Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integrating stable isotopes and factor analysis to delineate the groundwater provenance and pollution sources in the northwestern part of the Amman-Al Zarqa Basin, Jordan

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Arid Land Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Globally, groundwater contamination by nitrate is one of the most widespread environmental problems, particularly in arid and semiarid areas, which are characterized by low amounts of rainfall and groundwater recharge. The stable isotope composition of groundwater (δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O) and dissolved nitrate (\({\delta ^{15}}{\rm{N}} - {\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) and \({\delta ^{18}}{\rm{O}} - {\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\)) and factor analysis (FA) were applied to explore groundwater provenance, pollution, and chemistry evolution in the northwestern part of the Amman-Al Zarqa Basin, Jordan. In this study, we collected 23 samples from the Lower Ajloun aquifer in 2021, including 1 sample from a groundwater well and 22 samples from springs. These samples were tested for electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, the concentration of major ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, \({\rm{HC}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\), Cl−, \({\rm{S}}{{\rm{O}}_4}^{2 - }\), and \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\)), and the stable isotope composition of groundwater and dissolved nitrate. The results revealed that groundwater in the study area is mainly Ca–Mg–HCO3 type and can be classified as fresh water, hard water, and very hard water. The range and average concentration of \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) were 3.5–230.8 and 50.9 mg/L, respectively. Approximately 33% of the sampling points showed \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) levels above the maximum allowable concentration of 50.0 mg/L set by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality. The values of δ18O-H2O and δ2H-H2O showed that groundwater in the study area is part of the current water cycle, originating in the Mediterranean Sea, with significant evaporation, orographic, and amount effects. The values of the stable isotope composition of \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) corresponded to \({\delta ^{15}}{\rm{N}} - {\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) and \({\delta ^{18}}{\rm{O}} - {\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) values produced by the nitrification process of manure or septic waste and soil \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_4}^ + \). The FA performed on the hydrochemical parameters and isotope data resulted in three main factors, with Factor 1, Factor 2, and Factor 3, accounting for 50%, 21%, and 11% of the total variance, respectively. Factor 1 was considered human-induced factor, named “pollution factor”, whereas Factor 2, named “conservative fingerprint factor”, and Factor 3, named “hardness factor”, were considered natural factors. This study will help local researchers manage groundwater sustainably in the study area and other similar arid and semiarid areas in the world.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abascal E, Gómez-Coma L, Ortiz I, et al. 2022. Global diagnosis of nitrate pollution in groundwater and review of removal technologies. Science of The Total Environment, 810: 152233, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.15223.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abu-Alnaeem M F, Yusoff I, Ng T F, et al. 2018. Assessment of groundwater salinity and quality in Gaza coastal aquifer, Gaza Strip, Palestine: An integrated statistical, geostatistical and hydrogeochemical approaches study. Science of The Total Environment, 615: 972–989.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Adimalla N, Qian H, Nandan M J. 2020. Groundwater chemistry integrating the pollution index of groundwater and evaluation of potential human health risk: A case study from hard rock terrain of south India. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 206: 111217, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111217.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aeschbach-Hertig W, El-Gamal H, Dahab K, et al. 2007. Identifying and dating the origin of groundwater resources in reclamation areas of Egypt. In: Advances in Isotope Hydrology and its Role in Sustainable Water Resources Management. Vienna, Austria.

  • Afroza R, Mazumder Q H, Jahan C S, et al. 2009. Hydrochemistry and origin of salinity in groundwater in parts of lower Tista floodplain, Northwest Bangladesh. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 74(2): 223–232.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alam S M, Li P, Fida M. 2023. Groundwater nitrate pollution due to excessive use of N-fertilizers in rural areas of Bangladesh: pollution status, health risk, source contribution, and future impacts. Exposure and Health, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-023-00545-0.

  • Al-Alawneh M. 1998. Hydrology and hydrochemistry of Wadi Jerash catchment area. MSc Thesis. Baghdad: University of Baghdad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Fugara A k, Ahmadlou M, Al-Shabeeb A R, et al. 2022. Spatial mapping of groundwater springs potentiality using grid search-based and genetic algorithm-based support vector regression. Geocarto International, 37(1): 284–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Kharabsheh A. 2020. Challenges to sustainable water management in Jordan. Jordan Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 11(1): 38–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Mahamid J. 2005. Integration of water resources of the upper aquifer in Amman-Zarqa basin based on mathematical modeling and GIS, Jordan. Freiberg Online Geology, doi: https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-879.

