Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater salinity in a semi-arid region of central-eastern Tunisia: insights from multivariate statistical techniques and geostatistical modelling

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the hydrochemical behaviour of a shallow aquifer of a semi-arid environment in central-eastern Tunisia. It is based on a combined approach of multivariate statistical tools and a geostatistical analysis. The analysis of 49 groundwater samples underlined the heterogeneity between water classes. The factor analysis and the analysis of principal components highlighted that the deterioration of the groundwater quality results essentially from natural factors, such as rock weathering, and marginally from associated anthropogenic factors, in most cases, with artificial groundwater recharge from water irrigation at the soil surface. The natural factors are clearly associated with chloride, sodium and sulphate, and they are responsible for the water quality class with a salinity higher than 6 g/L. The anthropogenic factors are characterized by calcium and potassium ions. Based on the variograms obtained for the vector of both factors, their spatial interpolation by kriging showed that the high values of vector 1 (the natural factors) were recorded near the sabkha Sidi El Hani, indicating a rock-water interaction. However, vector 2 is high in the central part of the Ouled Chamekh plain, likely due to the water irrigation of agricultural soils.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberto WD, Del Pilar DM, Valeria AM, Fabiana PS, Cecilia HA, Los Angeles BM (2001) Pattern Recognition techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variation in water quality A case study: Suquı́a river basin (Cordoba-Argentina). Water Resour J 35(12):2881–2894

    Google Scholar 

  • Alssane A, Trabelsi R, Dovonon L, Odeloui D, Boukari M, Zouari K, Mama D (2015) Chemical evolution of the continental shallow aquifer in the South of coastal sedimentary basin of Benin (West-Africa) using multivariate factor analysis. J Water Resour Prot 7:496–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amadou H, Louati M, Manzola AS (2014) Caractérisation hydro-chimique des eaux souterraines de la région de Tahoua (Niger). J Appl Biosci 80:7161–7172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1995) Standard method for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, p 500

    Google Scholar 

  • Awadallah A, Yousry M (2012) Identifying homogeneous water quality regions in the Nile River using multivariate statistical analysis. Water Resour Manag 26(7):2039–2055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekkoussa B, Jourde H, Batiot Ch, Meddi M, Khaldi A, Azzaz H (2013) Origine de la salinité et des principaux éléments majeurs des eaux de la nappe phréatique de la plaine de Ghriss, Nord-Ouest algérien. Hydrol Sci J 58(5):1111–1127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belkhiri L, Mouni L (2014) Geochemical characterization of surface water and groundwater in Soummam Basin, Algeria. Nat Resour Res 23(4):393–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belkhiri L, Narany TS (2015) Using multivariate statistical analysis, geostatistical techniques and structural equation modeling to identify spatial variability of groundwater quality. Water Resour Manag J 29(6):2073–2089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belkhiri L, Boudouhka A, Mouni L, Baouz T (2010) Application of multivariate statistical methods and inverse geochemical modeling for characterization of groundwater of groundwater—a case study: Ain Azel plain (Algeria). Geoderma 159:390–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouzourra H, Bouhlila R, Elango L, Salma F, Ouslati N (2015) Characterization of mechanisms and processes of groundwater salinization in irrigated coastal area using statistics, GIS, and hydrochemical investigations. Environ Sci Pollut Res J 22(4):2643–2660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castany G (1948) Les fosses d’effondrement de Tunisie – Géologie et Hydrogéologie. Plaine de Grombalia et cuvettes de la Tunisie Orientale. Annales des mines et de la géologie 3:126

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloutier C, Lefebvre R, Therrien R, Savad M (2008) Multivariate statistical analysis geochemical data as indicative of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in a sedimentary rock aquifer system. J Hydrol 353:294–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dridi L, Majdoub R, Hachicha M (2013) Modélisation hydrogéologique des écoulements souterrains au niveau de la région d’Ouled Chamekh. Actes des 17 èmes Journées Scientifiques de l’INRGREF, Hammet, Tunisie

  • Eaton AD, Clesceri LS, Greenberg AE (1995) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 19th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Essefi H, Tagorti MA, Touir J, Yachi Ch (2013) Hydrocarbons migration through groundwater convergence towards saline depression A case study Sidi El Hani, discharge playa, Tunisian Sahel. ISRN Environ Chem. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/709190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fadili A, Najib S, Mehdi K, Riss J, Makan A, Boutayeb K, Guessir H (2016) Hydrochemical features and mineralization processes in coastal groundwater of Oualidia, Morocco. J Afr Earth Sci 116:233–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farid I, Trabelsi R, Zouari K, Abid K, Ayachi M (2013) Deciphering the interaction between quaternary and continental Sabkhas aquifers in Central Tunisia using hydrochemical and isotopic tools. Environ Earth Sci 70:3289–3309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeze RA, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, p 604

