Spatial and statistical assessment of nitrate contamination in groundwater:Case of Sais Basin, Morocco

作者：Abdelhakim LAHJOUJ,Abdellah EL HMAIDI,Karima BOUHAFA

摘要：The objective of this study is to evaluate the nitrate contamination in the plioquaternary aquifer of Sais Basin based on a statistical approach. A total of 98 samples were collected in the cultivated area during the spring and autumn period of 2018. The results show that 55% and 57% of the samples in spring and autumn respectively exceed the threshold fixed by WHO(50 mg/L). However, nitrate concentrations do not show seasonal and spatial variation(p>0.05). The results of the correlation matrix, principal component analysis(PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA) suggest that nitrate pollution is related to anthropogenic source. Moreover, multiple linear regression results show that NO3 is more positively explained in the spring period by Ca and SO4 and negatively explained by pH and HCO3. Regarding the autumn period, nitrate pollution is positively explained by Ca and negatively by pH. This study proposes a useful statistical platform for assessing nitrate pollution in groundwater.

发文机构：Laboratory of Geo-engineering and Environment Laboratory of Water

关键词：SaisBasinNitratepollutionGROUNDWATERMultivariatestatistics

分类号： X523[环境科学与工程—环境工程]