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Geochemical characterization of groundwater from shallow aquifer surrounding Fetzara Lake N. E. Algeria

التمييزالجيوكيميائي للمياه الجوفية بالمكمن السطحي المحيط ببحيرة فتزارة بالشمال الشرقي للجزائر

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Abstract

Hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out around Fetzara Lake, Northeast Algeria, to assess the quality of groundwater for its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. The groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by the water–rock interactions, but also influenced by other processes such as evapotranspiration and ion exchange. Groundwater samples collected, during two periods (1993 and 2007) from wells in the area were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO 2−3 , HCO −3 , Cl−, SO 2−4 , and NO −3 . The chemical relationships in Piper’s diagram and Gibbs’s diagram suggest that groundwaters mainly belong to noncarbonate alkali type and Cl− group and are controlled by evaporation dominance, respectively, due to the sluggish drainage conditions, greater water–rock interaction, and anthropogenic activities. A comparison of the groundwater quality in relation to drinking water quality standards proves that most of the water samples are not suitable for drinking. US Salinity Laboratory’s and Wilcox’s diagrams and %Na+ used for evaluating the water quality for irrigation suggest that the majority of the groundwater samples are not good for irrigation.

الملخص

بغية التحقق من قابلية إستعمال المياه الجوفية للشرب أو صلاحيتها للسقي, أنجزت بالسهل المحيط ببحيرة فتزارة شمال الجزائر دراسة هيدروجيوكيميائية. للمياه الجوفية المدروسة تركيب كيميائي مرتبط بتفاعلاتها مع صخر المكمن لكن هناك عوامل أخرى قد تتدخل في تغييرهذا التركيب كعمليات التبخر النتح و التبادل الأيوني.

عينات المياه المتحصل عليها خلال الخرجات الميدانية سنتي 1993 و 2007 من آبار المنطقة و بعد دراسة نتائج تحليلها و تمثيلها الخطي إتضح تحكم عامل التبخر في تفاعل مكوناتها المعدنية مع الصخرة الكامنة الى جانب تأثير النشاطات الإنسانية الملوثة.

و عليه فإن نوعية المياه الجوفية المدروسة و المحيطة ببحيرة فتزاره غير مناسبة للشرب و معظم العينات تظهر عدم إمكانية إستغلالها للسقي.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been realized through the framework of CNPRU project G02920070001 and G02920060020. We would like to thank Sana Hadji (Canada) for the help and assistance. The editor and reviewers are very much appreciated for their insightful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrogeology, University of Tebessa, Tébessa, Algeria

    Rouabhia Abdelkader, Baali Fethi & Fehdi Chemseddine

  2. Department of Geology, University of Setif, Setif, Algeria

    Hadji Rihab

  3. Department of Geology, University of Annaba, Annaba, Algeria

    Djabri Larbi & Hani Azzedine

  4. BP 34-A 12004, Nahda-Poste, Tébessa, 12004, Algeria

    Rouabhia Abdelkader

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  1. Rouabhia Abdelkader
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  2. Djabri Larbi
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  5. Fehdi Chemseddine
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Correspondence to Rouabhia Abdelkader.

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Abdelkader, R., Larbi, D., Rihab, H. et al. Geochemical characterization of groundwater from shallow aquifer surrounding Fetzara Lake N. E. Algeria. Arab J Geosci 5, 1–13 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0202-6

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