Groundwater Quality Monitoring in Response to Marine Intrusion: A Case Study in Northern Morocco

Abstract

Water stress, resulting from a demand for water exceeding the available quantity, is a major global challenge. Groundwater usage is a commonly adopted strategy to address this situation, but it often leads to marine intrusion, threatening the quality of water in coastal aquifers. This phenomenon typically stems from overexploitation of aquifers, declining water table levels, and rising sea levels due to climate change. Our study aims to monitor the quality of groundwater intended for human consumption and provide a detailed assessment of its current state. We identified several physicochemical parameters, such as temperature, pH, and bicarbonates, with maximum electrical conductivity values reaching 2810 µs/cm, a total hardness of 21 meq/L, sulfate levels of 689 mg/L, and chloride levels of 628 mg/L, from six boreholes and one well located along the coastal area of the Al Hoceima region. These samples were also subjected to Principal component analysis (PCA) of the chemical parameters, revealing two factors that represent approximately 62.15% of the total variance in the groundwater quality dataset. Simulation results indicate signs of seawater intrusion in several areas, particularly near the coast, emphasizing the urgency of protecting groundwater resources and developing sustainable management strategies to ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water in the region.