Evolution of groundwater salinity in the unconfined aquifer of Bou-Areg, Northeastern Mediterranean coast, Morocco |
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| Authors: | A El Mandour F El Yaouti Y Fakir Y Zarhloule J Benavente |
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| Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Hydrogeology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed I, P.B. 524, Oujda, Morocco;(2) Hydrogeology Team, GEOHYD Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.B. 2390, Marrakech, Morocco;(3) Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, P.B. 2390, Marrakech, Morocco;(4) Water Research Institute, University of Granada, Ramón y Cajal, 4, 18071 Granada, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The Bou-Areg plain in the Mediterranean coast at the North-eastern of Morocco is characterized by a semi-arid climate. The
aquifer consists of two sedimentary formations of Plio-quaternary age: the upper formation of fine silts and the lower one
of coarse silts with sand and gravels. The aquifer is underlain by marly bedrock of Miocene age that dips toward the coastal
lagoon of Bou-Areg. The hydrodynamic characteristics vary between 10−4 and 10−3 m/s; and transmissivities range between 10−4 and 10−1 m2/s. The general direction of flow is SW to NE, toward the lagoon. The aquifer is crossed by the river Selouane, which also
ends in the lagoon. The groundwater is characterized by a high salinity that can reach 7.5 g/l. The highest values are observed
in the upstream and in the downstream sectors of the aquifer. The temporal evolution of the physico-chemical parameters depends
on the climatic conditions and piezometric variations. The analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of the physico-chemical
parameters suggests different sources of groundwater salinization: the seawater intrusion, the influence of marly gypsum-bearing
terrains, and the influence of anthropogenic products as the agricultural fertilizers, which cause great nitrate concentrations
that vary between 80 and 140 mg/l. |
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| Keywords: | Unconfined aquifer Groundwater salinity Seawater intrusion Nitrate pollution Lagoon Morocco Bou-Areg |
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