The hydrochemical characteristics of spring waters in the Soreq-Catchment were determined to identify pollutants in the springs. The ion concentrations were within the allowable WHO limits except two springs located within the center of the populated areas. The water of most of the springs is contaminated with fecal coliform and total coliform. The concentration of nitrate shows moderate values below the WHO limits. The springs in the study area show higher concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Mn, As, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al, Fe, and V) exceeding the permissible standards set by WHO (2007). Most springs in the study area are of water type (Ca-Mg-HCO 3 -). Piper’s classification ranges from normal earth alkaline water with prevailing bicarbonate and chloride in both seasons. Comparing the quality of spring water with standards for different uses proved that some springs are unsuitable for human drinking purposes.
Improving access to safe drinking-water is of major benefit to the human health and every effort should be made to achieve a drinking-water quality as safe as practicable [
The area of the study is Soreq catchment which is situated in the western part of the West Bank. Its location is within the western catchments (
The geological formations of Soreq catchment range in age from lower Cenomanian to Albian. Soreq catchment is mainly covered by sedimentary carbonate rocks of the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. Lithological composition of these formations consists mainly of limestone, dolomite, marl, chalk, chert and alluvium [
The samples that were collected from springs, in a 1-Liter high density Polyethylene bottles, stabilized with ultrapure nitric acid (0.5% HNO3), preserved in a cool place (about 4˚C). Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids were measured in Onsite, using Hanna Field Multimode Meter. Major anions (NO3, SO4, and Cl) were analyzed using HP liquid chromatography. Concentrations of the major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) were determined by ICP-MS. Alkalinity and HCO3 analysis was measured onsite by titration. All chemical analyses were carried out at the Environmental Research Lab. at Al-Quds University―Abu Dis. For Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform tests were collected in sterile 100 ml, glass bottles, then cooling in an ice box and transferred to the laboratory on the same day for biological tests. The spring water samples were analyzed at the laboratory of Birzeit University in Ramallah.
Results of the physical parameter analysis of spring water samples are represented in
Spring Name | Location (Village) | Emergent Formation | Formation | Water Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ein Ajab | Beit Anan | Upper Beit Kahil | Albian | Agricultural |
Ein Katana | Katana | Upper Beit Kahil | Albian | Agricultural and drinking |
Ein Beit Soreq | Soreq | Upper Beit Kahil | Albian | Agricultural and drinking |
Ein Alshami | Beit Iexa | Yatta | Lower Cenomanian | Agricultural |
Ein Salman | Beit Duqqo | Upper Beit Kahil | Albian | Agricultural and drinking |
Ein Jefna | Beit Duqqo | Upper Beit Kahil | Albian | Agricultural |
Ein Aziz | Aljeeb | Yatta | Lower Cenomanian | Agricultural |
Ein Albalad | Aljeeb | Yatta | Lower Cenomanian | Agricultural |
Ein Alqeblea | Aljeeb | Yatta | Lower Cenomanian | Agricultural |
Ein Abu Zaher | Aljeeb | Yatta | Lower Cenomanian | Agricultural and drinking |
Spring Name | Dry Season | Wet Season | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | pH | TDS | T [in ˚C] | EC | Date | pH | TDS | T [in ˚C] | EC | |
Ajab | 01/11/2013 | 8 | 198 | 20.2 | 393 | 11/03/2014 | 7.8 | 274 | 21 | 552 |
Katana | 01/11/2013 | 7.5 | 185 | 20.3 | 370 | 11/03/2014 | 7.1 | 510 | 22 | 1016 |
Biet Soreq | 01/11/2013 | 7.6 | 561 | 19.7 | 1200 | 11/03/2014 | 7.3 | 690 | 21.4 | 1385 |
Al-Shami | 01/11/2013 | 7.8 | 397 | 23.4 | 792 | 11/03/2014 | 7.6 | 340 | 19 | 680 |
Salman | 01/11/2013 | 7.9 | 421 | 21.4 | 844 | 11/03/2014 | 7.8 | 435 | 20.3 | 870 |
Jefna | 02/11/2013 | 7.7 | 236 | 22.9 | 469 | 11/03/2014 | 8 | 236 | 20 | 472 |
AL-Balad | 02/11/2013 | 8 | 430 | 15.6 | 912 | 11/03/2014 | 7.8 | 763 | 19.1 | 1530 |
Qebleya | 02/11/2013 | 7.9 | 379 | 19.5 | 759 | 11/03/2014 | 8 | 372 | 20 | 734 |
Abu Zaher | 02/11/2013 | 8.2 | 224 | 19.8 | 446 | 11/03/2014 | 8.4 | 210 | 20.2 | 421 |
Aziz | 02/11/2013 | 7.5 | 415 | 20 | 832 | 11/03/2014 | 7.5 | 310 | 20 | 623 |
TDS is Total Dissolved Solids, T is Temperature, EC is Electric Conductivity.
