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doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2025.16.1.1506
Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Alluvial Aquifer Using GIS and Water Quality Indices in the Feija Plain, South-East Morocco
2Laboratory for Industrial Engineering and Surface Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, Sultane Moulay Slimane University, Morocco
3Laboratory of Plant Biotechnologies, Agadir Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, BP 8106, Cite Dakhla, 80000 Agadir, Morocco
4Natural Sciences and Didactic Innovation Team, Regional Centre for Education and Training, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Morocco
Email: nadihamid01@gmail.com (H.N.); Zherzakaria@gmail.com (Z.Z.), nabila.auajjar@uit.ac.ma (N.A.), naimadohou1411@gmail.com (N.D.), khalid.yamni@uit.ac.ma (K.Y.), moulaylaarbi.ouahidi@uit.ac.ma (M.L.O.)
*Corresponding author
Abstract—This study examines groundwater quality in the
Feija alluvial plain, southeastern Morocco, shedding light on the
impacts of agricultural overexploitation and climate change.
Employing the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Geospatial
Analysis (GIS), it evaluates the suitability of water for domestic
and agricultural uses through seasonal analysis of samples. The
data reveal a wide variation in water quality, with some regions
having average to poor M'nasra aquifer and the Tinzouline
aquifer (Draa, Morocco). Some research is being carried out
Tinzouline and M'nasera aquifers.
The Feija aquifer boasts a heterogeneous composition,
comprising Plio-Quaternary terrains of varying thickness. The
analysis identifies diverse chemical facies of groundwater,
encompassing calcium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and
chloride sulfate, calcium, and magnesium. These characteristics
mirror the influence of both human activities and natural
conditions on water quality. The spatial distribution of the WQI
predominantly indicates good water quality, albeit with
variations attributed to agricultural practices and the unique
geology of the region, particularly noticeable at sites P5 and P6
where quality is diminished.
In terms of agricultural use, quality indices suggest marginal
water suitability, with concerns revolving around salinity and
sodium, necessitating vigilant management to uphold
agricultural sustainability. Lastly, the study unveils an absence
of significant nitrate pollution, with groundwater maintaining
cleanliness. These findings underscore the significance of
monitoring and managing water resources to tackle current and
future challenges posed by agriculture and climate change in the
region.
Keywords—groundwater quality, WQI, irrigation uses, GIS,
Feija plain
Cite: Hamid Nadi, Zakaria Zher, Nabila Auajjar, Naima Dohou, Khalid Yamni, and Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi, "Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Alluvial Aquifer Using GIS and Water Quality Indices in the Feija Plain, South-East Morocco," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 16-33, 2025.
Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
