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Degradation of groundwater quality in coastal aquifer of Sabratah area, NW Libya

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Abstract

Overextraction of groundwater is widely occurring along the coast where good quality groundwater is at risk, due to urbanization, tourist development and intensive agriculture. The Sabratah area at the northern central part of Jifarah Plain, Northwest Libya, is a typical area where the contamination of the aquifer in the form of saltwater intrusion, gypsum/anhydrite dissolution and high nitrate concentrations is very developed. Fifty groundwater samples were collected from the study area and analysed for certain parameters that indicate salinization and pollution of the aquifer. The results demonstrate high values of the parameters electrical conductivity, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and sulphate which can be attributed to seawater intrusion. The intensive extraction of groundwater from the aquifer reduces freshwater outflow to the sea, creates drawdown cones and lowering of the water table to as much as 30 m below mean sea level. Irrigation with nitrogen fertilizers and domestic sewage and movement of contaminants in areas of high hydraulic gradients within the drawdown cones probably are responsible for the high nitrate concentration towards the south of the region. Seawater intrusion and deep salt water upconing result in general high SO4 2− concentrations in groundwater near the shoreline, where localized SO4 2− anomalies are also due to the dissolution of sebkha deposits for few wells in the nearby sebkhas. Upstream, the increase in SO4 2− concentrations in the south is ascribed to the dissolution of gypsum at depth in the upper aquifer.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Libyan government through the Libyan Embassy in Brussels. Thanks to all who supported in the field campaigns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Applied Geology and Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Nawal Alfarrah, Gebremedhin Berhane & Kristine Walraevens

  2. Geology Department, Az Zawiyah University, Az Zawiyah, Libya

    Nawal Alfarrah

  3. Geology Department, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Gebremedhin Berhane

  4. Geology Department, Burundi University, Bujumbura, Burundi

    Charles Bakundukize

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  1. Nawal Alfarrah
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  2. Gebremedhin Berhane
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  4. Kristine Walraevens
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Correspondence to Nawal Alfarrah.

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Alfarrah, N., Berhane, G., Bakundukize, C. et al. Degradation of groundwater quality in coastal aquifer of Sabratah area, NW Libya. Environ Earth Sci 76, 664 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6999-5

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