Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the physical and chemical quality of groundwater in the medium Moulouya, to identify the sources of pollution of the OuedMoulouya waters and to detect the corrélation between the physico-chemical contents. Methods/Analysis: Some physicochemical parameters change during transport and storage of samples of the sampling site (Ground) to the laboratory; therefore it is always better to make on-site measurements. The measurements of all physical and chemical parameters are performed within 48 hours after the sampling, with the standard methods usually adopted by this type of analysis. In this work, we applied the statistical methods and in particular, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the XLSTAT software. Findings: The analysis of results show that the water of stations are BICARBONATED with CALCICUM and magnesium and they also show that in the stations, where the wastewater are discharged from the cities of Missour and OUTAT EL HAJ, there is an increase in the levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Orthophosphate, chlorides, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Organic Matter (MO), and a decrease in the dissolved oxygen levels. Analyses of nitrates and orthophosphates of the water give very low values. These waters are fairly loaded with organic matter, especially near the urban discharges from the cities of Missour and OUTAT EL HAJ (BOD5 = 27.2 mg/1, OM = 47.09 mg/l, O2 = 4.8 mg O2/l) in dissolved salts (chloride, sulphate). The temperature (T = 20.9 °C) is related to the arid local climate. The values of certain parameters such as temperature, the potential of hydrogen, conductivity, alkalis, sulphates and chlorides generally testify that the waters of the OUED are of good quality according to Moroccan standards. Furthermore, the pollution degree differs from one site to another depending on the distance and the remoteness of the source of pollution. Application: The protection of the receiving environment, installation and dimensioning of a STEP at the level of the Missouri city and upgrading and renewal of the STEP of OUTAT EL HAJ. 

Keywords: Morocco, Physical Chemistry, Pollution, Outat El Haj, Oued Moulouya, Water Quality