Assessment of water quality in the Oued Kert (Eastern Rif, Morocco): Physicochemical analyses and heavy metals

¹ Mohamed First University, Nador Multidisciplinary Faculty (FPN), Laboratory OLMAN-BPGE, BP. 300, 62700 Nador, Morocco
² Mohamed First University, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Geosciences, BP. 717, 60000 Oujda, Morocco
³ Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Ivan Mihailov, 66, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
⁴ Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

^* Corresponding author: loukili.hamza@ump.ac.ma

Abstract

Water resources are vital for life, yet they are exposed to various risks. In the estern Rif of Morocco, the Oued Kert is a crucial water resource for a large population. Therefore, evaluating their health status is essential to ensure their optimal preservation. In this context, five stations (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5) were monitored, during the four campaigns (September, December, March, and June 2022), to assess the physicochemical quality of water. In this sense, seven parameters were measured, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates, and ammonium. In addition, an evaluation of metal contamination was conducted during a single campaign (May 2022) by measuring four elements (Al, Fe, Li, and Mn). The levels of electrical conductivity (greater than 3000 μS cm^-1), and COD (greater than 40mg L^-1 in S2, S3, and S4) indicate poor water quality, while, the average concentrations of ammonium classify these waters as of moderate quality. The results of metal contamination revealed the presence of iron (Fe) at a concentration of 1.9 mg L^-1 in S5, classifying these waters as of moderate quality according to Moroccan water quality standards.