  • Al Wreikat M A, Al-Kharabsheh A A. 2020. Impact of over-pumping on groundwater resources sustainability at Amman Zarqa basin, Jordan: A case study of arid areas affected by Syrian refugees crisis. Environmental Earth Sciences, 79(1): 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (American Public Health Association). 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (20th ed.). Washington DC: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environmental Federation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelo C A J, Postma D. 2005. Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution (2nd ed.). London: A.A. Balkema Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aravinthasamy P, Karunanidhi D, Subramani T, et al. 2020. Fluoride contamination in groundwater of the Shanmuganadhi River basin (south India) and its association with other chemical constituents using geographical information system and multivariate statistics. Geochemistry, 80(4): 125555, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2019.125555.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayadi Y, Mokadem N, Besser H, et al. 2018. Statistical and geochemical assessment of groundwater quality in Teboursouk area (Northwestern Tunisian Atlas). Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(9): 1–20.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajjali W. 2012. Spatial variability of environmental isotope and chemical content of precipitation in Jordan and evidence of slight change in climate. Applied Water Science, 2(4): 271–283.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barzegar R, Asghari Moghaddam A, Tziritis E. 2017. Hydrogeochemical features of groundwater resources in Tabriz plain, northwest of Iran. Applied Water Science, 7(7): 3997–4011.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bender F. 1974. Geology of Jordan. Berlin: Gebrueder Borntraeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandes J A, Devol A H. 1997. Isotopic fractionation of oxygen and nitrogen in coastal marine sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 61(9): 1793–1801.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buzeta R K. 2019. Nitrate contaminant tracing in surface and groundwater in the Great Miami River Watershed: Environmental isotope approach. PhD Dissertation. Dayton: University of Dayton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrey R, Ballesté E, Blanch A R, et al. 2021. Combining multi-isotopic and molecular source tracking methods to identify nitrate pollution sources in surface and groundwater. Water Research, 188: 116537, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116537.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chadha D. 1999. A proposed new diagram for geochemical classification of natural waters and interpretation of chemical data. Hydrogeology Journal, 7(5): 431–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig H. 1961. Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science, 133(3465): 1702–1703.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dansgaard W. 1964. Stable isotopes in precipitation. Tellus, 16(4): 436–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Das S, Nag S. 2017. Application of multivariate statistical analysis concepts for assessment of hydrogeochemistry of groundwater—a study in Suri I and II blocks of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. Applied Water Science, 7(2): 873–888.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durka W, Schulze E D, Gebauer G et al. 1994. Effects of forest decline on uptake and leaching of deposited nitrate determined from 15N and 18O measurements. Nature, 372(6508): 765–767.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dutton A, Wilkinson B H, Welker J M, et al. 2005. Spatial distribution and seasonal variation in 18O/16O of modern precipitation and river water across the conterminous USA. Hydrological Processes: An International Journal, 19(20): 4121–4146.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Yaouti F, El Mandour A, Khattach D, et al. 2009. Salinization processes in the unconfined aquifer of Bou-Areg (NE Morocco): A geostatistical, geochemical, and tomographic study. Applied Geochemistry, 24(1): 16–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elmeknassi M, Bouchaou L, El Mandour A, et al. 2022. Multiple stable isotopes and geochemical approaches to elucidate groundwater salinity and contamination in the critical coastal zone: A case from the Bou-areg and Gareb aquifers (North-Eastern Morocco). Environmental Pollution, 300: 118942, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118942.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gat J, Carmi I. 1970. Evolution of the isotopic composition of atmospheric waters in the Mediterranean Sea area. Journal of Geophysical Research, 75(15): 3039–3048.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs R J. 1970. Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science, 170(3962): 1088–1090.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibrilla A, Fianko J R, Ganyaglo S, et al. 2020. Nitrate contamination and source apportionment in surface and groundwater in Ghana using dual isotopes (15N and 18O-NO3) and a Bayesian isotope mixing model. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 233: 103658, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103658.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez M, Biagioni R N, Alarcón-Herrera M T, et al. 2018. An overview of nitrate sources and operating processes in arid and semiarid aquifer systems. Science of The Total Environment, 624: 1513–1522.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammouri N, El-Naqa A. 2007. Hydrological modeling of ungauged wadis in arid environments using GIS: A case study of Wadi Madoneh in Jordan. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas, 24(2): 185–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammouri N, El-Naqa A. 2008. GIS based hydrogeological vulnerability mapping of groundwater resources in Jerash area-Jordan. Geofísica Internacional, 47(2): 85–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • He S, Li P, Su F, et al. 2022. Identification and apportionment of shallow groundwater nitrate pollution in Weining Plain, northwest China, using hydrochemical indices, nitrate stable isotopes, and the new Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (MixSIAR). Environmental Pollution, 298: 118852, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118852.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hem J D. 1985. Study and Interpretation of the Chemical Characteristics of Natural Water (3rd ed.). Charlottesville: University of Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalali M. 2009. Geochemistry characterization of groundwater in an agricultural area of Razan, Hamadan, Iran. Environmental Geology, 56(7): 1479–1488.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jasechko S, Perrone D, Befus K M, et al. 2016. Global aquifers dominated by fossil groundwaters but wells vulnerable to modern contamination. Nature Geoscience, 10: 425–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia H, Howard K, Qian H. 2020. Use of multiple isotopic and chemical tracers to identify sources of nitrate in shallow groundwaters along the northern slope of the Qinling Mountains, China. Applied Geochemistry, 113: 104512, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104512.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization. 2015. Water-Drinking Water, Technical Regulation. [2023-01-27]. https://www.unhcr.org/jo/wp-ontent/uploads/sites/60/2019/08/Annex-A-1-Technical-Regulation-of-Jordan-Standards-and-Me trology-Organization.pdf.

