Study of the influence of the Tebessa region wastewaters on the hydrochemical quality of the alluvial aquifer groundwater’s Tebessa-Ain Chabro (N-E Algeria)

Abstract

Along the Algerian-Tunisian border in northeastern Algeria, groundwater is regarded as the primary source of agricultural and drinking water for the local community. This situation is the result of low rainfall and limited surface water. Finding out how wastewater discharges affect the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of alluvial groundwater is the objective of this research paper. Thirty-six wells and boreholes were targeted to collect water samples. The analysis results show that the waters ranged from acidic to neutral (6.46 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3), and moderately to highly mineralized (754 μS/cm < C.E < 11680 μS/cm). The main water types, according to the Piper diagram, are calcic bicarbonate (HCO3 - Ca2+) and calcic chloride (Cl- Ca2+). Total coliforms and Escherichia Coli were detected in 60 and 100% of the water samples analyzed, respectively. The geospatial data shows that the chemical and bacteriological pollution progresses from upstream to downstream, from Oued El Kebir river in the South East to Oued Chabro River in the North West. The multivariable statistical analysis (Principal Component Analysis and Closer Analysis) highlighted that water mineralization is controlled by three major phenomena, which are water-rock hydrolysis interaction, leaching of geological formations, and influence of anthropogenic activities.

Along the Algerian-Tunisian border in northeastern Algeria, groundwater is regarded as the primary source of agricultural and drinking water for the local community. This situation is the result of low rainfall and limited surface water. Finding out how wastewater discharges affect the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of alluvial groundwater is the objective of this research paper. Thirty-six wells and boreholes were targeted to collect water samples. The analysis results show that the waters ranged from acidic to neutral (6.46 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3), and moderately to highly mineralized (754 μS/cm < C.E < 11680 μS/cm). The main water types, according to the Piper diagram, are calcic bicarbonate (HCO3 - Ca2+) and calcic chloride (Cl- Ca2+). Total coliforms and Escherichia Coli were detected in 60 and 100% of the water samples analyzed, respectively. The geospatial data shows that the chemical and bacteriological pollution progresses from upstream to downstream, from Oued El Kebir river in the South East to Oued Chabro River in the North West. The multivariable statistical analysis (Principal Component Analysis and Closer Analysis) highlighted that water mineralization is controlled by three major phenomena, which are water-rock hydrolysis interaction, leaching of geological formations, and influence of anthropogenic activities.