Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in the Settlement Agricultural Project, Ubari Libya.

Abstract

Evaluation of groundwater potential and its quality assessment for drinking and irrigation has recently become a major concern, especially in developing countries. The primary aim of this study is to analyze the quality of groundwater and establish whether they are safe for domestic and agricultural usage. Elven groundwater samples from different sites were collected and analyzed for understanding the Hydrochemical characteristics and the suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the settlement agricultural project, Ubari Libya. Elven parameter were considered for calculating the irrigation and drinking water quality indices which are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate, pH, total dissolved solids and total hardness. Furthermore, graphical representation such as base exchange indices, meteoric genesis index, chloro-alkaline indices, USSL and Wilcox diagrams were prepared for irrigation water quality. Standard water quality model and synthetic pollution index were used to assess the groundwater quality for drinking purposes in the study area. The calculated parameters; Potential Salinity, Kelly’s Ratio, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, and Sodium Percentage show that the majority of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation uses. USSLS diagram indicate groundwater quality as moderate salinity and low sodium and water with good quality. Wilcox diagram classify the majority of samples as excellent category. The groundwater samples are categorized as (Na+- SO42-)- type and the sources of groundwater are deep meteoric water percolation type. All samples have positive chloro-alkaline indices, indicating a base-exchange reaction. The drinking water quality analysis by the standard water quality model shows that majority of the samples described the groundwater quality in the study area as good to excellent for direct consumption. Based on the Synthetic pollution index, all water samples were identified as moderately polluted. Generally, the groundwater in the study area is good for drinking and irrigation purpose.