Assessment of drinking and irrigation water quality using WQI and SAR method in Maâder sub-basin, Ksour Mountains, Algeria

Domestic and agricultural activities in arid regions of Ksour Mountains which stretching across the provinces of Naâma and El Bayadh in Algeria, depend mostly on groundwater due to the region’s climate, which is characterized by low rainfall and high evaporation. The paper aims to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking and agricultural purposes in the Maâder sub-basin. The data used in this study have been collected from twenty-one (21) groundwater samples from the field. In the laboratory, the major anions and cations were analyzed, and other physicochemical parameters such as temperature, potential hydrogen (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured in situ. The assessment of water potential for drinking uses was evaluated using the water quality index (WQI). While the evaluation of water quality for irrigation purposes was assessed using the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). The results revealed that all water quality parameters were within the Algerian standards’ permissible limit. Most of the concentration falls within the allowable limits of World Health Organization standards, except for some samples. The water quality index (WQI) of the study area ranged from 44.71 to 80.67, which means that the groundwater falls into the category of excellent and adequate water. The SAR values varied from 1.06 to 2.78, indicating that all groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation purposes. The obtained spatial distribution maps of WQI and SAR show that groundwater's best quality is located in the northeast part of the study area, and the water quality exhibits a gradual increase in concentration from northeast to southwest. This work helps the decision makers better manage water resources and policy development in the region.