Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrochemical processes governing groundwater quality of sedimentary aquifers in Central Saudi Arabia and its environmental implications

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study deals with the interpretation of the major processes governing the groundwater chemistry in parts of Qassim and Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia. The study area that is dominated by agricultural activities is represented by a multi-layered aquifer system with sedimentary formations ranging from Cambrian to the Quaternary present as outcrops. Groundwater samples from 97 agricultural bore wells in the area were collected and analyzed for 16 physio-chemical parameters. The evaluation of the main hydrochemical processes affecting the groundwater quality was carried out by interpreting the ionic relationships and hydrochemical facies analysis. The interpretation pointed toward evaporation, gypsum dissolution and ion exchange as main factors controlling the major ion groundwater chemistry. The piper plot showed SO4–Cl type of groundwater with majority of the samples falling in the zone of permanent hardness due to the formation of non-carbonate salts. Principal component analysis that helps to understand the underlying natural and anthropogenic factors controlling the groundwater chemistry in an area was used in the present study, based on which four principal components (PCs) were extracted. The first PC as expected was dominated by the major ions and was attributed to natural processes, whereas the extracted components (mainly heavy metals) in PC 2, 3 and 4 pointed toward anthropogenic activities playing an active role in affecting the trace element hydrochemistry.

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
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alabdula’aly AI, Al-Rehaili AM, Al-Zarah AI, Khan MA (2010) Assessment of nitrate concentration in groundwater in Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess 161(1–4):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alaya MB, Saidi S, Zemni T, Zargouni F (2014) Suitability assessment of deep groundwater for drinking and irrigation use in the Djeffara aquifers (Northern Gabes, south-eastern Tunisia). Environ Earth Sci 71(8):3387–3421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Bassam AM (2006) Evaluation of ground water quality in Al-Qassim area, Saudi Arabia, using cluster and factor analyses. Kuwait J Sci Eng 33(2):101–121

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1995) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Belkhiri L, Mouni L, Tiri A (2012) Water–rock interaction and geochemistry of groundwater from the Ain Azel aquifer, Algeria. Environ Geochem Health 34(1):1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigham JM, Schwertmann U, Traina SJ, Winland RL, Wolf M (1996) Schwertmannite and the chemical modeling of iron in acid sulfate waters. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60(12):2111–2121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brindha K, Rajesh R, Murugan R, Elango L (2010) Natural and anthropogenic influence on the fluoride and nitrate concentration of groundwater in parts of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India. J Appl Geochem 12(2):231–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunt R, Vasak L, Griffioen J (2004) Fluoride in groundwater: probability of occurrence of excessive concentrations on global scale. International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (AGRAC) Report SP 2004–2

  • Chae GT, Yun ST, Mayer B, Kim KH, Kim SY, Kwon JS, Kim K, Koh YK (2007) Fluorine geochemistry in bedrock groundwater of South Korea. Sci Total Environ 385(1):272–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri S, Ale S (2014) An appraisal of groundwater quality in Seymour and Blaine aquifers in a major agro-ecological region in Texas, USA. Environ Earth Sci 71(6):2765–2777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Wo F, Chen C, Fang K (2010) Seasonal changes in the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in farmland drainage and groundwater of the Taihu Lake region of China. Environ Monit Assess 169(1–4):159–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Closs LG, Nichol I (1975) The role of factor and regression analysis in the interpretation of geochemical reconnaissance data. Can J Earth Sci 12(8):1316–1330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JC (2002) Statistics and data analysis in geology, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York ISBN-9780471172758

    Google Scholar 

  • Dregne HE (1991) Global status of desertification. Ann Arid Zone 30:179–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Elango L, Kannan R (2007) Rock–water interaction and its control on chemical composition of groundwater. Dev Environ Sci 5:229–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ESCWA (2001) The role of desalinated water in augmentation of the water supply in selected ESCWA member countries, Report No. E/ESCWA/ENR/2001/19, United Nation, New York

