Groundwater Chemical Evolution in the Essaouira Aquifer Basin—NW Morocco

The sustainability of groundwater resources for drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry a prime concern in countries dominated by arid and semi-arid climates such as Morocco. The growing demand for groundwater coupled with impacts from land use and climate change make sustainability an even more important water management goal. In order to make sound decisions about water use and protection of water quality, managers and policy makers must have a sound understanding of such factors as the location and amount of groundwater recharge and groundwater ages. Due to the population growth and climate change (causing long periods of drought) in the world, many countries have intensively increased their use of water sources for supplying potable water to population and for their agricultural (irrigation) and industrial developments. Due to the lack of surface waters, people exploit mainly underground water reservoirs. So, it is necessary to study and characterize these water reservoirs to avoid any excess of exploitation. The water resources of the Essaouira basin are characteristic of a semi-arid climate, and are severely impacted by the climate (quantity and quality). Considering the importance of the Essaouira aquifer in the groundwater supply of the region, a study was conducted in order to comprehend this aquifer groundwater evolution. It is an aquifer located on the Atlantic coastline, southern (Morocco), corresponding to a sedimentary basin with an area of near200 km². Covering the Palaeozoic bedrock, the sedimentary series range from the Triassic to the Quaternary. The geological structures delineate a syncline bordered by the Tidzi diapir of Triassic age which outcrops to the East and South. In the Essaouira basin a multi-aquifer was identified constituted by detrital deposits of the Plioquaternary and dolomitic limestones of the Turonian. The Plioquaternary is unconfined below the Senonian marls. However, in some places it can be in direct contact with the other Cretaceous and Triassic units. The Plioquaternary is generally up to60 mthick. The Turonian is confined by the Senonian marls and in direct contact with the Plioquaternary on the edges of the syncline structure. The main flow direction is from SE to NW towards theAtlantic Ocean, being the recharge area located near the Tidzi diapir. In the Essouaira basin, in spite of the occurrence of calcareous and dolomitic levels, all waters are of Na-Cl-type. The chemical signature of these waters should be the result of the preferential recharge area that is