Seasonal variability of physicochemical parameters of water in Tamalout Dam (Midelt, Morocco): environmental implications

Abstract

Water quality in dam reservoirs is a growing global concern due to increasing climate pressures and human impacts. In Morocco’s semiarid regions, dams are essential for water supply but are rarely studied in terms of seasonal water quality dynamics. Few studies have addressed how climatic and geochemical interactions drive seasonal water quality variation in Moroccan reservoirs; this study fills that gap by providing a detailed assessment of Tamalout Dam. Monthly water samples were collected from six stations between January and December 2023. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed two dominant processes: geochemical mineralization driven by evaporation and lithology and biological degradation linked to organic matter inputs. Despite seasonal fluctuations, overall water quality remained acceptable with a low risk of eutrophication. However, oxygen depletion in deeper layers during warm periods indicates a potential hypoxia risk. These findings provide a scientific basis for practical water quality monitoring, sustainable reservoir management, and climate-adaptive strategies in semiarid regions.