  • Fisher RS, Mullican WF (1997) Hydrochemical evolution of sodium-sulphate and sodium-chloride groundwater beneath the northern Chihuahuan desert, Trans-Pecos, Texas, USA. Hydrogeol J 5:4–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher T (2002) Neighbourhood change at Love Canal: contamination, evacuation and resettlement. Land Use Policy 19:311–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gagliano WB, Brill MR, Bigham JM, Jones FS, Traina SJ (2004) Chemistry and mineralogy of ochreous sediments in a constructed mine drainage wetland. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 68(9):2119–2128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galazoulas EC, Petalas CP (2014) Application of multivariate statistical procedures on major ions and trace elements in a multilayered coastal aquifer: the case of the south Rhodope coastal aquifer. Environ Earth Sci 72(10):4191–4205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Wang Y, Li Y, Guo Q (2007) Enrichment of fluoride in groundwater under the impact of saline water intrusion at the salt lake area of Yuncheng basin, northern China. Environ Geol 53(4):795–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardels MC, Sorg TJ (1989) Laboratory study of the leaching of lead from water faucets (No. PB-90-104498/XAB; EPA–600/J-89/086). Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Drinking Water Research Divison

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world’s water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleeson T, Wada Y, Bierkens MF, van Beek LP (2012) Water balance of global aquifers revealed by groundwater footprint. Nature 488(7410):197–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güler C, Alpaslan M, Kurt MA, Temel A (2010) Deciphering factors controlling trace element distribution in the soils of Karaduvar industrial-agricultural area (Mersin, SE Turkey). Environ Earth Sci 60(1):203–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güler C, Kurt MA, Alpaslan M, Akbulut C (2012) Assessment of the impact of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater hydrology and chemistry in Tarsus coastal plain (Mersin, SE Turkey) using fuzzy clustering, multivariate statistics and GIS techniques. J Hydrol 414:435–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu S, Luo T, Jing C (2012) Principal component analysis of fluoride geochemistry of groundwater in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, China. J Geochem Explor 135:124–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jankowski J, Acworth RI (1997) Impact of debris-flow deposits on hydrogeochemical processes and the development of dryland salinity in the Yass River catchment, New South Wales, Australia. Hydrogeol J 5(4):71–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser HF (1960) The application of electronic computers to factor analysis. Educ Psychol Meas 20:141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimbrough DE (2001) Possible role of brass corrosion and the USEPA’s lead and copper rule monitoring program. J Am Water Works Assoc 93(9):81–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimbrough DE (2007) Brass corrosion as a source of lead and copper in both traditional and all-plastic distribution systems. J Am Water Works Assoc 99(8):70–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimbrough DE (2009) Source identification of copper, lead, nickel, and zinc loading in wastewater reclamation plant influents from corrosion of brass in plumbing fixtures. Environ Pollut 157(4):1310–1316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolsi SH, Bouri S, Hachicha W, Dhia HB (2013) Implementation and evaluation of multivariate analysis for groundwater hydrochemistry assessment in arid environments: a case study of Hajeb Elyoun-Jelma, Central Tunisia. Environ Earth Sci 70:2215–2224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Llamas R, Custudio E (2003) Intensive use of groundwater: challenges and opportunities. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Lisse

