Evaluation of the Groundwater Quality of the M'nasra, Kenitra (Morocco)

The main aim of this study is to assess the groundwater quality in the M'nasra, Kenitra (Morocco), a zone with high agricultural activity, and to identify its physicochemical characteristics. We have carried out a qualitative study of the water in different sites of the irrigated perimeter of M'nasra. In fact, several measurement campaigns (pH and groundwater depth) and laboratory analysis (ionic balance) were conducted to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of water such as the electrical conductivity (EC), bicarbonate (HCO3-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca2+), chloride (Cl-), and sodium (Na+). We prospected 18 wells, during summer and winter seasons, distributed into 3 different zones: A, B, and C. The results showed that the depth of water table varied between 3 and 50 m and 77.8% of the wells are polluted by nitrates. The temporal and spatial monitoring of the chemistry of these waters had shown that the hydro-chemical quality depends on the Ethological nature of the underlying formation and, secondly, on anthropogenic pollution (use of chemical fertilizers and proximity to the Ouled Berjal waste discharge). (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.