Journal of Applied Surfaces and Interfaces 5(1-3) (2019) 1-12 Journal homepage: http://revues.imist.ma/?journal=jasi ISSN: 2550-4800 https://doi.org/10.48442/IMIST.PRSM/jasi-v5i1-3.15437 Evaluation of water quality of Oum Er Rbia River (Morocco) using water quality index method A. Benamar1, F.Z Mahjoubi1,2*, F. Kzaiber3, A. Oussama1. 1Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, Laboratory of Spectro-Applied Chemometric and Environment (LSCAE), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, B.P. 523, Beni Mellal, Morocco. 2Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, Research Group in Environmental Sciences and Applied Materials (SEMA), FP Khouribga, B.P. 145, 25000 Khouribga, Morocco. 3Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, Laboratory of Engineering and Applied Technologies (LITA), EST Beni Mellal, B.P. 591, Beni Mellal,Morocco. Received 15February 2019; Revised 22June 2019; Accepted 24 June 2019. Abstract :The objective of the present study is to investigate the spatiotemporal variation analysis of water quality and identification of water pollution sources in Oum Er Rbia river. To evaluate the water quality of river, physico-chemical analysis of water samples taken from eight stations in dry and in wet seasons along the Oum Er Rbia river were studied. These stations were monitored for 20 parameters; water temperature, potential Hydrogen, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total Hardness, turbidity, complete alkalimetric title, organic matter (oxidizability), chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, iron, copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium and zinc. Results of water samples were compared with Moroccan Standards for drinking water and permitted values recommended by World Health Organization. Results indicated that the water quality parameters are over Moroccan Standards for drinking water in some stations. Seasonal variation was observed in the physicochemical composition of water in the wet compared to the dry period. Water quality index (WQI), which is an important and unique rating to represent the overall water quality in a single term that is useful to determine the suitability of water for human consumption, was also estimated. The water quality index method was used to evaluate water quality classification for drinking purpose; it is calculated for each sampling station studied using 19 parameters. Based on 19 parameters; the range obtained without including the heavy metals for calculation of WQI was from 75.92(S1) to 243.12 (S6) and from 79.05 (S1) to 464.34 (S6) indicating a good to very poor quality and a good to unsuitable for drinking in dry and wet period respectively. When the calculation of the WQI to assess the water quality along the river was included the heavy metals, it observed that all the WQI values exceeded the limit of 300 in all stations indicating the water unsuitable for drinking in the river. This study indicates that the water of Oum Er Rbia River is potentially dangerous to health of the users and signaled the necessity to treat industrial and municipal wastewater and to encourage sustainable agricultural practices to avoid adverse health effects. Keywords:Oum Er Rbia River, water quality, physicochemical parameters, Water Quality Index (WQI). 1. Introduction evaluate water quality or their degree of pollution. Water is considered as the main and most Excessive trace elements in drinking water that cause important natural resource for all the people growth harmful effects on human health have received much and for all life forms on the earth, safe water should not attention in recent time [7]. contain any harmful chemicals or living microorganisms The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health at harmful levels [1]. On the surface of our planet, more estimates that there are 1.8 million deaths worldwide than 70% of the water is covered by water stored in from water contamination [8]. Contaminated water oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, ice caps and also in sources are the main cause of diseases transmission of groundwater [2]. The increased exploitation of water public health importance. For example, diarrhea, due to resources in the world caused degradation of water the consumption of infected water, is responsible for quality and has attracted great attention worldwide [3]. more than 5 lakh deaths per year in the world. In Rapid population growth, fast development of developing areas, the situation is much worse and agricultural activities and the accelerated pace of contaminated water supplies are one of the main urbanization are leading to an increasing demand for causes of morbidity and mortality [9]. water [4]. Iindustrial, agricultural and domestic Many other factors influence surface water quality, emissions in water bodies lead to a polluted state with a there are natural processes including weathering, lot of substances and their residues including nutrients, precipitation and soil erosion, by anthropogenic heavy metals, pesticides and pharmaceuticals [5,6]. activities