A b s t r a c tThe study focuses on the characterization of the groundwater salinity on the Nador coastal aquifer (Algeria). The groundwater quality has undergone serious deterioration due to overexploitation. Groundwater samplings were carried out in high and low waters in 2013, in order to study the evolution of groundwater hydrochemistry from the recharge to the coastal area. Different kinds of statistical analysis were made in order to identify the main hydrogeochemical processes occurring in the aquifer and to discriminate between different groups of groundwater. These statistical methods provide a better understanding of the aquifer hydrochemistry, and put in evidence a hydrochemical classification of wells, showing that the area with higher salinity is located close to the coast, in the first two kilometers, where the salinity gradually increases as one approaches the seaside and suggests the groundwater salinization by seawater intrusion.
The groundwater in Nador coastal plio-quaternary aquifer had high salinity in 1995, due to a seawater intrusion, where the Electrical Conductivity (EC) exceeded 9000 μS.cm-1. After the implementation of Boukourdane’s dam, a pumping reduction of groundwater occured, and the irrigation was ensured by the dam and the water resulting from the sewage treatment plant.The physico-chemical analysis of the groundwater quality for the year 2013 shows that there is a dilution of the salinity compared to 1995 with values of EC less than 4400 μS.cm-1. It also shows that more than 45% of the physico-chemical parameters have values above the permissible limits of the WHO standard for drinking purpose. The geophysical study is aimed mainly to understand the geophysical characteristics of groundwater in Nador plain by studying the electrical resistivity distribution of the subsurface saturated layers by applying the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) techniques. A total of 47 VES and 3 profiles of ERT were carried out to understand the resistivity distribution of the area. The interpretation of the results has identified a highly saline coastal aquifer and delineates the freshwater in the upstream at more than 2 km.
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