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July 2012 Volume 1 Issue
4
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Hussein
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Al-Hasawi ZM
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Gobal Advanced Research Journal
of Environmental Science and Toxicology
July 2012 Vol. 1(4), pp. 072-079
Copyright © 2012 Global Advanced Research Journals
Full Length
Research Paper
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Groundwater investigation
in Rabigh Governorate, West of Saudi Arabia
Al-Hasawi Z.M1
and Hussein K.H*1, 2
1Department
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King
Abdulaziz University, 80203 Jeddah 21589, Saudi
Arabia
2Department
of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria
University, Egypt
*Corresponding Author E-mail:
ahssan555@yahoo.com
Accepted 18 July, 2012
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Abstract |
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Groundwater is generally presumed to be good for
human consumption and is used as a potential source
of drinking water. Agricultural development,
urbanization and industrialization are the major
causes for all changes in the quality of water.
Saudi Arabia is an arid and the largest country in
the Middle East. Recent urban and rural expansion
has shown manifold increases in water use in various
sectors. Water resources are limited and
non-renewable coupled with unpredicted scanty
rainfall. In order to meet the rising water needs,
evaluation of water quality is important for
allocation to various uses. The quality of 36 wells
water in selected villages in Rabigh Region, West of
Saudi Arabia used mainly for drinking was examined
with respect to total dissolved salts (TDS), pH,
total hardness, and concentrations of calcium,
magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, fluoride,
nitrate, and bicarbonate, beside coli form bacteria
as an indicator of bacterial contamination. The TDS
of tested water samples varied widely from 166 to
2400 mg/L. The chemical quality of well water of
Rabigh has been studied in detail in order to
demonstrate the potable groundwater zones without
any deterioration by pollution. Water samples were
analyzed for total salt concentration, pH, Ca, Mg,
Po4, TDS, HC03, Cl, S04, N03, and NH4 contents. The
EC of groundwater ranged between 230.0µs/cm to300.0
µs/cm. Magnesium was the most abundant cation.
Chloride was the most abundant anion followed by
HC03 and S04 in groundwater of Rabigh. The N03
concentration is more than the safe limits for
drinking purpose according to WHO (2003) standards.
PO4 values are within the permissible limits
according to SASO (1993).
Keywords: Groundwater, Water quality,
Pollutants, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
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