such as agricultural, urban and industrial Physicochemical characteristics can be utilized to activities and excessive use of water resources [10,11]. * Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] (Fatima Zahra Mahjoubi) 2550-4800/© 2019 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Benamar et al. J. Appl. Surf. Interfaces 5(1-3) (2019) 1-12 As reliable sources of surface water, rivers are it has played an increasingly important role in water considered essential for public health and aquatic resource management [24]. Several water quality wildlife [12].It is considered as important sources for indices are used to evaluate water suitability for potable drinking water, in agriculture and in industry [13]. use; however, every index has strengths and Deterioration of rivers and streams due to human weaknesses which limit the applicability and ease of activities is a critical issue [14]. Therefore, surface water use. as rivers should be frequently followed and monitored WQI used in this study can be a useful tool with to aid facilitate develop sustainable water quality many advantages; it is capable of expressing the global management plans [15]. This need is rather found in state of water quality in time and space; it can therefore semi-arid countries such as Morocco whose water be utilized to assess programs to enhance water quality. resources are becoming increasingly difficult to renew, It may be useful to compare water quality from due to their over-exploitation by a rapidly growing different sources and locations, without conducting a population. However, the most important cause of river highly technical evaluation of water quality dataset. pollution is industrial and domestic wastewater and Therefore, this method can be used to provide a simple agricultural drainage [16,17]. and understandable way to report on the overall state In Morocco, OumErRbia River is among the most of water quality to decision-makers and the public. Also water-rich rivers, it is the second largest river. Although the WQI technique can be used as a decision-making not navigable, this river is characterized by a high flow and management tool by water authorities [25]. and plays a major role in the production of The objective of this study is to assess and evaluate hydroelectrical energy and in irrigation. The the physicochemical water quality of the OumErRbia geographical location of OumErRbia river basin, its River in two successive periods (dry and wet) by using water capacities, and its urban and agricultural the WQI values. To identify the contamination sources characteristics, make it sensitive and vulnerable to on water quality, 20 parameters were measured from different types of pollution (urban and / or agricultural) various designated locations on the OumErRbia river that continues to increase. The major sources of such as sources (S1), upstream and downstream of pollution in OumErRbia River are the discharge of Khenifra (S2), Zawiat Cheikh (S3, S4), Kasbat Tadla sewage without treating from neighboring cities such as (S5,S6) and Dar Oulad Zidouh (S7,S8) cities. The results Khenifra, Kasbat Tadla and Dar Oulad Zidouh, so we are expected to help assess the spatial–temporal have as objective the study of its water physicochemical development of water quality of OumErRbia river and quality by using Water Quality Index (WQI) and find the consequently help managers to comprehend the contamination sources at river level. principals origins of pollution at the different sites of the Traditional water quality evaluation at the water river basin. resources level is to compare the values of the different 2. Materials and methods water quality parameters with their guideline or standard values based on the assigned water use or 2.1. Description of the study area uses. This type of assessment is simple and The OumErRbia River is situated in Center-Western comprehensive, but does not offer a complete and of Morocco. OumErRbiais considered the second interpreted picture of water quality, especially for principal river in Morocco. The river has a length of managers and decision-makers who need concise 550 km and presents an average flow of 105 m3/s of information on water bodies. To meet the need solve water. It springs starting from the Middle Atlas, to this decision-making problem; various water quality 1800 m high altitude, passing by the Middle Atlas chain, indices have been developed to transform the values of the Tadla basic, the Messeta zone and discharging in the water quality parameters into an integrated indicator Atlantic Ocean in Azemmour city [26]. The OumErRbia level. A Water Quality Index (WQI) describes the general River across various barrages with a total storage status of water bodies by changing the levels of water capacity of 5.090 billion m3. Numerous reservoirs and quality parameters to a numerical scale using dams were built on the OumErRbia River to provide mathematical means [18-21]. hydroelectric power, safeguard water for utilization in The technique summarizes different quality irrigation, in industry, and domestic uses.