    Google Scholar 

  • Loni OA, Zaidi FK, Alhumimidi MS, Alharbi OA, Hussein MT, Dafalla, AlYousef KA, Kassem OMK (2014) Evaluation of groundwater quality in an evaporation dominant arid environment; a case study from Al Asyah area in Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci. doi:10.1007/s12517-014-1623-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Lytle DA, Schock MR (1997) An investigation of the impact of alloy composition and pH on the corrosion of brass in drinking water. Adv Environ Res 1(2):213–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Mena M, Albaladejo J, Castillo V (1998) Factors influencing surface runoff generation in a Mediterranean semi-arid environment: Chicamo watershed, SE Spain. Hydrol Process 12:741–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayback M (1987) Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. Am J Sci 287:401–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLay CDA, Dragten R, Sparling G, Selvarajah N (2001) Predicting groundwater nitrate concentrations in a region of mixed agricultural land use: a comparison of three approaches. Environ Pollut 115(2):191–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MoWA (1980) Umm Er Radhuma study. Unpublished report, Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • MoWE (2008) Investigations for updating the groundwater mathematical models of the Saq and overlying aquifers. Unpublished report, Ministry of Water and Electricity, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Mrazovac S, Vojinović-Miloradov M, Matić I, Marić N (2012) Multivariate statistical analyzing of chemical parameters of groundwater in Vojvodina. Chemie der Erde-Geochemistry. 73(2):217–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naseem S, Rafique T, Bashir E, Bhanger MI, Laghari A, Usmani TH (2010) Lithological influences on occurrence of high-fluoride groundwater in Nagar Parkar area, Thar Desert, Pakistan. Chemosphere 78(11):1313–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazzal Y, Ghrefat H, Rosen MA (2013) Application of multivariate geostatistics in the investigation of heavy metal contamination of roadside dusts from selected highways of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Environ Earth Sci 71(3):1409–1419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazzal Y, Ahmed I, Al-Arifi NS, Ghrefat H, Zaidi FK, El-Waheidi MM, Batayneh A, Zumlot T (2014) A pragmatic approach to study the groundwater quality suitability for domestic and agricultural usage, Saq aquifer, northwest of Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess 186(8):4655–4667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neal C, Kirchner JW (2000) Sodium and chloride levels in rainfall, mist, stream water and groundwater at the Plynlimon catchments, mid-Wales: inferences on hydrological and chemical controls. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci Dis 4(2):295–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osterkamp WR, Friedman JM (2002) The disparity between extreme rainfall events and rare floods—with emphasis on the semi-arid American West. J Hydrol Processes 14:2817–2829

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parizi HS, Samani N (2013) Geochemical evolution and quality assessment of water resources in the Sarcheshmeh copper mine area (Iran) using multivariate statistical techniques. Environ Earth Sci 69(5):1699–1718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastén-Zapata E, Ledesma-Ruiz R, Harter T, Ramírez AI, Mahlknecht J (2014) Assessment of sources and fate of nitrate in shallow groundwater of an agricultural area by using a multi-tracer approach. Sci Total Environ 470:855–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powers RW, Ramirez LF, Redmond CD, Elberg EL (1966) Geology of the Arabian peninsula. Geol Surv Prof Paper 560:1–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi SZ, Luo F (2006) Hydrological indicators of desertification in the Heihe River Basin of arid northwest China. J Human Environ 35(6):319–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin D, Qian Y, Han L, Wang Z, Li C, Zhao Z (2011) Assessing impact of irrigation water on groundwater recharge and quality in arid environment using CFCs, tritium and stable isotopes, in the Zhangye Basin, Northwest China. J Hydrol 405(1):194–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin R, Wu Y, Xu Z, Xie D, Zhang C (2013) Assessing the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality in coastal alluvial aquifers of the lower Liaohe River Plain, NE China. Appl Geochem 31:142–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajmohan N, Elango L (2004) Identification and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment in an area of the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, Southern India. Environ Geol 46(1):47–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramanaiah SV, Mohan SV, Rajkumar B, Sarma PN (2006) Monitoring of fluoride concentration in ground water of Prakasham district in India: correlation with physico-chemical parameters. J Environ Sci Eng 48(2):129–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravenscroft P, McArthur JM (2004) Mechanism of regional enrichment of groundwater by boron: the examples of Bangladesh and Michigan, USA. Appl Geochem 19(2004):1413–1430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salman AS, Zaidi FK, Hussein MT (2014) Evaluation of groundwater quality in northern Saudi Arabia using multivariate analysis and stochastic statistics. Environ Earth Sci. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3803-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon BR, Keese KE, Flint AL, Flint LE, Gaye CB, Edmunds WM, Simmers I (2006) Global synthesis of groundwater recharge in semi-arid and arid regions. Hydrol Process 20:3335–3370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schock MR (1990) Causes of temporal variability of lead in domestic plumbing systems. Environ Monit Assess 15(1):59–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharifi Z, Sinegani AAS (2012) Assessment of arsenic, nitrate and phosphorus pollutions in shallow groundwater of the rural area in Kurdistan province (Iran). Curr World Environ 7(2):233–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Singh CK, Mukherjee S (2010) Impact of land-use and land-cover change on groundwater quality in the Lower Shiwalik hills: a remote sensing and GIS based approach. Cent Eur J of Geosci 2(2):124–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Squillace PJ, Scott JC, Moran MJ, Nolan BT, Kolpin DW (2002) VOCs, pesticides, nitrate, and their mixtures in groundwater used for drinking water in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 36(9):1923–1930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umar R, Absar A (2003) Chemical characteristics of groundwater in parts of the Gambhir River basin, Bharatpur District, Rajasthan, India. Environ Geol 44(5):535–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umar R, Ahmed I, Alam F, Khan MMA (2009) Hydrochemical characteristics and seasonal variations in groundwater quality of an alluvial aquifer in parts of Central Ganga Plain, Western Uttar Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 58:1295–1300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varol S, Davraz A (2014) Assessment of geochemistry and hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater of the Tefenni plain (Burdur/Turkey). Environ Earth Sci 71(11):4657–4673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venugopal T, Giridharan L, Jayaprakash M, Periakali P (2009) Environmental impact assessment and seasonal variation study of the groundwater in the vicinity of River Adyar, Chennai, India. Environ Monit Assess 149(1–4):81–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Water Atlas of Saudi Arabia (1984) Ministry of Agriculture and Water in cooperation with the Saudi Arabian–United States Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Water, p 112

