Hydro-chemical study and assessment of drinking and irrigation water quality in the Oued Fez watershed (Fez city and surrounding areas, Saïs Basin, Morocco)

Q2 Environmental Science

Environmental Advances Pub Date : 2025-04-30 DOI:10.1016/j.envadv.2025.100639

Ayman Agharabi , El Mehdi Jeddi , Lhoucine Karrat , Nicolae Har , Ahmed Ntarmouchant , Ferenc Lazar Forray , Lahcen Gourari , Constantin Balica , Cristian Victor Mircescu , Brahim Mali , Horea Bedelean

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Saïs basin, which in its northeastern part includes the city of Fez, is located in northern Morocco, between Middle Atlas and Pre-Rif mountains. It is drained by a hydrological system that supports agricultural, urban and industrial activities in this semi-arid region. This system is weakened by anthropic impact, hence the importance of assessing the quality of these waters for better management and preservation.

This study evaluates the physicochemical characteristics, hydrochemical evolution and suitability for drinking and irrigation of surface waters in the Oued Fez basin (OFB). The hydrochemistry reveals average cation and anion concentrations (mg/l) organized in decreasing order: HCO₃^- (140.8) > Cl^- (110.4) > Na⁺ (85.6) > Ca²⁺ (31.7) > SO₄^2- (23.8) > NO₃^- (23.5) > Mg²⁺ (16.7) > K⁺ (0.8). These concentrations vary from a Ca-HCO₃ facies upstream to Na-HCO₃ in the intermediate zone and Na-Cl downstream. These variations are controlled by water-rock interaction processes and by the significant influence of anthropogenic factor in areas with high urban density. Isotopic signatures vary between -7.09 and -5.68 ‰ for δ¹⁸O and between -42.7 and -32.8 ‰ for δ²H, confirming the meteoric origin of these recharged waters in the Middle Atlas between 1011 and 1577 m.

The quality assessment of these waters for drinking purposes testifies to their acceptability, except for S-MC and R-FS4 located in urban areas. According to the quality indices for irrigation (SAR, Na %, PI, KI, IWQI), only downstream waters are unsuitable for this purpose, due to the high sodium and salinity risks associated with anthropogenic contamination.

This work spatially shows the causes of changes in the chemical composition and suitability for irrigation of these waters. It identifies sources of pollution that can be avoided to preserve the health sustainability of these waters. It also highlights the influence of human activity and climate on this precious resource.

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Oued Fez流域饮用水和灌溉水质的水化学研究与评价（摩洛哥非斯市及周边地区Saïs流域）

Saïs盆地位于摩洛哥北部，位于阿特拉斯中部和前里夫山脉之间，其东北部包括非斯市。它由支撑这个半干旱地区农业、城市和工业活动的水文系统排干。这一系统因人为影响而减弱，因此评估这些水域的质量对于更好地管理和保护至关重要。本研究评价了Oued Fez流域地表水的理化特征、水化学演变及其饮用灌溉适宜性。水化学结果显示，阳离子和阴离子的平均浓度（mg/l）由高到低依次为：HCO3- (140.8) >；Cl- (110.4) >；Na+ (85.6) >；Ca2+ (31.7) >；SO42- (23.8) >；NO3- (23.5) >；Mg2+ (16.7) >；K +(0.8)。这些浓度从上游的Ca-HCO3相到中间带的Na-HCO3相和下游的Na-Cl相不等。这些变化受水岩相互作用过程的控制，在城市高密度地区受人为因素的显著影响。δ¹⁸O的同位素特征变化在-7.09 ~ -5.68‰之间，δ²H的同位素特征变化在-42.7 ~ -32.8‰之间，证实了这些补给水在1011 ~ 1577 m之间的大气来源。除了位于市区的S-MC及R-FS4水外，这些供饮用的水的水质评估证明可接受。根据灌溉质量指标（SAR, Na %， PI， KI， IWQI），由于与人为污染相关的高钠和高盐风险，只有下游水域不适合用于灌溉。这项工作在空间上显示了这些水的化学成分变化的原因和灌溉的适宜性。它确定了可以避免的污染源，以保持这些水域的健康可持续性。它还突出了人类活动和气候对这一宝贵资源的影响。

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