Assessment of physicochemical and microbiological quality using the SEQ-Eau approach for groundwater in the Saïss basin (Fez-Meknes region, Morocco)

Abstract

The Saïss water table is one of Morocco's major agricultural regions. Its water resources satisfy domestic, agricultural, industrial, and tourist needs. The present work focuses on the technique used to detect spatiotemporal variations in the overall physicochemical, microbiological, and heavy metal quality of groundwater in the Saïss basin, as assessed by the SEQ-Eau water quality system. A total of 28 samples were collected during high and low water periods, respectively. The results show that 25% of the stations present average quality during the dry season, and are located mainly in the southern part of the Meknes plateau in the El Hajeb, Boufekrane, and Agouray regions, while this pollution is reduced during the wet season with a percentage of 7.14%. However, the poor quality of groundwater indicates that 75% and 92.85% occupy almost the entire rest of the basin during the dry and wet seasons. Mapping of nitrate pollution of groundwater indicates that the lowest nitrate concentrations were recorded in the southwest part of the aquifer. The highest values were recorded in the center of the study area, with a maximum value of 118 mg/l, which exceeds the Moroccan standard due to the anthropogenic impact of agriculture and water use.