GROUNDWATER PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BREDEAH AREA PLAIN (ORAN AREA – NORTHWEST ALGERIA)

Groundwater physico-chemical characteristics of Bredeah area Plain (Oran area – Northwest Algeria)

Lamiae Yebdri, Fatiha Hadji, Lahcen Benaabidate, Benamar Dahmani

Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, P.O. Box: 119, Tlemcen, ALGERIA
Laboratory of Georesources and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Fez, P.O.Box: 2202, Fez – 30000, MOROCCO
Laboratory of Spectrochemistry and Structural Pharmacology, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, P.O. Box : 119, Tlemcen, ALGERIA

Abstract

A varied methodology on the field and laboratory was used for determining the physical and chemical characteristics of groundwater in Bredeah plain. The salinity values are high in the Quaternary aquifer, more than 7g/l whereas conductivity’s reach 14440 μS/cm. Chloride ions contribute significantly to anionic composition and increase up to 2392 mg/l. Conductivity and hardness values and some ions concentrations including chlorides, sulfates and nitrates exceed the WHO standards of drinking water. In Bredeah area, water is generally is of poor quality. For drinking water supply of Oran city, this water is demineralized by the reverse osmosis (RO) process.

Keywords: Miocene limestone, Quaternary alluvia, salinity, demineralization

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