The groundwater in the plain of Fez-Meknes constitutes a major resource in the region. The study highlights the importance of this resource, especially its irreplaceability. However, a number of inferences of point source pollution or diffuse were made. In this context, this study aimed at showing the possible relationships between the water quality of wells and springs and the diversity of the aquatic fauna which occurs in these habitats. To this end, the water quality and the fauna were regularly investigated in several stations (8 wells and 2 springs) selected in the region. The stations were chosen considering visible differences related to both their fauna and also some evident characteristics i.e. water table depth, nature of geological substratum, protection and human use, so that it was possible to expect certain diversity. The total faunal richness of stations was poorly correlated with water quality but, in contrast, the specific richness of the stygobiontic fauna (the subterranean species living in groundwater), and moreover the abundance of these stygobiontic species decreased significantly in case of water pollution. Thus the stygobiontic fauna and especially the peracarid crustaceans appear to be good indicators of water quality in the studied wells and springs.
Groundwater in Morocco is restricted because of the semiarid to arid climatic conditions. In this area, the water resources, especially groundwater, are extremely significant. However, it is under threat from organic and inorganic pollution. Furthermore, it is considered the only source of potable water as well as having different usages in Zagora (the southeast of Morocco), making its quantitative and qualitative protection an urgent priority. The present study focused mainly on the anthropogenic impact on the natural resources and groundwater quality around Zagora city by using geospatial techniques and the Water Quality Index (WQI). This paper uses sampling data from 15 wells in the water table of Oasis Fezouata. 15 samples were collected from wells during rainy and dry seasons in two years 2020-2021 and the analysis of the groundwater quality of studied stations. The suitability of the aquifer Fezouata was investigated using drinking and irrigation water quality indices like SSP, SAR, MHs, PI, and KR. The results showed that sulfate and chloride are the dominant anions in the groundwater samples. While the mean abundance of major cations is Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, the sodium ion is dominant and K+ is the least abundant. The Water Quality Index suggests that 28.55% are good quality water, (23.90%–47.55%) are poor and very poor quality water, respectively, and 40.24% are unsuitable for drinking purposes in 2020. Furthermore, the WQI of the 2021 campaign showed that only 17.48% were considered good quality water and 38.94% (43.58%) were poor or very poor quality water, respectively. However, 33.21% are unsuitable for drinking water. Based on SAR, PI, SSP, KR, and HM values, the majority of groundwater samples can be used for agricultural purposes, notably those of the upstream part of the study area. These results represent an important contribution to the evaluation of groundwater quality and may be influenced mainly by local factors, especially the wastewater treatment stations and mine discharges, which are the primary sources of deteriorating water quality.
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