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Integrated statistical and hydro-geochemical approach to identify the origin and process of saline contamination of Remila plain groundwater (Khenchela, Algeria)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2021

Laiche AOUIDANE Open the ORCID record for Laiche AOUIDANE [Opens in a new window] ,
Mohamed BELHAMRA  and
Asma KHEDDOUMA
Laiche AOUIDANE*
Affiliation:
Agricultural Sciences Department. Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Abbes Laghrour Khenchela, BP 1252 Route de Batna, Khenchela40004, Algeria.
Mohamed BELHAMRA
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mohamed Khider, BP 145 RP, Biskra07000, Algeria.
Asma KHEDDOUMA
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Abbes Laghrour Khenchela, BP 1252 Route de Batna, Khenchela40004, Algeria.
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Groundwater is widely used in the semi-arid region of Remila plain (Khenchela, Algeria) for urban and agricultural supplies. An integrated statistical and hydro-geochemical approach was performed with 70 water samples in order to identify the main processes and the origin of water salinisation. The results have suggested the dominance of three chemical facies: Sulphato cloruro calcic (SO4–Cl–Ca) in the northeastern part, Sulphato cloruro calci magnisian (SO–4Cl–Ca–Mg) in most of the waters andalkali-earth bicarbonate (HCO3–Ca–Mg) in the southeastern part. Although based on principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis, the statistical approach identified three water groups: (1) saline water (17 %; total dissolved solids >1000 mg l−1 with the dominance of Sulphate (SO42−)); (2) moderately saline water (17 %) with a dominance of bicarbonate (HCO3−); and (3) moderately saline water (66 %) with mixed facies. The binary diagrams confirmed the predominance of three processes: evaporite dissolution and/or precipitation, combined by ionic exchange. In the northeastern part of the area, however, another process was detected – the saline intrusion of Sabkha water, favoured by extensive groundwater use.

Keywords

hydro-geochemistrysalinitysemi-aridstatistics
Type
Articles
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 112 , Issue 2 , June 2021 , pp. 89 - 99
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Royal Society of Edinburgh

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