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Groundwater Quality Assessment of Yanbu Annakhal Springs, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Drinking and Irrigation

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The quality of the flowing spring water, an essential groundwater resource, from Yanbu Annakhal, Saudi Arabia, and its suitability for drinking and irrigation were examined in this study. A total of 16 samples were collected from four different stations and analyzed for twelve selected water quality parameters, including: pH, total dissolved solids (TDS (mg/L)), Fluoride (F−), Chloride (Cl−), Bromide (Br−), Nitrate (NO3−), Phosphate (PO43−), Sulfate (SO42−), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Calcium (Ca2+), and total coliform. Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), and Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR) methods were used to evaluate water quality, respectively. Based on the EWQI evaluation, the study area was categorized as medium to poor quality, requiring appropriate treatment to protect public health. The findings showed that the groundwater had higher concentrations exceeding the permissible level of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Cl−, Br−, Na+, and NO3− ions with a mean average concentration of 410.99, 2.58, 73.77, and 246.85 mg/L, respectively. The possible contamination may be due to the geophysical nature of the area in addition to anthropogenic activities. The outcome of this study is expected to help researchers, decision-makers, planners, and policymakers develop an advanced approach that would ensure the supply of pure water and effective groundwater management in Saudi Arabia.
DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/203351
Language: English
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409508184
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