PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND HEAVY METALS ASSESSMENT OF WATERS AND SEDIMENTS OF SEBOU WATERSHED (TOP SEBOU, MOROCCO)

Authors

Mohamed Kabriti, Université Hassan 2Follow
EDA Mahougnon Léonce, Ecole nationale de statistique de planification et de démographieFollow
chaimaa Merbouh, faculté des science Ben M'sik, Université Hassan 2Follow
bensaber abdelfattah, Laboratoire national des Etudes et de Surveillance de la PollutionFollow
abdelmajid achkir, École normale supérieure de l'enseignement techniqueFollow
abdlhakim aouragh, École normale supérieure de l'enseignement techniqueFollow
Iounes Nadia, faculté des sciences Ben M'sik, université Hassan 2Follow

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of human activities, geochemical background and seasons on pollutant pathway. Surface water, groundwater and sediments were assessed to highlight and confirm those impacts. Sixteen physico-chemical parameters were measured (T°, pH, O2, salinity, conductivity, BOD5, COD, SM, Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, NH4+, TAC, TH, SO₄²- and PO43-) and twelve metallic trace elements were analyzed (Ar, Cr, Zn, Mn, Ni, Fe, Al, Cd, Cu, Pb, K and Na). Five sampling campaigns were carried out in 18 sampling points for over one year, between July 2018 and July 2019 in the upstream part at the least studied area in Sebou river watershed. The results of our investigations have showed that the water quality of Sebou river varies between medium and good quality depending on the sampling area. The quality is highly impacted by geochemical background and slightly impacted by seasonal change and by surrounding anthropogenic activities. Those conclusions were confirmed by statistical analysis of the data. Strong positive correlations were noted between the elements in waters and sediments, in particular for sulfates, chlorides, iron, copper, zinc, potassium and barium. In addition to that, negative correlation was noted for cobalt, sodium and aluminum contents of surface water and groundwater. In the meantime, we found that these waters are rich in chlorides 62 to 315 ±9.45 mg/L, in nitrate 0.79 to 7.45 ±0.52 mg/L, and sulfate 11 to 245 ±7.35 mg/L, with high contents of iron, aluminum and sodium respectively 69.79 mg/L, 62.23 mg/L and 149.76 mg/L. Toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead and cadmium were also assessed but their levels testify to the absence of major metal contamination from humane activities.

Recommended Citation

Kabriti, Mohamed; Léonce, EDA Mahougnon; Merbouh, chaimaa; abdelfattah, bensaber; achkir, abdelmajid; aouragh, abdlhakim; and Nadia, Iounes (2021) "PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND HEAVY METALS ASSESSMENT OF WATERS AND SEDIMENTS OF SEBOU WATERSHED (TOP SEBOU, MOROCCO)," Karbala International Journal of Modern Science: Vol. 7 : Iss. 1 , Article 4.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.33640/2405-609X.2229

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