    Google Scholar 

  • Gbolo P, Gerla P (2013) Statistical analysis to characterize transport of nutrients in groundwater near an abandoned feedlot. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 17:4897–4906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goovaerts P (1997) Geostatistics for natural resource evolution. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Guler C, Thyne GD, McCray JE, Tumer AK (2002) Evaluation of graphical and multivariate statistical methods for classification of water chemistry data. Hydrogeol J 10:455–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hachicha W, Masmoudi F, Haddar M (2008) Formation of machine groups and part families in cellular manufacturing systems using a correlation analysis approach. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 36(11):1157–1169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hajd Ammar F, Chakir N, Zouari K, Deschamps P (2014) Hydro-geochemical processes in the complexe terminal aquifer of southern Tunisia: an integrated investigation based on geochemical and multivariate statistical methods. J Afr Earth Sci 100:81–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halimi S, Baali S, Kherici N, Zairi M, Bouhsina S (2016) Irrigation and risk of saline pollution. Example: groundwater of Annaba Plain. Eur Sci J 12(6):1857–7431

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Bouhlila R, Gueddari M (2009) Geochemsitry of fluoride and major ion in the groundwater samples of Triassic aquifer (South Eastern Tunisia), through multivariate and hydrochemical techniques. J Appl Sci Res 5(11):1941–1951

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Tlili-Zrelli B, Bouhlila R, Gueddari M (2013) An integrated statistical methods and modeling minerals-water interaction to identifying hydrochemical processes in groundwater in southern Tunisia. Chem Speciat Bioavailab 25(3):165–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassen I, Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Bouhlila R (2016) Application of multivariate statistical analysis and hydrochemical and isotopic investigations for evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agriculture purpose: case of Oum Ali-Thelepte aquifer, Central Tunisia. Environ Monit Assess J 188(3):135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Y, Wu Y, Groves C, Yuan D, Kambesis P (2009) Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the groundwater quality in the Nandong Karst underground river system in Yunan, China. J Contam Hydrol 109:49–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser HF (1960) The application of electronic computers to factor analysis. Educ Pshychol Meas 20:141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamel S, Dassi L, Zouari K (2010) Approche hydrogéologique et hydrochimique des échanges hydrochimiques entre aquifères profond et superficiel du bassin du Djérid, Tunisie. J Sci Hydrol 51(4):713–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharroubi A, Tkahigue F, Agoubi B, Azri Ch, Bouri S (2012) Hydrochemical and statistical studies of the groundwater salinization in Mediterranean arid zones: case of the Jerba coastal aquifer in southeast Tunisia. Environ Earth Sci J 67:2089–2100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khomsi S, Bédir M, Soussi M, Ben Jemia MG, Ben Ismail-Lattrache K (2006) Mise en évidence en subsurface d’évènements compressifs Eocène moyen-supérieur en Tunisie orientale (Sahel): généralité de la phase atlasique en Afrique du Nord. C R Geosci 338:41–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KO, Yun ST, Choi BY, Chae GT, Kim K, Kim HS (2009) Hydrochemical and multivariate statistical interpretations of spatial control of nitrate concentrations in a shallow alluvial aquifer around oxbow lakes (Osong area, central Korea). J Contam Hydrol 107:114–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim TH, Chung SY, Park N, Hamm SY, Lee SY, Kim BW (2012) Combined analyses of chemometrics and kriging for identifying groundwater contamination sources and origins at the Masan coastal area in Korea. Environ Earth Sci 67(5):1373–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolsi-Hajji S, Bouri S, Hachicha W, Ben Dhia H (2013) Implementation and evaluation of multivariate analysis for groundwater hydrochemistry assessment in arid environments: a case study of Hajeb Elyoun-Jelma, Central Tunisia. Environ Earth Sci J 70(5):2215–2224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louati D, Majdoub R, Rigane H, Abida H (2015) Spatial estimation of soil salinity with ordinary Kriging (Eastern Tunisia). Int J Adv Res 3(5):274–283

    Google Scholar 

  • M’nassri S, Dridi L, El Amri A, Hachicha M, Majdoub R (2016) Aptitude des eaux de la nappe phréatique de la cuvette de Sidi El Hani à l’irrigation (Centre-Est de la Tunisie). J Mater Environ Sci 7(12):4742–4753

