Hydrogeochemical characterization and statistical approach to assess the quality of the spring water in the Meknes-El Hajeb region, Morocco

Water resources in the Meknes-El Hajeb region are under stress because of the agricultural practices, domestic and industrial wastewater, which are the primary sources of pollution in the study area. Consuming contaminated water poses significant public health risks and is a serious problem in rural areas. This research project aims to assess water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes by using Water Quality Index (WQI) and Irrigation Water Quality Parameters (IWQP). Water samples were collected from twelve unprotected springs in the research area to evaluate their quality in two sampling campaigns during Wet and Dry seasons, 2022. The WQI was ranged from 46.13 to 128.54 during the wet season and 49.87 to 189.55 during the dry season. It is illustrates that 75% of the monitored stations exhibited good quality, while 17% showed poor quality during the wet season. On the other hand, 58% demonstrated good quality and 33% exhibited poor quality during the dry season. Additionally, 8% of the water analyzed corresponded to excellent quality for both seasons. The spring water's suitability for irrigation uses has been verified using the IWQP, which indicates that all the spring water was suitable for irrigation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to evaluate the effective loading of the spring water. The present study revealed that the major hydrochemical facies identified were the calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate type (CaMgHCO₃) and calcium-magnesium-chloride type (CaMgCl) in the most of water springs, which explains the significant presence of the carbonate minerals in the region. According to the Wilcox classification, the springs waters were classified as good (C 3 S 1 ) to excellent (C 2 S 1 ) categories, indicating their suitability for irrigation use in both periods. This project will provide a better understanding the spring hydrochemical and suggest that the WQI and IWQP may be an effective technique for decision-makers concerned with managing the sustainability of water resources.