwater indicates high concentrations for all parameters (anions and cations) except potassium, sodium and electrical conductivity. The hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in Sebseb province was mainly controlled by the dissolution / precipitation of carbonate, sulphate and chloride minerals. The dissolution of minerals may explain the chemical characteristics of the waters studied. The waters of the Sebseb region undergo deterioration in their quality and are no longer drinkable from a physicochemical point of view. The result of the saturation index calculation showed that most of the water samples were saturated or supersaturated with respect to carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite and aragonite) and sulphate minerals (anhydrite and gypsum). Understanding the hydrogeochemical process can strengthen their protection for a sustainable use of these groundwater resources.