  • Webster R (2001) Statistics to support soil research and their presentation. Eur J Soil Sci 52(2):331–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein LH, Davison A (2004) Fluoride in the environment: effects on plants and animals. CABI Publishing, Wallingford

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1997) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Surveillance and control of community supplies, vol 3. World Health Organization, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Switzerland (ISBN: 9789241548151)

    Google Scholar 

  • Widory D, Kloppmann W, Chery L, Bonnin J, Rochdi H, Guinamant JL (2004) Nitrate in groundwater: an isotopic multi-tracer approach. J Contam Hydrol 72(1):165–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yidana SM, Banoeng-Yakubo B, Akabzaa TM (2010) Analysis of groundwater quality using multivariate and spatial analyses in the Keta basin, Ghana. J Afr Earth Sci 58(2):220–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaidi FK, Kassem OMK (2012) Use of electrical resistivity tomography in delineating zones of groundwater potential in arid regions: a case study from Diriyah region of Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 5(2):327–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by NSTIP strategic technologies program number (12-WAT 2453-02) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Faisal K. Zaidi, Yousef Nazzal, Abdulaziz M. Al-Bassam, Nasser S. Al-Arifi, Habes Ghrefat & Saeed A. Al-Shaltoni

  2. SGS Research Chair for Natural Hazards, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Faisal K. Zaidi & Abdulaziz M. Al-Bassam

  3. Water Resources, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Izrar Ahmed

  4. Department of Applied Mathematics and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Yousef Nazzal

  5. Ar Riyadh Development Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Izrar Ahmed

Authors
  1. Faisal K. Zaidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yousef Nazzal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Izrar Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Abdulaziz M. Al-Bassam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nasser S. Al-Arifi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Habes Ghrefat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Saeed A. Al-Shaltoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Faisal K. Zaidi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zaidi, F.K., Nazzal, Y., Ahmed, I. et al. Hydrochemical processes governing groundwater quality of sedimentary aquifers in Central Saudi Arabia and its environmental implications. Environ Earth Sci 74, 1555–1568 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4150-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4150-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation