HYDROCHEMISTRY CHARACTERISATION OF GROUNDWATER SALINITY IN KERT AQUIFER, NE MOROCCO

Increasing of groundwater salinity is one of significant signs of degradation of groundwater quality in arid and semi-arid regions. To determine the salinity origin in Kert plain located in NE of Morocco, 32 producing wells were studied. The hydrochemical data show that the freshwater (622 g/l) in NW of the plain are clearly distinct from saline waters (6018 mg/l) in the rest of the plain. Hydrochemical data also show the contribution of the local geology to the increased groundwater salinity. Indeed, the dissolution of evaporitic sediments (gypsum and halite) developed during messinian salinity crisis. The hydrodynamic interpretation allowed determining the influence of these minerals to the enrichment of groundwater with Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl-and SO42-.