Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region)
In Tunisia, it has been proven through various previously published studies that agricultural overexploitation and urban and industrial activities increase the risk of groundwater quality deterioration. The present study is a new research to be added to groundwater appraisal and comes to assess grou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Geofluids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9465498 |
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| author | Samira Melki Amina Mabrouk El Asmi Moncef Gueddari |
| author_facet | Samira Melki Amina Mabrouk El Asmi Moncef Gueddari |
| author_sort | Samira Melki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Tunisia, it has been proven through various previously published studies that agricultural overexploitation and urban and industrial activities increase the risk of groundwater quality deterioration. The present study is a new research to be added to groundwater appraisal and comes to assess groundwater quality of the phreatic Skhira aquifer in relation to surrounding anthropic activities and also tries to evaluate potential risk threatenings of the local population. For that, 20 water well samples covering the phreatic aquifer were analyzed for physical and chemical parameters, major cations and anions, nutrient elements, fluorine, and some trace metal elements. Results show that the area close to the phosphogypsum storage site is the zone which is the most affected by industrial activity. This area corresponds to the upstream part of the aquifer, in terms of the trending flow, and records the highest conductivity values, high H2PO4-, F-, SO42-, and Zn2+ concentrations. Groundwater samples in this area are also characterized by a relatively low hydrogen potential (acid pH). High NO3- are recorded especially upstream of the aquifer and are thought to be caused by high fertilizer use. Overall, most analyzed samples do not meet the World Health Organization norms and therefore are not suitable as drinking waters. In addition, well water use for irrigation represents a medium to high sodicity and alkanization risk. The current study sheds light on the increasing deterioration risk of the aquifer and is an awakening call for decision-makers to imply means for urgent solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d75766ef14a414a9267d2d956da529e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1468-8115 1468-8123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geofluids |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d75766ef14a414a9267d2d956da529e2025-02-03T06:00:09ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232019-01-01201910.1155/2019/94654989465498Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region)Samira Melki0Amina Mabrouk El Asmi1Moncef Gueddari2Laboratory of Geochemistry and Environmental Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory of Geochemistry and Environmental Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory of Geochemistry and Environmental Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, TunisiaIn Tunisia, it has been proven through various previously published studies that agricultural overexploitation and urban and industrial activities increase the risk of groundwater quality deterioration. The present study is a new research to be added to groundwater appraisal and comes to assess groundwater quality of the phreatic Skhira aquifer in relation to surrounding anthropic activities and also tries to evaluate potential risk threatenings of the local population. For that, 20 water well samples covering the phreatic aquifer were analyzed for physical and chemical parameters, major cations and anions, nutrient elements, fluorine, and some trace metal elements. Results show that the area close to the phosphogypsum storage site is the zone which is the most affected by industrial activity. This area corresponds to the upstream part of the aquifer, in terms of the trending flow, and records the highest conductivity values, high H2PO4-, F-, SO42-, and Zn2+ concentrations. Groundwater samples in this area are also characterized by a relatively low hydrogen potential (acid pH). High NO3- are recorded especially upstream of the aquifer and are thought to be caused by high fertilizer use. Overall, most analyzed samples do not meet the World Health Organization norms and therefore are not suitable as drinking waters. In addition, well water use for irrigation represents a medium to high sodicity and alkanization risk. The current study sheds light on the increasing deterioration risk of the aquifer and is an awakening call for decision-makers to imply means for urgent solutions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9465498 |
| spellingShingle | Samira Melki Amina Mabrouk El Asmi Moncef Gueddari Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) Geofluids |
| title | Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) |
| title_full | Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) |
| title_fullStr | Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) |
| title_short | Inferred Industrial and Agricultural Activities Impact on Groundwater Quality of Skhira Coastal Phreatic Aquifer in Southeast of Tunisia (Mediterranean Region) |
| title_sort | inferred industrial and agricultural activities impact on groundwater quality of skhira coastal phreatic aquifer in southeast of tunisia mediterranean region |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9465498 |
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