Spring Name | Date | Na | K | Mg | Ca | Cl | SO4 | HCO3 | NO3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajab | 01/11/2013 | 15.62 | 0.34 | 20.17 | 79.06 | 31.91 | 18 | 244.08 | 18 |
Katana | 01/11/2013 | 48.68 | 3.75 | 47.08 | 123.34 | 184.34 | 52 | 488.16 | 31 |
Biet Soreq | 01/11/2013 | 44.58 | 23.48 | 57.48 | 145.61 | 95.72 | 98 | 366.12 | 44 |
Al-Shami | 01/11/2013 | 46.67 | 0.98 | 41.75 | 112.16 | 127.62 | 88 | 305.1 | 36 |
Salman | 01/11/2013 | 36.77 | 1.8 | 44.13 | 106.01 | 81.54 | 39 | 488.16 | 39 |
Jefna | 02/11/2013 | 13.18 | 0.4 | 19.91 | 76.2 | 39 | 22 | 366.12 | 26 |
Al-Balad | 02/11/2013 | 49.84 | 17.71 | 52.45 | 115.22 | 219.79 | 110 | 427.14 | 33 |
Qebleya | 02/11/2013 | 34.33 | 30.01 | 34.45 | 81.07 | 120.53 | 32 | 366.12 | 48 |
Abu Zaher | 02/11/2013 | 15.91 | 2.07 | 18.73 | 58.77 | 46.09 | 36 | 183.06 | 16 |
Aziz | 02/11/2013 | 28.64 | 0.96 | 15.17 | 145.47 | 106.35 | 84 | 305.1 | 49 |
Spring Name | Date | Na | K | Mg | Ca | Cl | SO4 | HCO3 | NO3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajab | 11/03/2014 | 12.4 | 0.29 | 19.8 | 82 | 88.63 | 18 | 251.95 | 8.85 |
Katana | 11/03/2014 | 43.6 | 5.5 | 48.1 | 132.6 | 106.35 | 78 | 430.15 | 20.87 |
Biet Soreq | 11/03/2014 | 57.9 | 51.8 | 59.3 | 148.1 | 230.43 | 112 | 497.75 | 39.51 |
Al-Shami | 11/03/2014 | 43.9 | 1.0 | 34.1 | 84.4 | 106.35 | 90 | 288.82 | 24.02 |
Salman | 11/03/2014 | 41.1 | 2.2 | 42.5 | 127.2 | 88.63 | 56 | 359.48 | 23.18 |
Jefna | 11/03/2014 | 11.6 | 0.3 | 18.3 | 79.5 | 88.63 | 35 | 245.8 | 2.52 |
Al-Balad | 11/03/2014 | 48.8 | 52.02 | 54.4 | 131 | 301.33 | 102 | 337.98 | 22.05 |
Qebleya | 11/03/2014 | 33.4 | 27.7 | 35.4 | 91.5 | 88.63 | 32 | 285.74 | 17.16 |
Abu Zaher | 11/03/2014 | 15.8 | 1.8 | 19.6 | 59.2 | 88.63 | 40 | 187.42 | 3.95 |
Aziz | 11/03/2014 | 20.09 | 0.7 | 14.2 | 131.1 | 88.63 | 76 | 251.95 | 12.08 |
The spring water quality assessed through the analysis of physiochemical parameters (pH, EC, T, TDS) and major cations (Ca2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+), major anions (Cl−,
EC values are higher in the Ein Beiet Soreq as a result of effect of fertilizers uses in the recharge areas, in addition to agricultural and human activities. Concentrations of cations and anions in wet period are greater than dry period due to the dilution process except bicarbonate ion
the recharge process, where the carbonate is associated with water converted to
The analysis of heavy elements in the groundwater of the study area confirm that springs water contains higher values of trace element about WHO like Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, As, Zn, Cr, V, Mn, B, Se, Al, Ti, and Ba (
Hydrochemical formula shows that most springs of study area have water type of Ca-Mg-HCO3, and the other springs range between Ca-HCO3 for the two periods. However, both spring water types reflect dolomite bearing rock from Albian and sometimes the deeper Cenomanian formations. The spatial distribution of water quality in the study area for both dry and wet periods shows difference in water quality between both periods as a result of recharge and dilution processes in the wet period. The major cations and anions concentrations of the spring water from the sampled springs in the study area are plotted on a piper diagram (
According to the classification in (
The hardness of water is defined as its content of divalent metallic ions which react with sodium soaps to produce
