Assessing Water and Sediment Quality of the Moulouya River (East-Morocco)
(2011) European Journal of Scientific Research — Vol. 61, n° 4, p. 508-523 (2011)
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- Authors
- Abstract
- We assessed the chemical contamination of water and sediments by Metallic Traces Elements (MTE) within the Moulouya River. Upstream in the catchment, the Moulouya River drains the abandoned and non rehabilitated mining sites of Aouli, Mibladen and Zaida, which are potential sources of MTE contamination. Water and sediment samples were collected within 22 stations during the dry and rainy season. The samples were analysed for lead, arsenic, zinc, copper and cadmium content. Water and sediment in the upstream abandoned mine site sector are heavily contaminated with MTE, and this contamination is dominated by Pb, Zn and As. In superficial sediments, Zn and Pb concentrations of respectively of 191 and 156 ppm have been retrieved, exceeding the international norms of river sediments. In the stations located further downstream, MTE contamination is reduced but still affected by the urban effluents of neighboring towns. The Hassan II dam seems to be an efficient trap for MTE contamination. Indeed, the comparison of the MTE contents with the Moroccan quality norms shows that surface water downstream of the dam is of average to excellent quality. However, in the downstream sector, the accumulation of MTE in sediments is still very high, which constitutes a potential risk to this aquatic ecosystem. This accumulation can be explained by the contamination preceding the construction of the dam.
- Affiliations
Université Mohammed 1er Oujda, Maroc Centre Oriental des Sciences et Technologies de l'Eau Oujda, Maroc
Citations
Makhoukh, M., Sbaa, M., Berrahou, A., & Vanclooster, M. (2011). Assessing Water and Sediment Quality of the Moulouya River (East-Morocco). European Journal of Scientific Research, 61(4), 508-523. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/159054 (Original work published 2011)