Water contamination of the dam of Hammam Boughrara in the North-West of Algeria, as sustainable development falters

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to examine one of the most critical environmental issues in Algeria, namely the pollution of water dams caused by urban waste generated by urban areas and the lack of environmental awareness. The study is based on a digital and geospatial database, and after analyzing it, we were able to define the study area and calculate surfaces and altitudes. On the ecological side, we collected data from accredited organizations and some specialized studies. The results showed that the Hamam Boughrara dam has reached a deplorable state of pollution, and some figures even indicate that the pollution has spread to neighboring areas, contaminating agricultural land with heavy metals, which poses a serious threat to human health. Moreover, Algeria's focus on the foundations of the state has delayed the development of environmental legislation for several years. Historically, the water issue has been a matter of bilateral and collective agreements between conflicting parties, resulting in solutions satisfactory to all. Pollution control is a collective responsibility, and all parties, whether local or international, must join forces to find a sustainable solution, taking into account the potential of the people. Keywords: Environment, Sustainable development, Hammam Boughrara dam, Water pollution

Keywords

• Environment
• Sustainable development
• Hammam Boughrara dam
• Water pollution