  • Jung H, Koh D-C, Kim Y S, et al. 2020. Stable isotopes of water and nitrate for the identification of groundwater flowpaths: A review. Water, 12(1): 138, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010138.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaown D, Koh D-C, Mayer B, et al. 2009. Identification of nitrate and sulfate sources in groundwater using dual stable isotope approaches for an agricultural area with different land use (Chuncheon, mid-eastern Korea). Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 132(3–4): 223–231.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kattan Z. 2019. Factors controlling stable isotopes variability in precipitation in Syria: Statistical analysis approach. Journal of Earth System Science, 128(6): 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall C. 1998. Tracing Nitrogen Sources and Cycling in Catchments. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall C, Elliott E M, Wankel S D. 2007. Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems. In: Michener R, Lajtha K. Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science (2nd ed.). doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470691854.ch12.

  • Koba K, Tokuchi N, Wada E, et al. 1997. Intermittent denitrification: the application of a 15N natural abundance method to a forested ecosystem. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 61(23): 5043–5050.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kou X, Ding J, Li Y, et al. 2021. Tracing nitrate sources in the groundwater of an intensive agricultural region. Agricultural Water Management, 250: 106826, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee K S, Bong Y S, Lee D, et al. 2008. Tracing the sources of nitrate in the Han River watershed in Korea, using δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3− values. Science of The Total Environment, 395(2–3): 117–124.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian H. 2018. Water resouorces research to support as sustinable China. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34(3): 327–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wang D, Li W, et al. 2022. Sustainable water resources development and management in large river basins: An introduction. Environmental Earth Sciences, 81: 179, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10298-9.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Linhoff B. 2022. Deciphering natural and anthropogenic nitrate and recharge sources in arid region groundwater. Science of The Total Environment, 848: 157345, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157345.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Gao Z, Feng J, et al. 2023. Identification of the hydrochemical features, genisis, water quality and potential health hazards of groundwater in Dawen River Basin, North China. Ecological Indicators, 149: 110175, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machiwal D, Cloutier V, Güler C, et al. 2018. A review of GIS-integrated statistical techniques for groundwater quality evaluation and protection. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(19): 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marandi A, Shand P. 2018. Groundwater chemistry and Gibbs diagram. Applied Geochemistry, 97: 209–212.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer B, Bollwerk S M, Mansfeldt T, et al. 2001. The oxygen isotope composition of nitrate generated by nitrification in acid forest floors. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65(16): 2743–2756.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer B, Boyer E W, Goodale C, et al. 2002. Sources of nitrate in rivers draining sixteen watersheds in the northeastern US: Isotopic constraints. Biogeochemistry, 57(1): 171–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mcilvin M R, Altabet M A. 2005. Chemical conversion of nitrate and nitrite to nitrous oxide for nitrogen and oxygen isotopic analysis in freshwater and seawater. Analytical Chemistry, 77(17): 5589–5595.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M. 1987. Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. American Journal of Science, 287(5): 401–428.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MWI (Ministry of Water and Irrigation). 2023. National Water Strategy 2023–2040: Summary. Jordan: Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeidat M M, Massadeh A M, Al-Ajlouni A M, et al. 2007. Analysis and evaluation of nitrate levels in groundwater at Al-Hashimiya area, Jordan. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 135: 475–486.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Obeidat M, Awawdeh M, Abu Al-Rub F, et al. 2012. An innovative nitrate pollution index and multivariate statistical investigations of groundwater chemical quality of Umm Rijam Aquifer (B4), North Yarmouk River Basin, Jordan. In: Voudouris V. Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment. Croatia: InTech.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeidat M, Awawdeh M, Abu Al-Rub F. 2013. Multivariate statistical analysis and environmental isotopes of Amman/Wadi Sir (B2/A7) groundwater, Yarmouk river Basin, Jordan. Hydrological Processes, 27(17): 2449–2461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeidat M, Awawdeh M, Matiatos I, et al. 2021a. Identification and apportionment of nitrate sources in the phreatic aquifers in Northern Jordan using a dual isotope method (δ15N and δ18O of NO3−). Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 12: 100505, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeidat M, Awawdeh M, Al-Kharabsheh N, et al. 2021b. Source identification of nitrate in the upper aquifer system of the Wadi Shueib catchment area in Jordan based on stable isotope composition. Journal of Arid Land, 13(4): 350–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panno S, Kelly W, Martinsek A, et al. 2006. Estimating background and threshold nitrate concentrations using probability graphs. Groundwater, 44(5): 697–709.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popescu R, Mimmo T, Dinca O R, et al. 2015. Using stable isotopes in tracing contaminant sources in an industrial area: A case study on the hydrological basin of the Olt River, Romania. Science of The Total Environment, 533: 17–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prasanna M V, Chidambaram S, Srinivasamoorthy K. 2010. Statistical analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in hard and sedimentary aquifers system of Gadilam river basin, South India. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 22(3): 133–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu S, Duan L, Mao H, et al. 2023. Hydrochemical and isotopic fingerprints of groundwater origin and evolution in the Urangulan River Basin, China’s Loess Plateau. Science of The Total Environment, 866: 161377, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161377.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy A G S, Niranjan Kumar K, Subba Rao D, et al. 2009. Assessment of nitrate contamination due to groundwater pollution in north eastern part of Anantapur District, A.P. India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 148(1): 463–476.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ren X, Li P, He X, et al. 2021. Hydrogeochemical processes affecting groundwater chemistry in the central part of the Guanzhong Basin, China. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 80(1): 74–91.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei A, Hassani H, Tziritis E, et al. 2020. Hydrochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater quality in Dalgan basin, SE Iran. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 10: 100353, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rimawi O. 1985. Hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology of groundwater and surface water in the north-east of Mafraq, Dhuleil, Hallabat, Azraq basin. PhD Dissertation. Munich: Technical University of Munich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozanski K, Araguás-Araguás L, Gonfiantini R. 1993. Isotopic patterns in modern global precipitation. Geophysical Monograph-American Geophysical Union, 78, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/GM078p0001.

