YDROCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AIN AZEL PLAIN, ALGERIA CARACTERISATIONS HYDROCHIMIQUES DE LA PLAINE DE AIN AZEL, ALGERIE

Abstract

The last decades are characterized by an intense dryness that in general touched the North of Algeria. The objective of the present work was consecrated to the interpretation of the physico-chemical analysis of water samples and to the determination of pollution sources and their impact on underground waters of Ain Azel plain. The determination of water pollution sources of the water-bearing (aquifer) was approached by the study of evolution, in time and space, of physical parameters, major elements and heavy metals. Statistical study and comparison of contents of metallic elements traces (MET) to the standards shows that waters of Ain Azel plain are extensively polluted by lead, iron, zinc and copper. This pollution is the source of limestones mineralization of the inferior Cretaceous to these elements that constitute the substratum of the superficial aquifer of Ain Azel plain.