Academic Journal
Hydrogeochemical processes and water quality of the Aïn Taga Karst Spring, Tlemcen, Northwestern Algeria.
| Τίτλος: | Hydrogeochemical processes and water quality of the Aïn Taga Karst Spring, Tlemcen, Northwestern Algeria. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Guettaia S; Laboratory N°25 Promotion of Water, Mineral and Soil Resources, Environmental Legislation and Technological Choices, University of Tlemcen, P.O. Box 119, 13000, Tlemcen, Algeria., Boudjema A; Laboratory N°25 Promotion of Water, Mineral and Soil Resources, Environmental Legislation and Technological Choices, University of Tlemcen, P.O. Box 119, 13000, Tlemcen, Algeria., Derdour A; Artificial Intelligence Laboratory for Mechanical and Civil Structures, and Soil, University Center of Naama, P.O. Box 66, 45000, Naama, Algeria. derdour@cuniv-naama.dz., Laoufi A; Laboratory N°25 Promotion of Water, Mineral and Soil Resources, Environmental Legislation and Technological Choices, University of Tlemcen, P.O. Box 119, 13000, Tlemcen, Algeria., Ahmed AA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brunel University of London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB83PH, UK. Ashraf.ahmed@brunel.ac.uk., Almalki AS; Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Computing in Al-Qunfudhah, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia., Arafat AA; Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, 21944, Taif, Saudi Arabia., Ghoneim SSM; Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, 21944, Taif, Saudi Arabia. s.ghoneim@tu.edu.sa. |
| Πηγή: | Environmental geochemistry and health [Environ Geochem Health] 2026 Jun 16; Vol. 48 (9). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 16. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8903118 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2983 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 02694042 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Geochem Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 1999- : Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publishers Original Publication: Kew, Surrey : Science and Technology Letters, 1985- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Natural Springs*/chemistry , Environmental Monitoring* , Water Quality*, Algeria ; Salinity |
| Περίληψη: | This study presents the first long-term hydrogeochemical monitoring (2014-2024) of the Aïn Taga karst spring, located in the Ghar Boumaâza karst system (northwestern Algeria). The analysis is based on 71 samples, examined for major ions, salinity, hardness and saturation indices, interpreted using Piper and Chadha diagrams, multivariate statistical methods (PCA, CAH) and mineral balance calculations. The results reveal a clear dominance of the Ca-Mg-HCO₃ facies (94.4% of the samples), indicating that carbonate dissolution mainly controls mineralization, with waters supersaturated with calcite and dolomite and a limited influence of evaporitic formations. A cubic polynomial model HCO₃⁻-Q highlights a nonlinear relationship between bicarbonate concentration and flow, characterized by high concentrations at low flow rates (prolonged residence times and strong water-rock interaction) and progressive dilution during high-water episodes, with very good predictive performance (R2 ≈ 0.95, MAE ≈ 15 mg/L, RMSE ≈ 19 mg/L). Principal component analysis clearly distinguishes natural mineralization from low anthropogenic inputs (NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄2⁻), while the marked negative correlation between flow and bicarbonate (ρ = - 0.66) highlights the dilution processes during floods. In this strategic, highly vulnerable and historically understudied karst, this integrated approach provides an operational framework to link the hydrodynamic regime and hydrochemical signature, improve the interpretation of carbonate dissolution processes, identify localized contaminations and guide monitoring and protection strategies for water resources. (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. |
| References: | Environ Sci Technol. 2007 Aug 1;41(15):5252-8. (PMID: 17822087) Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Nov 27;196(12):1258. (PMID: 39592469) Sci Total Environ. 2025 Feb 25;966:178561. (PMID: 39904221) Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22948. (PMID: 40595066) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Anthropogenic pollution; Aïn Taga Spring; Hydrogeochemical; Karst system; Tlemcen; Vulnerability |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260616 Date Completed: 20260616 Latest Revision: 20260922 |
| Update Code: | 20260922 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13272230 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10653-026-03286-6 |
| PMID: | 42301526 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1573-2983 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s10653-026-03286-6 |