Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater pollution risk mapping for the Eocene aquifer of the Oum Er-Rabia basin, Morocco

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

Sustainable development requires the management and preservation of water resources indispensable for all human activities. When groundwater constitutes the main water resource, vulnerability maps therefore are an important tool for identifying zones of high pollution risk and taking preventive measures in potential pollution sites. The vulnerability assessment for the Eocene aquifer in the Moroccan basin of Oum Er-Rabia is based on the DRASTIC method that uses seven parameters summarizing climatic, geological, and hydrogeological conditions controlling the seepage of pollutant substances to groundwater. Vulnerability maps were produced by using GIS techniques and applying the “generic” and “agricultural” models according to the DRASTIC charter. Resulting maps revealed that the aquifer is highly vulnerable in the western part of the basin and areas being under high contamination risk are more extensive when the “agricultural” model was applied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aller L, Bennett T, Lehr JH, Petty RJ (1985) DRASTIC: a standardized system for evaluating groundwater pollution potential using hydrogeologic sittings. US EPA/600/2-85/018

  • Belfkira O (1980) Sedimentological and geochemical evolution of phosphate series Of Maastrichtian of Ouled Abdoun (Morocco). Thesis Sci and Med University, Grenoble, France, pp 167

  • Benbiba A, Lakfifi L (1994) Groundwater management in the Tadla basin. Eau et Dév 17:15–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Hammou Y (1995) Utilization of a G.I.S. (Arc/Info) for management of irrigated perimeters: case of the Tadla perimeter. Thesis IAV Hassan II, Rabat, pp 180

  • BRGM (1993) Study of the aquiferous system of the Tadla plain, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) Report R35610 4S/EAU-92

  • Chen SY, Fu GT (2003) A DRASTIC-based fuzzy pattern recognition methodology for groundwater vulnerability evaluation. Hydrol Sci J 48(2):211–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deichert LA, Hamlet JM (1992) Non-point groundwater pollution potential in Pennsylvania. ASAE International Winter Meeting, Nashville, TN, 15–18, Paper No. 922531

  • El Mahmouhi N, El Wartiti M, Ettazarini S, Gaiz A (2003) Vulnerability of groundwater of the Gharb Basin (NW Morocco) using the DRASTIC method and GIS. Revue maroc Génie Civil, Maroc, 104(4):30–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Ettazarini S (2002) Weathering of sediments and its relationship with groundwater and meteoric water circulations in the Meso-Cenozoic series of the phosphates basin of Ouled Abdoun (Morocco). Thesis, Mohamed V-Agdal Univ., Rabat, pp 286

  • Ettazarini S (2004) Incidences of water–rock interaction on natural resources characters, Oum Er-Rabia Basin (Morocco). Environ Geol 47(1):69–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ettazarini S (2005) Processes of water–rock interaction in the Turonian aquifer of Oum Er-Rabia, (Morocco). Environ Geol 49(2):293–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ettazarini S, El Mahmouhi N (2004) Vulnerability mapping of the Turonian limestone aquifer in the Phosphates Plateau (Morocco). Environ Geol 46(1):113–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsissou Y (1991) The aquifer of Turonian limestones of the Tadla basin (Morocco): local recharge and distant recharge from the Atlas. Thesis UFA of Sciences and techniques, Franche-Comté Univ. France, pp 196

  • Labyed et Genah (1979) The study of the phosphates plateau aquifers. EMI Report, pp 109

  • Lallemand-Barrès A (1994) Standardization of criteria of establishment of vulnerability to pollution maps. Preliminary documentary study. BRGM Report R37928, pp 21

  • Moutaouakil, Giresse (1993) Petrology and sedimentary environment of Meso-Cenozoic phosphorites of Ouled Abdoun. Bull Soc géol France 163(3):473–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. Trans Am Geophys Union 25(6):914–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahhali I (1992) Biostratigraphic data on Cretaceous-Paleocene formations of the Ouled Abdoun Basin (Morocco). Notes et Mém Ser géol Maroc 366:373–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou HC, Wang GL, Yang Q (1999) A multi-objective fuzzy recognition model for assessing groundwater vulnerability based on the DRASTIC system. Hydrol Sci J 44(4):611–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the DRH, actually ABHOR “Agence de Bassin Hydraulique d’Oum Er-Rabia” for the supply of hydrogeological data indispensable for this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geology, Mohamed V-Agdal University, Rabat, Morocco

    Said Ettazarini

Authors
  1. Said Ettazarini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Said Ettazarini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ettazarini, S. Groundwater pollution risk mapping for the Eocene aquifer of the Oum Er-Rabia basin, Morocco. Environ Geol 51, 341–347 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0330-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0330-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation