Quality assessment and hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in Kerzaz and Beni Abbes along Saoura valley, southwest of Algeria

Abstract The present study focused on the hydrochemistry of groundwater in Kerzaz and Beni Abbes in Saoura oases (southwest of Algeria) to assess the quality of groundwater for determining its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. The study area experiences a hyper-arid climate characterized by low rainfall 50–100 mm/year and excessive drought. Groundwater samples were collected from 24 locations to ensure a good spatial distribution to cover all the study areas. Standards laboratory methods were used to determine physicochemical groundwater properties. The result for this study showed that the water was to be found unsuitable for drinking purposes except for few samples in Kerzaz and Beni Abbes. Except for PI values, all other physicochemical parameters (EC, SAR, MAR), and according to the US salinity diagram, groundwater in Kerzaz was to be found satisfactory for irrigation especially if the soil permeability is improved and the leaching is guaranteed by applying extra frequently irrigation. In Beni Abbes, 58.33% of water samples show that water can be used if rapid permeability is guaranteed, which is the case in Beni Abbes soils, and 25% present medium salinity and low to medium alkalinity (C2S1, C2S2, C3S3) and only the natural spring presents a low salinity and low alkalinity C1S1 permitting the use of water for irrigation with most crops on most soil. Piper diagram indicates groundwater in Kerzaz belongs to CaCl type, while in Beni Abbes four types were recognized, NaCl, CaMgHCO3, CaCl and mixed CaCl type with 16.66%, 8.33%, 41.66% and 33.33%, respectively.