Groundwater Quality Evaluation (Four boreholes from the region of Tebessa - Algeria)

Abstract

Tebessa is located in the north-eastern of Algeria. It has a semi-arid climate with a water balance deficit. Groundwater is a significant source for drinking water supply and irrigation of agricultural land in many parts of this area. The water quality depends on the geological influence and anthropogenic pollution. Continuously increasing abstraction of groundwater resources to meet rising agricultural and domestic needs leads to a growing deficit of water. The intensive exploitation of the available water resources, coupled with periods of drought, has led to lowering of the water table and increasing the risk of degradation of water quality, especially when abstraction amounts greatly exceed the natural recharge of aquifers. The study of the physicochemical water quality of four boreholes of Tebessa shows that the waters studied are of the same hydro-chemical facies (calcium sulphate). The results of the physicochemical analyses are compared with national and international standards. In addition The Groundwater Quality Evaluation System (Groundwater - QES) is used to classify the waters studied depending on the quality and suitability for the production of drinking water.