Hydrochemistry of drinking water from three different regions in the North-Eastern Sahara of Algeria -comparative study

Abstract

This comparative study aims to assess the quality of drinking water in three different regions in the northeastern Algerian Sahara (Ouargla, El Hadjira and Hassi El-Fhel). The physicochemical analysis of the water samples collected revealed that deep waters in the Ouargla region have high salinity, making them unfit for consumption without prior treatment. After treatment, these waters became compliant with national standards. The deep waters (without treatment) targeted by this study in the El Hadjira region display average chemical quality, while those in Hassi El-Fhel have better quality. The study demonstrated that the treated waters in the Ouargla region are of good quality compared to those in the El Hadjira and Hassi El-Fhel regions, thus highlighting the effectiveness of the treatment applied in the Ouargla region.