    Google Scholar 

  • M’nassri S, Dridi L, Lucas Y, Schäfer G, Hachicha M, Majdoub R (2018) Identifying the origin of groundwater salinisation in the Sidi El Hani basin in central-eastern, Tunisia. J Afr Earth Sci 147:443–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M’nassri S, Lucas Y, Dridi L, Schäfer G, Majdoub R (2019) Coupled hydrogeochemical modeling using KIRMAT to assess water-rock interaction in a saline aquifer in central-eastern Tunisia. Appl Geochem J 102:229–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maamri R, Rabhi M (2003) Carte géologique de la Tunisie. Feuillet Oued Chérita. Office National des Mines, Tunisie

  • Majdoub R, Hachicha M, El Amri A, Melki M (2012) Etude de la dynamique de l’eau et du transfert des sels un sol sablo-limoneux du Sahel Tunisien. Eur J Sci Res 80(4):499–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Maoui A, Kherici N, Derradji F (2009) Hydrochemistry of an Albian sandstone aquifer in a semi arid region, Ain oussera, Algeria. Environ Geol 60(4):689–701

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikhailov EV, Tupicina OV, Bykov DE, Chertes KL, Rodionova OY, Pomerantsev AL (2007) Ecological assessment of landfills with multivariate analysis—a feasibility study. Chemom Intell Lab Syst 87:147–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Najib S, Fadili A, Mehdi K, Riss J, Makan A (2017) Contribution of hydrochemical and geoelectrical approaches to investigate salinization process and seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer of Chaouia, Morrocco. J Contam Hydrol 198:34–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyenjie P, Batelaan O (2009) Estimating the effects of climate change on groundwater recharge and baseflow in the upper Ssezibwa catchment, Ugenda. Hydrol Sci J 54(4):713–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation for water analyses. American geophysical Union: Papers Hydrology

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodier J (1996) L’analyse de l’eau naturelle: eaux résiduaires, eau de mer. p 1384

  • Sachez-Martoz F, Jimenez ER, Pulido BA (2001) Mapping groundwater quality variables using PCA and geostatistics: a case study of Bajo Andarax, southeastern Spain. Hydrol Sci J 46(2):227–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trabelsi R, Zairi M, Ben Dhia H (2007) Groundwater salinization of the Sfax superficiel aquifer, Tunisia. Hydrogeol J 15(7):1341–1355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatramanan S, Chung SY, Kim TH, Kim BW, Selvam S (2016) Geostatistical techniques to evaluate groundwater contamination and it sources in Miryang City, Korea. Environ Earth Sci 75:994. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5813-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward JH (1963) Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. J Am Stat Assoc 58:236–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yermani M, Zouari K, Michelot JL, Mamou A, Moumni L (2003) Approche géochimique du fonctionnement de la nappe profonde Gafsa Nord (Tunisie Centrale). J Sci Hydrol 48(1):95–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yidana MS, Yakubo-Banoeng B, Akabzaa TM (2010) Analysis of groundwater quality using multivariate and spatial analyses in the Keta basin, Ghana. J Afr Earth Sci 58:220–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yidana MS, Ophori D, Yakubo-Banoeng B, Samed A (2012) A factor Model to explain the hydrochemistry and causes of fluorides enrichment in groundwater from the Middle voltain sedimentary aquifers in the northern region, Ghana. ARPN J Eng Appl Sci 7(1):1918–6608

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is part of a research project entitled “salinization of groundwater of the Sidi El Hani aquifer.” It was funded by Institution of Research and Higher agricultural Education (IRESA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département du Génie des Systèmes Horticoles et du Milieu Naturel, Université de Sousse, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott Meriem, BP 42, 4042, Chott Meriem, Sousse, Tunisia

    S. M’nassri, L. Dridi & R. Majdoub

  2. Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Hydrologie et de Géochimie de Strasbourg (LHyGeS) UMR 7517, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    G. Schäfer

  3. Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, BP 10, 2080, Ariana, Tunisia

    M. Hachicha

Authors
  1. S. M’nassri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Dridi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Schäfer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Hachicha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Majdoub
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Schäfer.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

M’nassri, S., Dridi, L., Schäfer, G. et al. Groundwater salinity in a semi-arid region of central-eastern Tunisia: insights from multivariate statistical techniques and geostatistical modelling. Environ Earth Sci 78, 288 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8270-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8270-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation