Abstract
The Guenniche deep aquifer (from 75 to 300 m), located in the Bizerte governorate (North Tunisia), is used to supply water for drinking, irrigation, and other needs. It is underlying three small-scale industrial zones and an agricultural area that uses chemical fertilizers and animal manure to improve soil fertility. The present research deals with the physicochemical properties of the groundwater in Guenniche deep aquifer by analyzing ten (10) boreholes in both the wet season (October 2015) and the dry season (May 2016). The results showed that the levels of nitrate we between 8 and 111 mg/L for the wet season and the dry season, respectively. The World Health Organization sets the nitrate limit at 50 mg/L, and 45 mg/L is the national standard. Three boreholes located in the region of El Alia in the south east of the study area exceeded the standards in the dry and wet seasons. Human activities on the surface, in addition to the non-existence or poor condition of sewer channels, are the major factors behind the degradation of Guenniche deep groundwater. This research suggests an urgent need for continuous monitoring of groundwater, particularly those water bodies intended for drinking purposes. Recommendations to the officials and policymakers of the government are given to move toward finding permanent solutions in this matter for the future protection of Guenniche deep aquifer.
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Troudi, N., Hamzaoui-Azaza, F., Tzoraki, O., Zammouri, M. (2022). Spatial Distribution of Nitrate Level in a Deep Aquifer Located in an Agricultural Region (North Tunisia). In: Chenchouni, H., et al. New Prospects in Environmental Geosciences and Hydrogeosciences. CAJG 2019. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72543-3_124
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