Academic Journal
Post-restoration spring water quality diagnostic of the Nador Lagoon (Morocco) based on physicochemical and microbial indicators.
| Τίτλος: | Post-restoration spring water quality diagnostic of the Nador Lagoon (Morocco) based on physicochemical and microbial indicators. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Bouglada S; Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment (LCAE), Mineral Solid Chemistry Team, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco., Dihaji H; Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment (LCAE), Mineral Solid Chemistry Team, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco., Hbika A; Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Applied Analytical Chemistry of Materials Team, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco., Guerrouj BE; Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco.; Oriental Center for Water and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (COSTEE), Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco., Boulouiz A; Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment (LCAE), Mineral Solid Chemistry Team, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco., Touzani R; Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry (LCAE), Applied Analytical Chemistry of Materials Team, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco., Haily EM; Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment (LCAE), Mineral Solid Chemistry Team, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, 60000, Morocco. hailyelmehdi@gmail.com. |
| Πηγή: | Environmental monitoring and assessment [Environ Monit Assess] 2026 Apr 09; Vol. 198 (5). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 09. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8508350 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2959 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01676369 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Monit Assess Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 1998- : Dordrecht : Springer Original Publication: Dordrecht, Holland ; Boston : D. Reidel Pub. Co., c1981- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Seawater*/chemistry , Seawater*/microbiology , Water Pollutants, Chemical*/analysis , Natural Springs*/chemistry , Environmental Monitoring* , Water Quality* , Water Microbiology*, Wastewater/chemistry ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Morocco ; Seasons |
| Περίληψη: | Coastal lagoons provide essential ecosystem services but are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, particularly nutrient enrichment and microbial contamination. The Nador Lagoon (Marchica, northeastern Morocco) has undergone major restoration interventions over the past decade, yet its post-restoration water quality remains under scrutiny. This study presents an integrated spring-time diagnostic of lagoon water quality based on physicochemical parameters, nutrient concentrations, microbial indicators, a water quality index (WQI), and multivariate statistical analysis. Water samples were collected in April and May 2025 at three stations selected to represent the main anthropogenic pressure sources affecting the lagoon. Results revealed marked spatial variability, with dissolved oxygen concentrations consistently below 5 mg/L in urban-influenced areas, ammonium reaching up to 2.9 mg/L, and orthophosphate up to 0.10 mg/L near wastewater discharge zones. Fecal indicator bacteria exceeded recommended thresholds at all stations, with fecal coliform to fecal streptococci ratios indicating predominantly animal-derived contamination upstream and mixed, human-dominated inputs near treated wastewater outfalls. WQI values classified lagoon waters as poor to very poor during the study period, particularly at the wastewater-impacted station. Principal component analysis highlighted two dominant drivers of variability: anthropogenic organic and microbial pollution and natural physicochemical gradients related to salinity and temperature. While the results provide a valuable post-restoration snapshot of water quality during an ecologically sensitive season, the limited spatial and temporal coverage restricts interpretation to a punctual diagnostic. These findings nonetheless offer useful guidance for adaptive monitoring and management of Mediterranean coastal lagoons subjected to similar pressures. (© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethics approval: The authors declare that they have followed all ethical responsibilities required for publication. This work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by any other journal. All authors have contributed significantly to the manuscript and agree with its submission. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Coastal lagoon; Nador Lagoon (Marchica, Morocco); Nutrient and microbial contamination; Principal component analysis (PCA); Water quality assessment |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical) 0 (Wastewater) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260409 Date Completed: 20260714 Latest Revision: 20260714 |
| Update Code: | 20260715 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10661-026-15270-9 |
| PMID: | 41957253 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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