article · Water
Water samples from twenty locations across the Ghis-Nekor aquifer in Morocco were examined in 2020 using physicochemical testing, isotopic tracers, and geographic information system mapping. While several physical parameters remained within standard limits, electrical conductivity was consistently high. Chemical analyses revealed concentrations of sodium, chloride, sulphate, and bicarbonate that exceeded Moroccan groundwater quality standards, with every testing point surpassing recommended sulphate limits. Isotopic tracking indicated that carbon within the water primarily originated from mineral sources, notably calcite dissolution. Molar ratios incorporating bromide, chloride, strontium, and calcium helped differentiate between salinity caused by natural geological formations and contamination introduced by agricultural practices or urban wastewater. Spatial mapping identified urban zones including Imzourene, Ait Youssef, and Souani as major contamination areas, demonstrating that using this water poses health risks to humans and animals.
Reliable groundwater assessment is critical for protecting public health and regional socio-economic development. By distinguishing whether high salinity and mineral concentrations stem from natural rock dissolution or human pollution, regional decision-makers can better identify pollution sources, protect vulnerable aquifers, and devise targeted water management policies to reduce health hazards for local communities and livestock.
This diagnostic research represents early-stage environmental monitoring. The combination of isotopic tracing, hydrochemical analysis, and spatial mapping provides a diagnostic framework that municipal water authorities, environmental consultancies, and remediation engineers could use to locate pollution sources and plan treatment infrastructure. Beyond serving as an operational diagnostic method, the abstract does not indicate any direct product development or immediate commercialisation pathway.
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The chemical characterization of the Ghis-Nekor groundwater has become a concern of many researchers in Morocco. It is a crucial indicator for the environment situation and the socioeconomic development of this Moroccan region. Indeed, it helps decisionmakers carry out conscious and sustainable management. For this reason, 20 samples of the Ghis-Nekor aquifer were examined in terms of physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), and total alkalinity (Alk), major cations–anions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, and TDS), isotopic elements (δ18O, δ2H, and δ13C), and concentrations of Br and Sr anions in 2020. Furthermore, spatial data analysis with a geographic information system (GIS) using the ArcGis software (Redlands, California, USA). Indeed, static maps show significant water quality information that helps characterize the groundwater of the study area. The spatial analysis by the GIS indicates that except the EC (from 2630 to 6950 mS/cm), all the physical parameters showed standard concentration values in most of the samples. A significant concentration above the Moroccan norm of groundwater quality for sodium (Na+) from 264.3 to 1500 mg/L, chlorides (Cl−) concentrations from 408.3 to 1510 mg/L, SO42− from 313.1 to 999.2 mg/L, and bicarbonate (HCO3−) from 283.7 to 679.8 mg/L was observed, while all the points exceeded the recommended standards norm for SO42−. Most of the points met the potability standards for potassium (K+). In terms of the isotopic elements, the concentration values of δ18O were from −3.92‰ to –5.60‰, while the δ2H concentration values varied between −28.67‰ and −39.99‰. The analysis revealed values of carbon isotope δ13C ranging between −3.15‰ and −8.61‰, thus suggesting that the origin of the carbon is mineral, mainly deriving from calcite dissolution. The analysis of the bromide and strontium contents made it possible to discriminate the origin of the salinity anomalies. The Cl/Br, Br/Cl, and Sr/Ca molar ratios distinguished the areas of influence of geological setting (saliferous facies outcrops) or anthropogenic effect (wastewater). The results of the analysis shed light on factors of contamination, which are as follows: urban zones (Imzourene, Ait Youssef, and Souani) and agricultural activities. Therefore, the use of these waters could pose a risk to the health of humans and animals. Similarly, the GIS is a practical and effective tool for the Ghis-Nekor groundwater quality diagnostics and could help decisionmakers establish solutions.
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DOI: 10.3390/w14040606
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