Groundwater quality assessment of the coastal alluvial aquifer of Wadi Hachem, Tipaza, Algieria

Groundwater quality in the alluvial aquifer of Wadi Hachem, Tipaza, was assessed for drinking and irrigation purposes. This alluvial plain covers an area of 13 km² and lies in a semiarid climate. Groundwater is the major source for domestic and agricultural water activities in this region, and it is facing natural conditions and anthropogenic activities. The groundwater quality was evaluated on the basis of its physicochemical parameters for the dry period of 2015. The results of these parameters were compared with WHO and Algerian standards recommended for drinking water. The water quality was found to be slightly alkaline, with moderate water quality for drinking based on Total Hardness (TH), Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and all water samples were within the permissible limit for drinking and irrigation purposes. The samples also showed two water types, Ca- HCO3 for the majority of samples, that characterize natural water quality controlled generally by the recharge area and by geological influences and Ca-Cl water type for one sample that is likely influenced mainly by anthropogenic activities, which was affirmed by the higher values of EC, TDS and of some ion concentrations. The analytical data plotted on Riverside and Wilcox diagrams illustrated high and very high salinity, and low sodium hazard rendering groundwater usable only on soils with good permeability.