Hydrochemical processes and groundwater quality assessment in North eastern region of Jordan valley, Jordan

Abstract

Hydrochemical studies carried out on the groundwater in north eastern part of Jordan valley, Jordan, revealed the confinement of groundwater to two partly overlapping Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary-Quaternary aquifers. Values of Base Exchange Index (r1) and Meteoric Genesis Index (r2) indicate that the groundwater is essentially Na-SO4 type and belongs mainly to the category of Deep Meteoric Percolation type. Major processes responsible for the hydrochemistry of groundwater are: weathering of carbonate and silicate minerals aided by H2CO3 and H2SO4, oxidation of sulphide minerals, domestic waste water, irrigation return flow, reverse and direct ion exchange reactions as well as connate saline water. Values of Water Quality Index indicate the occurrence of excellent and good quality potable water at majority of bore well locations. The groundwater belongs essentially to (C3S1) and (C4S2) irrigation water classes of Richards (1954) and is suitable for cultivation of semi-salt tolerant and salt tolerant crops. Keywords: Hydrogeochemistry, Sources of dissolved solids, Water Quality Index, Jordan valley region, Jordan