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Analyzing surface water quality and assessing environmental impacts downstream of the Tafna river (northwest Algeria)

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Abstract

The Tafna river serves as a model for assessing surface water and environmental quality by combining water quality and pollution indices using multivariate statistical methods. Thirty-six surface water samples were analyzed to assess 13 indicators. The results indicate contamination of the surface waters of the Tafna river by organic matter and the influence of lithology (presence of calcite), leading to an enrichment in Cl−, SO42−, and Ca2+ by dissolution (9.6–4.8 and 4.06 mg.l−1, respectively). During the summer and autumn, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reaching 57 mg.l−1, chemical oxygen demand (COD) at 90.9 mg.l−1, N-NH4+, and N-NO3− showed significant increases. In addition, the pollution index revealed the absence of pollution during winter and early summer but moderate levels of pollution in autumn. In addition, the spatial distribution of the water quality index (WQI) indicates good water quality in the estuary upstream to 54.94, but progressive deterioration upstream. However, analysis of the correlation matrix highlighted the influence of various sources, both natural and human, on surface water quality. In particular, a significant correlation (R2 = 0.9) was observed between Ca2+ and HCO3− concentrations, indicating a close relationship between these two elements. Organic pollution of the waters of the Tafna river has been strongly influenced by wastewater discharge and agricultural activities, which could lead to potential health risks if consumed. The results of this study provide a sound scientific basis to support decision-making and the implementation of measures to preserve and sustainably manage the Tafna river.

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Data availability

The authors declare that all the data used in this work is made available by the Society of Water Resources coupled with water sampling campaign conducted by the authors.

Abbreviations

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

Ca2+ :

Calcium

Cl− :

Chloride

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

EC:

Electrical conductivity

HCO3 − :

Bicarbonate

LCSCO:

Laboratory of Catalysis and Synthesis in Organic Chemistry

Mg2+ :

Magnesium

SO4 2− :

Sulfates

TSS:

Total suspended solids

WI:

Weight

WQI:

Water quality index

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank, in particular, the staff of the Water Resources Society of Oran (SEOR) for providing many data and for their willingness to perform chemical analyses. And we would also like to thank all the scientific and technical research centers for physical and chemical analysis (CRAPC) in Tlemcen, Algeria, for hosting the analysis using high spectrophotometry. And they thank the DGRST of Algeria for its help.

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The present research did not receive any financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Earth Science, Geography, and Territorial Planning, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (FSTGAT/USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, Alger, 16000, Algeria

    Ouezna Mechouet & Ali Eddine Foudil-Bouras

  2. Environmental Monitoring Networks Research Laboratory (LRSE), Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Oran 1, Oran, Algeria

    Nourredine Benaissa & Fatima Zohra HADDAD

  3. Biology of Microorganisms and Biotechnology Laboratory (LBMB), Higher School of Biological Sciences of Oran (ESSBO), Oran, Algeria

    Yasmine Ait Hamadouche

  4. Faculty of Hydraulic Works, Technical University of Civil Engineering, Lacul Tei Blv., No. 124, 020396, Bucharest, Romania

    Dimache Alexandru

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  1. Ouezna Mechouet
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Contributions

MECHOUET Ouezna and FOUDIL BOURAS Ali Eddine: sampling, methodology, data collection, and article writing.

BENAISSA Nourreddine: supervision, sampling, methodology, and data collection.

HADDAD Fatima Zohra and Ait-HAMADOUCHE Yasmine: visualization and revision of the article.

DIMACHE Alexandru: statistical analyses and revision of the article.

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Correspondence to Ouezna Mechouet.

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Mechouet, O., Foudil-Bouras, A.E., Benaissa, N. et al. Analyzing surface water quality and assessing environmental impacts downstream of the Tafna river (northwest Algeria). Arab J Geosci 17, 179 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11978-5

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