Hydrochemical and quality of water resources in Saudi Arabia groundwater: A comparative study of Riyadh and Al-Ahsa regions

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 2013-03, Vol.3 (1), p.42-51
• Main Author: Anwar Aly, Abdulrasoul Alomran, Mohamed Alwabel, Abdullah Almahaini, Mohammed Alamari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al-Ahsa; Aquifers; Arid climates; Boron; Chemical analysis; Chloride; Comparative studies; Ecology; Environmental science; Groundwater; Groundwater availability; groundwater quality; Gypsum; Heavy metals; Irrigation water; Magnesium sulfate; Minerals; Natural resources; phreeq model; Riyadh; Salinity; Saturation index; Sodium; Sodium chloride; Speciation; Sulfates; Trace elements; Water analysis; Water quality; Water resources; Water sampling; Water supply; waters types
• ISSN: 2220-8860; 2220-8860
• DOI: 10.0000/issn-2220-8860-piaees-2013-v3-0004

Due to the arid climate of the Saudi Arabia, groundwater is a most precious natural resource, providing reliable water supplies for population of these areas. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of groundwater resources in the selected study areas of Riyadh and Al-Ahsa regions. This study focuses on the chemical analysis of the available groundwater resources in these two areas of Saudi Arabia. The distribution of the chemical constituents (major, minor and trace elements) is determined and compared with each other. The groundwater salinity as one primary indicator of water quality for irrigation was found to be moderately high in most studied water samples for both areas. Besides salinity, chloride makes these waters unsuitable for irrigation, affecting agricultural activities. However, boron and trace elements were within acceptable levels. Comparative study revealed that the Al-Ahsa groundwater is generally considered higher in its salinity, chloride, and sodium content than Riyadh groundwater. Generated piper diagrams revealed that the majority of investigated waters types in Al-Ahasa were sodium chloride - sulphate, however, in Riyadh the majorities were to calcium magnesium sulphate - chloride. The most important results of speciation calculations, computed by Phreeq model, are saturation indices for minerals, which indicate whether minerals should dissolve or precipitate. The results indicated that most studied water samples in Al-Ahsa were undersaturated for anhydrite, gypsum, and halite. However, in Riyadh most water samples were undersaturated for anhydrite and halite, and saturated for Gypsum.