Degradation indices of chotts and sebkhas brines in the Algerian Low Sahara

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the impact of urban discharges on chotts and sebkhas brines in the Algerian Low Sahara. The physicochemical analysis revealed that these discharges are heavily loaded with mineral and organic matter expressed in terms of : nitrates (0.5 to 1356 mg/l), phosphates (62 mg/l), COD (82 to 710 mg/l), BOD 5 (20 to 123 mg/l) and SM (67 to 149 mg/l). Due of the still widespread practice of "everything in the sewer", and the review of these results, emphasize very well the terrible degradation of these receiving environments by urban discharges