Laila Achagra, Jamal Stitou El Messari, Mohamed Draoui

Assessing the vulnerability to pollution in the aquifer’s Charf El Akab (Tangier, Morocco)

Abstract The application of the DRASTIC’s method on Charf El Akab's aquifer situated in the northwest of Morocco, precisely in the coastal plain between Tangiers and Asila, was made in this study. The mapping of the index DRASTIC allows us to delineate zones with various degrees of pollution vulnerability. The obtained results show that: i) the high˗vulnerability zones extend over the entire free part of the lower ground˗water (in the South of the aquifer), and ii) These zones lack natural protection of the ground˗water. Precisely, the pollution vulnerability becomes very high in the southeast part of the studied sector, mostly in the quarry areas where the exploited biosandstones play the reloading role with respect to the lower ground˗water. The zone with moderate vulnerability extends over the north part, where the ground˗water is covered by the upper, and the middle, fine˗grained to marly lithological formations. In the same zone, the vulnerability becomes low at the level of wetlands. As a conclusion, it is important to carry out strict control and follow˗up of the ground˗water to optimize its role as a strategic reserve in the Tangier’s region.

Keywords:

Key words: DRASTIC model, groundwater, vulnerability mapping,

PDF

___

Achagra, L., Sarroukh, M., Benjbara, M., Stitou El Messari, J., Ceron., J. C. (1998) Relación estadisticas entre las propriedades hidodinámicas y geoelectricas del acuífero de Charaf El Akab (Marruecos). Geogaceta 25: 3˗6.
Aller, L., Bennett, T., Lehr, J. H., Pretty, R., Hacket, G. (1987) DRASTIC: A standardized system for evaluating groundwater pollution in potential using hydogeologic settings. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 662 pp.
Draoui M., Vias, J., Andreo, B., Targuisti, K., Stitou El Messari, J. E. (2008) A comparative study of four vulnerability mapping methods in detritic aquifers under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Environmental Geology 54: 455˗463.
Durand Delga, M., Didon, J., Médioni, R., Wernli, R., Suter, G. (1985) Carte géologique du Rif, feuille Tanger˗Al Manzla, notes et Mém. Serv. Geol. Maroc, No: 2
Lamarti Sefian, N. (1999) Une plate˗forme ouverte à faciès bryomol: le bassin de Charf El Akab (NO Maroc). Sédimentologie, Paléontologie et
Paléoenvironnements. Thèse Univ. Tétouan, 227 pp. Médioni, R., Wernli, R. (1978) Etude géologique du bassin post˗nappe de Charf
El Akab (Province Tanger, Maroc). Notes Serv. Géol. Maroc. 40 (275): 107˗133.