article · Results in Engineering
An assessment of 44 groundwater samples from the Lower Cretaceous Aquifer in Timimoun, Algeria, evaluated water suitability for drinking and agriculture alongside associated health hazards. Groundwater quality index calculations showed that over half of the samples were of good drinking quality, while roughly 45 percent ranged from poor to unsuitable. Agricultural assessments indicated irrigation suitability spanning permissible to doubtful levels, driven by high electrical conductivity and mineralisation mechanisms such as evaporite and silicate dissolution and cation exchange. Nitrate levels ranged between 9 and 80 milligrams per litre, exceeding safe limits in nearly 30 percent of the samples due to agricultural activities and wastewater infiltration. Health risk calculations revealed substantial vulnerability, with hazard quotient values exceeding the safety threshold of one for more than 95 percent of infants and children, underscoring an urgent requirement for wastewater treatment and integrated water management.
In arid regions, communities depend heavily on groundwater for drinking and crop production. Identifying high nitrate contamination and salinity is vital because these contaminants directly threaten agricultural productivity and child health. Highlighting that almost all local infants and children face elevated health risks provides clear evidence for public health officials and water authorities to prioritise wastewater treatment and targeted interventions.
This work provides observational data and an analytical assessment framework rather than a commercial product, representing early-stage environmental research. The findings identify a direct operational need for wastewater treatment and nitrate remediation technologies. Water authorities, agricultural managers, and municipal infrastructure developers could use these diagnostic insights and risk maps to guide capital investments in water purification and filtration systems in arid zones.
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• 44 groundwater samples analyzed in the study area. • Nitrate levels (9–80 mg/L) linked to agriculture and wastewater infiltration. • High EC (660–5310 μS/cm) degrades water quality and limits irrigation use. • Elevated nitrates pose serious health risks, especially for infants and children. • Urgent action needed: wastewater treatment to reduce nitrate pollution. This study evaluates groundwater quality in the Lower Cretaceous Aquifer (LCA) of Timimoun, Algeria, for drinking and agricultural uses, focusing on geochemical influences on water mineralization and public health risks. A total of 44 groundwater samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, including pH, major ions (Ca 2+ , K + , Na + , Mg 2+ , SO 4 2− , Cl − , NO 3 − , HCO 3 − ) total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC). The Water Quality Index (WQI) categorized the groundwater as good (54.54 %), poor (31.82 %), very poor (9.09 %), and unsuitable for drinking (4.55 %). Agricultural suitability was assessed using metrics such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium Percentage (Na%), and Permeability Index (PI), revealing a range from permissible to doubtful irrigation quality. Examination of Gibbs and Piper plots and relationships between major elements, alongside the calculations for saturation indices of key minerals, revealed the groundwater was weakly alkaline with dominant Ca-Mg-Cl and Na-Cl hydrogeochemical types in the LCA water. The processes of evaporite and silicate minerals dissolution and cationic exchange were the dominant mechanisms behind the ion generation. Notably, Nitrate concentrations (9–80 mg/L) exceeded safe limits in 29.54 % of samples, posing significant health risks, especially to infants and children, with Hazard Quotient (HQ) values exceeding 1 in 97.73 % of infants, 95.45 % of children, and 45.54 % of adults. The integration of the water quality index, health risk assessments, hydrogeochemical modeling, and GIS mapping provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing groundwater in arid regions under pressure from climate change and human activities. These findings highlight the need for integrated strategies for sustainable groundwater management worldwide.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104160
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