Groundwater Quality of Coastal Aquifer Systems in the Eastern Coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia (original) (raw)

critical economic and social significance to the region, where groundwater is the sole source of irrigation and drinking water. Evaluation of groundwater quality of the coastal aquifers revealed that groundwater salinization is widespread. Groundwater samples exceeded the permissible limits for the majority of drinking water parameters tested except for dissolved metals. The occurrence of very low trace element levels probably reflects natural sources. The distributions of total dissolved solids were found to vary spatially. The variability observed within the groundwater samples is primarily related to seawater intrusion, mineral dissolution in the aquifer, distance from the sea, solutes in recharging water, time of year. Wells located in the upper north part of the study area were highly contaminated compared to southern wells. In addition, the occurrence of high salinity in the northern wells may be the result of surface water flow direction, where leaching and runoff flushing through the basin occur. Saline groundwater might occur due to both high evaporation and dissolution of evaporate minerals. Nitrate concentrations are variable but showed elevated levels. Evaluation of usability of groundwater aquifer for irrigation revealed that the majority of wells are generally not suitable for irrigation use under normal conditions but rather for salt-tolerant plants or livestock watering.