Article Sidebar

Submitted
Apr 17, 2017
Published
Dec 1, 2001
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 334 Download : 188

Main Article Content

Abstract

Groundwater in the area is used for different purposes like domestic, agricultural, industrial and landscaping. More than sixty groundwater samples were collected in an alluvial shallow aquifer in and around Mawqaq Town. The objective was to study groundwater quality and identify the sources of Nitrate (NO3) and bacteriological pollution in groundwater using environmental isotopes (2H, 3H and 18O). The results of the study have revealed the presence of average salinity concentration higher than the permissible limits (500 mg/l) for drinking water. Three groups of water saline boundaries were identified. The presence of high nitrate as nitrogen (NO3-N) was also encountered in the study area. Coliform bacteria have also been identified in some wells. Application of stable isotope has shown the age, origin and the sources of the pollution in the groundwater of Mawqaq area. Appropriate health and municipal authorities of the area have initiated remedial measures and a monitoring program is to be implemented in coordination with these authorities.

 

Keywords

Salinity Bacteriological Pollution Septic Tanks Nitrate Saudi and Remedial.

Article Details

References

  1. AL-SAGABY, I.A. and MOALLIM, M.A., 1996, Hydrogeochemical Investigation of the Water Wells In and Around KACST Research Center in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia, Internal Report No.121-18-ES, Natural Resources and Environmental Research Institute, KACST, Saudi Arabia.
  2. ARAVENA, R., EVANS, M.L. and CHERRY, J.A., 1993, Stable Isotopes of Oxygen and Nitrogen For Identification of Nitrate from septic systems, Ground water-April-March, 31( 2): 180-186.
  3. BRGM, 1985, Water, Agriculture and Soil Studies of Saq and Overlying Aquifers, Study For Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  4. EDMUNDS, W.M., DARLING, W.G., KINNIBURGH, S., KOTOUB, S. and MAHGOUB, S. 1992, Sources of recharge at Abu Delaig, Sudan Journal . Hydrol. 131: 1-24.
  5. EDMUNDS, W.M. and GAYE, C.B., 1997, Naturally High Nitrate Concentrations in Ground Waters from Sahel, J. of Environ. Quat. 26: 1231-1239.
  6. EDGELL, H.S., 1989. Geological Framework of Saudi Arabia Groundwater Resources, J. K. A.U., Earth Sci. V.3. Special Issue: 1st Saudi Symp. On Earth Sci., Jeddah, PP. 267-286.
  7. GERRISTE, R.G., ADENEY, J.A. and HOSKING, J., 1995. Nitrogen Losses From a Domestic Septic Tank System on the Darling Plateau in Western Australia, Journal of Water Res. 29(9): 2055-2058.
  8. HEM, J.D., 1970. Study and Interpretation of Chemical Characteristics of Natural Water, U. S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper No. 1473, pp. 363
  9. HUSSEIN, M.T., BAZUHAIR, A.G. and AGEEB, A.E., 1992. Hydrogeology of the Saq Formation, East of Hail, Northern Saudi Arabia, Quar. J. Eng. Geol. 25: 57-64.
  10. JERAIS, A.A., 1986. Hydrogeology of Saq Aquifer in Hail Region, Msc. Thesis, Fac. Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  11. SEGAR, D.A., 1988. A groundwater Model of the Saq and Tabuk Sandstone Aquifers in South Eastern Jordan and Northwestern Saudi Arabia, Msc. Thesis, School of Earth Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
  12. SOWAYAN, A.M. and ALLAYLA, R., 1989. Origin of the saline groundwater in wadi ar rumah, Saudi Arabia, Groundwater, 27(4): 481-490.
  13. SHARAF, M.A. and HUSSIEN, M.T., 1996. Groundwater Quality in Saq Aquifer, Saudi Arabia, Hydrogeological Sciences Journal, 41(5): 683-670.
  14. STOESSER, D.B. and ELLIOT, J.E., 1985. Reconnaissance Geology of Al-Qasr Quadrangle, sheet 27/41c: Open-file report USGS-of-05-2, Ministry of Petroleum and mineral Resources, Deputy Ministry for mineral resources, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  15. WATBAN, N.F., 1976. Groundwater Potentiality of Tabuk and Saq aquifers in Qassim Region, Msc. Thesis, Institute of Applied Geology, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  16. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), 1984, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, Vol. 2, Health Criteria and Other Supporting Information, Geneva.