article · Environmental Earth Sciences
An evaluation of groundwater across fifty-five sampling sites in the central Rif region of northern Morocco reveals widespread water quality concerns driven by geological processes and human activities. Hydrochemical and spatial analyses show strong correlations between electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and major dissolved ions, highlighting substantial water mineralisation. A high percentage of samples exceed World Health Organization standards, including over ninety-two percent for sulfate and nearly sixty-two percent for chloride. Sodium chloride represents the dominant chemical facies across roughly seventy-one percent of the sites, with evaporation exerting a powerful influence on chemical composition. These conditions suggest potential seawater intrusion into local coastal aquifers. High mineralisation, elevated hardness, and mild alkalinity present clear public health risks, demonstrating the urgent need for regular monitoring and sustainable aquifer management.
Groundwater is a vital source of freshwater, yet natural evaporation and human pressures can degrade its safety. In this coastal region, high mineral and chemical concentrations exceed international health guidelines, threatening drinking supplies. Understanding these contamination patterns helps environmental authorities plan interventions, mitigate potential seawater intrusion, and safeguard community health.
This early-stage environmental assessment provides foundational data that could inform regional water utilities, environmental regulators, and engineering consultancies designing water treatment or monitoring programmes. While the abstract does not describe a commercial product or direct technological application, the hydrochemical mapping could guide site selection for industrial filtration systems or desalination interventions aimed at addressing high salinity and mineralisation.
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Abstract This study investigated groundwater in the central Rif region of northern Morocco by analysing 55 water sampling points to assess its physicochemical and hydrogeochemical properties. Through hydrochemical analysis, GIS spatial exploration, and multivariate statistical analysis, a direct correlation was found between EC, TDS, and major ions, influencing overall water mineralization. The key findings included pH levels ranging from 6.10 to 8.52, EC from 828 to 4581 μS/cm, and varying concentrations of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , HCO 2 – , Cl – , N–NO 2 – , and SO 4 2– . Notably, TDS and TH ranged from 647.19–3609.36 mg/L and 64.23–1051.24 mg/L, respectively, with a significant portion of samples exceeding WHO guidelines, particularly chloride (61.81%), sulfate (92.72%), and nitrate (12.72%) samples. The Piper diagram highlights sodium chlorides (Na–Cl) as the predominant chemical facies (70.9%), while the Gibbs diagram emphasizes the impact of evaporation on water chemistry dynamics. This study revealed the complex influence of geological and anthropogenic factors on groundwater quality, potentially leading to seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. The observed high mineralization and hardness levels, in addition to mild alkalinity, pose public health risks, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and sustainable management practices in coastal groundwater management to protect human health and the environment.
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DOI: 10.1007/s12665-024-11798-6
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