ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF WADI BISKRA’S CATCHMENT AREA (SOUTHEASTERN ALGERIA)
Fahima HALIMI1,*, Nassima SEDRATI2, Sabrina SOUADNIA3, Wided CHAOUI4, Samia BOUNAB5 & Amel BOUDRIES6 1Department of Geology, Geodynamics and Natural Resources Laboratory, Badji Mokhtar University. Annaba. Algeria.
2Department of Geology, Water Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Badji Mokhtar University. Annaba. Algeria.
3Department of Earth Science, Laboratory of Applied Research in Engineering Geology, Geotechnics, Water Sciences, and Environment, Ferhat Abbas University Setif1; 19000 - Algeria.
4Department of Geology, Laboratory of Research in Materials Mechanics and Industrial Maintenance LR3MI, Badji Mokhtar University. Annaba. Algeria.
5Department of Mines and Geology, Applied Hydraulics and Environment Research Laboratory (LRHAE), A. Mira University of Bejaia, Algeria.
6Department of Ecology and Environment, Geology Research Laboratory - Annaba, University of August 20, 1955, Skikda. Algeria.
*Corresponding author: fahima.halimi@univ-annaba.dz
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Abstract
DOI: 10.26471/cjees/2026/021/349
For several decades, the alluvial aquifer of the Oued Biskra catchment area has been a vital resource for drinking water supply and irrigation in this arid region. However, the intensification of anthropogenic activities—particularly in agriculture—as well as changes in the hydrogeochemical regime have raised growing concerns about the degradation of this resource’s quality. This investigation focuses on analyzing the groundwater quality of this aquifer based on the analysis of 19 collected samples. An integrated approach was adopted, combining statistical methods (Principal Component Analysis), hydrochemical interpretation tools (Piper, Schoeller, and Gibbs diagrams), and synthetic indices such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), the Groundwater Pollution Index (GPI) and the Sulfate Percentage Index (SPI). The results reveal that groundwater quality is influenced by both natural processes (water–rock interactions, evaporation) and anthropogenic inputs, mainly related to the use of nitrogen fertilizers and domestic wastewater discharge. The SPI indices highlight varying levels of sulfate contamination, confirming the significant impact of human activities on groundwater chemistry.
Keywords:
- degradation
- quality
- synthetic
- indices
- processes
- Oued
- Biskra
- chemistry
How to cite
Fahima HALIMI, Nassima SEDRATI, Sabrina SOUADNIA, Wided CHAOUI, Samia BOUNAB & Amel BOUDRIES (2026). ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF WADI BISKRA’S CATCHMENT AREA (SOUTHEASTERN ALGERIA), Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences February 2026, Vol. 21, No. 1, p. 25 – 34; https://doi.org/10.26471/cjees/2026/021/349