Assessment of Groundwater Quality and the Main Controls on Its Hydrochemistry in a Changing Climate in Morocco (Essaouira Basin)

Groundwater is essential for both water supply and environmental conservation, especially in semi-arid desert areas. Managing groundwater resources requires a thorough understanding of characteristics dynamics. The hydrogeochemical properties evolution the Essaouira synclinal basin northwest Morocco were studied this research, with 105 samples collected 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019. Water Quality Index (WQI) Irrigation (IWQI) developed to determine quality consumption irrigation purposes. chemical mainly dominated by evaporite, mineral carbonate dissolutions, cation exchange. Contamination nitrates particularly severe agricultural tourist WQI 2019 campaign showed that 6.7% are unsuitable drinking; 76.7% poor water; 13.3% very poor-quality while only 3.3% drinkable. According IWQI, total study area has been split into 50% (good), 43.3% (bad), 6.6% (unfit), respectively, no excellent areas have identified. Therefore, suitable agriculture but must be treated drinking. presence evaporation maritime intrusion contribution recent precipitations aquifer recharging demonstrated stable isotope content.