  • Sajil Kumar P, James E. 2016. Identification of hydrogeochemical processes in the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 61(4): 719–731.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salameh E, Alraggad M, Tarawneh A. 2014. Natural salinity sources in the groundwaters of Jordan–importance of sustainable aquifer management. Geochemistry, 74(4): 735–747.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salameh E, Bannayan H. 1993. Water Resources of Jordan. Future and Future Potentials. Amman: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salman A, Al-Qinna M, Al-Kuisi M. 2014. Spatial analysis of soil and shallow groundwater physiochemical parameters in El-Mujib Basin-central Jordan. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 79: 366–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samtio M S, Hakro A A A, Jahangier T M, et al. 2023. Impact of rock-water interaction on hydrogeochemical characteristcs of groundwater: using multivariate statistical, water quality idex and irrigation indices of chachro sub-district, thar desert, sindh, Pakistan. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 20: 1008878, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100878.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoeller H. 1977. Geochemistry of Groundwater. Groundwater Studies, An International Guide for Research and Practice. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvam S, Venkatramanan S, Chung S. 2016. Identification of groundwater contamination sources in Dindugal district of Tamil Nadu, India using GIS and multivariate statistical analyses. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(5): 1–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva S, Kendall C, Wilkison D, et al. 2000. A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios. Journal of Hydrology, 228(1–2): 22–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su F, Wu J, Wang D, et al. 2022. Moisture movement, soil salt migration, and nitrogen transformation under different irrigation conditions: field experimental research. Chemosphere, 300: 134569, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134569.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tarawneh M S M, Janardhana M, Ahmed M M. 2019. Hydrochemical processes and groundwater quality assessment in North eastern region of Jordan valley, Jordan. HydroResearch, 2: 129–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari A K, Pisciotta A, De Maio M. 2019. Evaluation of groundwater salinization and pollution level on Favignana Island, Italy. Environmental Pollution, 249: 969–981.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Todd D K. 1980. Groundwater Hydrology. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Martínez J A, Mora A, Knappett P S, et al. 2020. Tracking nitrate and sulfate sources in groundwater of an urbanized valley using a multi-tracer approach combined with a Bayesian isotope mixing model. Water Research, 182: 115962, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115962.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toumi N, Hussein B H, Rafrafi S. 2015. Groundwater quality and hydrochemical properties of Al-Ula region, Saudi Arabia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(3): 1–16.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UN (United Nations). 2019. The Sustainable Development Goals Report. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan S, Arumugam S, Bagyaraj M, et al. 2021. Spatial assessment of groundwater quantity and quality: A case study in parts of Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 7(6): 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Zheng W, Currell M, et al. 2017. Relationship between land-use and sources and fate of nitrate in groundwater in a typical recharge area of the North China Plain. Science of The Total Environment, 609: 607–620.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weyhenmeyer G A, Hartmann J, Hessen D O, et al. 2019. Widespread diminishing anthropogenic effects on calcium in freshwaters. Scientific Reports, 9: 10450, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46838-w.