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Groundwater Investigation in Bel-Ahmar, Assir, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
A.R. Khanfar
King Khalid university, College of science, Biological Science department,
P. O. Box-9004, Abha – 61413, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
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Groundwater is generally presumed to be good for human consumption and
is used as a potential source of drinking water. Agricultural
development, urbanization and industrialization are the major causes for
all changes in the quality of water. Saudi Arabia is an arid and the
largest country in the Middle East. Recent urban and rural expansion has
shown manifold increases in water use in various sectors. Water
resources are limited and non-renewable coupled with unpredicted scanty
rainfall. In order to meet the rising water needs, evaluation of water
quality is important for allocation to various uses. The chemical
quality of groundwater of Bel-Ahmar has been studied in detail in order
to demonstrate the potable groundwater zones without any deterioration
by pollution. Water samples were analyzed for total salt concentration,
pH, Ca, Mg, Po4, TDS, HC03, Cl, S04, N03, and NH4 contents. The EC of
groundwater ranged between 230.0μs/cm to300.0 μs/cm. Magnesium was the
most abundant cation. Chloride was the most abundant anion followed by
HC03 and S04 in groundwater of Bel-Ahmar. The N03 concentration is more
than the safe limits for drinking purpose according to WHO (2003)
standards. PO4 values are within the permissible limits according to
SASO (1993). The salinity of groundwater of Bel-Ahmar were classified as
fresh water according to ANZECC (2000) classification.
Key words: Groundwater, Arid region, Pollutants, Saudi Arabia.
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