Groundwater quality assessment for drinking and irrigation purposes in Boumerdes Region, Algeria

In Algeria, water is a critically limited resource. Rapid demographic, urban and economic development has significantly increased water demand, the particularly for drinking water supply and agriculture. Groundwater serves as the primary source of water in the Boumerdes Region, located in northern Algeria, Therefore evaluating groundwater quality for water supply and irrigation purposes is very crucial. In this study, 49 groundwater samples were collected in 2021 and analyzed based on 17 physicochemical parameters. These results were processed using multivariate analysis and compared against the standards established by both the World Health Organization and Algerian Standards. The findings revealed that the concentrations of Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Nitrate of some samples exceeded acceptable limits, indicating that physicochemical treatment is necessary before use for drinking water supply. For irrigation suitability, several indices were employed, including Sodium Adsorption Rate (SAR), Wilcox diagram, Magnesium Absorption Ratio (MAR), Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSB), Permeability Index (PI) and Stuyfzand Index. The results of these indices show that groundwater in the region generally meets irrigation standards with a low risk. However, the groundwater should still be managed carefully to prevent salinity-related issues. This study highlights the current status of groundwater quality the Boumerdes region and offers important insights for the sustainable management of water resources in the area.