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization). 2011. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. WHO Chronicle, 38(4): 104–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Li P, Qian H, et al. 2014. Using correlation and multivariate statistical analysis to identify hydrogeochemical processes affecting the major ion chemistry of waters: A case study in Laoheba phosphorite mine in Sichuan, China. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 7: 3973–3982.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue D, Botte J, De Baets B, et al. 2009. Present limitations and future prospects of stable isotope methods for nitrate source identification in surface-and groundwater. Water Research, 43(5): 1159–1170.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Xiao Y, Hao Q, et al. 2023. Geochemical characteristics, mechanisms and suitability for sustainable municipal and agricultural water supply of confined groundwater in central North China plain. Urban Climate, 49: 101459, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaidi F K, Nazzal Y, Jafri M K, et al. 2015. Reverse ion exchange as a major process controlling the groundwater chemistry in an arid environment: A case study from northwestern Saudi Arabia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(10): 1–18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Shu W, Li F, et al. 2022. Nitrate source apportionment and risk assessment: A study in the largest ion-adsorption rare earth mine in China. Environmental Pollution, 302: 119052, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119052.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Chen W, et al. 2023. Hydrochemical analysis and groundwater pollution source identification based on self-organizing map at a contaminated site. Journal of Hydrology, 616: 128839, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128839.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu A, Chen J, Gao L, et al. 2019. Combined microbial and isotopic signature approach to identify nitrate sources and transformation processes in groundwater. Chemosphere, 228: 721–734.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Jordan University of Science and Technology (20210159).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Basic Sciences and Humanities Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, Water Diplomacy Centre, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Mutawakil Obeidat

  2. Chemistry Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Ahmad Al-Ajlouni, Eman Bani-Khaled & Muna Abu-Dalo

  3. Laboratory of Applied Geoinformatics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan

    Muheeb Awawdeh

Authors
  1. Mutawakil Obeidat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmad Al-Ajlouni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eman Bani-Khaled
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Muheeb Awawdeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muna Abu-Dalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: Mutawakil OBEIDAT, Ahmad AL-AJLOUNI; Data curation: Mutawakil OBEIDAT; Methodology: Mutawakil OBEIDAT; Investigation: Muna ABU-DALO; Formal analysis: Mutawakil OBEIDAT; Writing - original draft preparation: Eman BANI-KHALED; Writing - review and editing: Eman BANI-KHALED, Muheeb AWAWDEH, Muna ABU-DALO; Funding acquisition: Mutawakil OBEIDAT, Ahmad AL-AJLOUNI; Resources: Muheeb AWAWDEH, Muna ABU-DALO; Supervision: Mutawakil OBEIDAT, Ahmad AL-AJLOUNI; Project administration: Mutawakil OBEIDAT, Ahmad AL-AJLOUNI; Software: Muheeb AWAWDEH, Eman BANI-KHALED; Validation: Mutawakil OBEIDAT; Visualization: Muna ABU-DALO.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mutawakil Obeidat.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Obeidat, M., Al-Ajlouni, A., Bani-Khaled, E. et al. Integrating stable isotopes and factor analysis to delineate the groundwater provenance and pollution sources in the northwestern part of the Amman-Al Zarqa Basin, Jordan. J. Arid Land 15, 1490–1509 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-023-0112-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-023-0112-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation