Assessment of groundwater quality in the Faria catchment, Palestine

الملخص EN

As for the entire West Bank, Palestine including Faria catchment, groundwater is the sole available and utilizable water resource.

The groundwater aquifer system of the Faria catchment is utilized through springs and wells.

However, groundwater quality in the catchment are deteriorating due to the effluent of untreated wastewater from urban areas and the seepage from rural cesspits in addition to uncontrolled agricultural practices.

This situation has compiled the dire need to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking and agricultural purposes in the Faria catchment.

Monitoring, sampling, and testing of chemical, physical and microbial parameters for selected groundwater wells and springs in the Faria catchment were conducted during the period from December 2010 to September 2013.

As much as 123 samples were collected and analyzed for various parameters, comprising SO4-2, NO3-, HCO3-, K+, Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl-1, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), acidity (pH) and Fecal Coliform (FC).

The results showed that some of the tested chemical parameters exceed the desirable limits, though most of the tested parameters are within the highest permissible limit for drinking water.

Induced pollution from anthropogenic nature was detected.

Additionally, FC bacteria were detected in groundwater wells and springs, which indicate the impermissible use of groundwater without disinfection for drinking purposes.

Based on EC as salinity hazard and SAR as alkalinity hazard, the obtained results indicate the permissible use of groundwater for irrigation purposes in the Faria catchment.