solid soaps or scummy residue and which react with negative ions when the water is heated in boilers to produce solid boiler scales [
The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicates sodium concentration in water; (SAR) is considered an important parameter for the evaluation of water suitability for irrigation [
Water quality for agricultural purposes in the Soreq catchment shows variation between excellent to good based on Todd classification [
where all concentrations are in meq/l. According to EC values for the spring water, the EC of 6 springs (55%) between 750 and 1200 μs/cm, therefore those springs are permissible for irrigation for both seasons while other water springs samples are good for irrigation for both seasons. Depending on Na%, Ein Katana, Ein Beit Soreq, Alsami, Ein Salman, Ein Albalad and Al-Qebleya water springs for both seasons are good for irrigation, while the Ajab, Jefna, Abu Zaher and Aziz spring water is excellent for irrigation.
Water is a good media for microorganism. Groundwater and surface water may contain bacteria, viruses, fungus and algae, which makes water objectionable for domestic purposes and health threatening [
A hydrochemical study of the spring water in Soreq catchment was conducted to define water types in the study
Name of the spring | Dry season | Wet season | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
T.C Cfu/100ml | F.C-Cfu/100ml | T.C Cfu/100ml | F.C-Cfu/100ml | |
Jefna | 62 | Nil | 42 | Nil |
Ajab | 40,000 | 32 | 7 | Nil |
Ein Katana | 11,000 | Nil | 500 | 3 |
Ein Abu Zaher | 3590 | Nil | 5401 | Nil |
Ein Albalad | 56,000 | 1175 | 18,900 | Nil |
Ein Biet Soreq | 1290 | 8 | 350 | 2 |
Ein Alshami | 3490 | Nil | 312 | Nil |
Ein Aziz | 2200 | Nil | 70 | Nil |
area and to determine hydrochemical parameters of the aquifer system. Water samples were analyzed within two water sampling campaigns (before and after recharge period), covering all springs in the area. These springs are located close to populated areas and have agricultural activities nearby. The physical properties (temperature and EC) and chemical properties (pH, TDS, major ions, and trace elements) were determined. From the results of this study, the concentrations of most metal, ions and anions are within permissible limits except the few cases discussed. The spring water quality is generally low. Springs are suitable to be used as agricultural and irrigation water source, except some samples which are poor due to high salinity. EC and TDS averages in wet period are higher than those in dry period due to dilution process. Depending on TDS values for both periods the spring water in the area is classified as fresh water. The relationship between EC and TDS in the spring water of the study area is strong and the value of correlation coefficient (R) is close to one by equations (TDS = 0.46 EC + 20.2 with R2 = 0.99). The water of the area is between highly mineralized and excessively mineralized. EC values are higher in Ein Beiet Soreq as a result of the applications of fertilizers uses in the recharge areas, in addition to human activities.
HassanJebreen,MarwanGhanem, (2015) Spring Water Qualitative Assessment in Mountainous Areas, Case Study: Soreq Catchment/Ramallah/West Bank. Journal of Water Resource and Protection,07,851-859. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.711069