In recent decades, water pollution has become a major concern, threatening both humans and natural ecosystems. This study aims to analyze seasonal variations in the quality of surface water of the Nador Canal in Morocco, using the water quality index (WQI) and principal component analysis (PCA). Surface water samples from 22 sites along the canal were analyzed for physical, chemical, and heavy metal parameters. The results of the study revealed significant seasonal variations, with water quality decreasing in the summer months, while its quality generally improved in winter. The predominant water type was Na⁺-Cl⁻ in summer, while it was the mixed Ca²⁺-Na⁺-HCO₃⁻ water type in winter. WQI values also varied seasonally, with an average of 113.04 in summer and 160.6 in winter, classifying the water as unsuitable for drinking but suitable for irrigation throughout the year. The results of the water quality index are consistent with the results of the principal component analysis of surface water in the Nador Canal, where the results of the principal component analysis showed that there are significant seasonal variations in water quality. In both summer and winter, major ions like magnesium, sodium, and calcium predominantly indicate influences from natural and anthropogenic sources. In winter, heavy metals and nutrients, signaling pollution from industrial and agricultural runoff, become especially prominent. These variations are influenced by rainfall patterns and agricultural runoff, emphasizing the need for adaptive water management practices to maintain crop and soil health. This study provides new insights into the dynamic interplay between seasonal factors and water quality, offering valuable guidance for local water resource management.

Groundwater is an essential and indispensable resource, meeting dire needs for drinking and irrigation purposes. The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes. This evaluation will be conducted using the Groundwater Pollution Index (GPI), the nitrate pollution index (NPI), and the geographic information system (GIS) in Sidi Slimane, Morocco. In this study, a comprehensive collection of 20 samples was obtained from various locations for analysis and evaluation. Hadrochemical facies of this study area showed that out of 20 samples, 90% belonged to a type (Na⁺-K⁺-Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻), while only 10% fell into a category (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻). The Groundwater Pollution Index values ranged from 0.7 to 10.8, with an average of 7.03; about 60% of the groundwater samples analyzed in this study area were classified as highly polluted and unsuitable for drinking purposes. Nitrate index values ranged from −0.9 to 10.5. Approximately 80% of the sampled sites require treatment before consumption. According to the Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI), it is essential to regularly monitor 16 well sites to prevent nitrate contamination resulting from human activities, including waste disposal in open areas and sewage infiltration. This study recommends raising farmers’ awareness of the use of slow-release natural fertilizers made from nitrogen rather than nitrogen-based fertilizers, reducing waste disposal by residents, and maintaining an appropriate sewage network to minimize sewage flow leakage. This study plays a vital role in identifying the polluted areas and highlighting the need to take appropriate measures to control the sources of pollution in this study area in order to protect water resources and ensure the provision of safe water to the local population.

Groundwater represents an important natural resource for sustaining life. This study was conducted to evaluate groundwater in the Doukkala region in Morocco, using the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) and uses Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) in GIS was to show the spatial distribution of water quality parameters. It collected 97 of samples from groundwater and were estimated the sodium concentration (Na%), and sodium absorption rate (SAR), Also, Residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly index (KI), magnesium content (MR), salinity potential (PS), and permeability index (PI). According to the distribution map of the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) for the study area, about 22.7% of samples fall into the severe restriction (SR) category, which can be used to irrigate plants with high salinity tolerance, 34.02 of samples fall under the high restriction (HR) category, 23.7% of samples fall into the moderate restrictions (MR) category, 17.52% of samples fall under the low restriction (LR) category, and 2.06% of samples fall under the no restriction (NR) category. The results of (IWQI) indicated that the groundwater quality in the study area is mostly suitable for irrigation purposes.

Groundwater is a critical resource for various human activities, yet it faces contamination risks from agricultural, industrial, and domestic sources. This study aimed to evaluate groundwater in Morocco’s Sidi Allal region using the groundwater pollution index (GPI) and diagnose nitrate pollution. The study included 45 groundwater wells from the study area, and physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, cations, and anions were examined in the laboratory. The geographic information system (GIS) was used to determine the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters. The groundwater pollution index and nitrate pollution index (NPI) were determined. The inverse distance weighting method (IDW) was used to create a spatial distribution map. The results indicated that the calculated GPI values ranged from 0.856 to 7.416, with an average of 2.06. About 40% of groundwater samples were highly polluted and unsuitable for drinking. The NPI values ranged between −0.74 and 10.5, with an average of 5.1. About 64% of the total groundwater samples were considered highly polluted according to the NPI classification, suggesting that the groundwater was unsuitable for drinking purposes. The spatial distribution map revealed the availability of appropriate groundwater in the central area of the study area and inappropriate groundwater near the Esbou River and Nassour Canal. The findings of this study revealed high concentrations of nitrates in groundwater samples in the central part of the study area, indicating that this increase in nitrates may be due to intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural activities and sewage waste.

Groundwater is an essential and indispensable resource, meeting the dire needs for drinking and irrigation purposes. The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes. This evaluation will be conducted using the groundwater pollution index (GPI), the nitrate pollution index (NPI), and the geographic information system (GIS) in Sidi Slimane, Morocco, Morocco. In the study, a comprehensive collection of 20 samples were obtained from various locations for analysis and evaluation. The result of Piper and Gibbs diagrams uncovered that the characteristics of groundwater are shaped by various factors, including the weathering of parent rocks, evaporation, interactions between rocks and water, as well as ion exchange processes. The GPI value ranged from 0.7 to 10.8 with an average of 7.03. These findings indicate that 60% of the groundwater samples analyzed in the study area were classified as highly polluted and unsuitable for drinking purposes. The values of NPI were ranged between − 0.9 and 10.5. Based on the NPI classification, about 80% of the overall groundwater samples obtained are highly polluted, indicating that the groundwater in the study area is unsuitable for drinking purposes. This study plays a vital role in identifying the polluted areas and highlighting the need to take appropriate measures to control the sources of pollution in the study area, in order to protect water resources and ensure the provision of safe water to the local population.

In recent decades, water pollution has emerged as a significant concern, posing a threat to both humans and natural ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the spatial variations in water quality in the Nador Canal, Morocco using the water quality index combined with multivariate statistical techniques and geographic information systems (GIS). The parameters examined were then compared to the maximum permissible limit values recommended by Moroccan surface water standards and the World Health Organization. The results indicated that the WQI of Nador Canal is generally suitable for irrigation and unsuitable for drinking. It indicated that the quality of surface water in the Nador Canal is affected by organic pollutants, and this is evidenced by low levels of dissolved oxygen, the levels of elements were high, especially chlorine and sodium, in addition to a high concentration of ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate in some of the stations studied. Principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that PC1–PC3 collectively accounted for 73% of the variation in surface water quality within the study area. The cluster analysis also proves that the water quality is relatively polluted. Potential contributing factors to surface water pollution include changes in the hydrological regime, household waste discharges, and agricultural activities. These findings furnish essential insights into water quality, particularly its suitability for irrigation, and contribute to enhancing the water quality management system of the Nador Canal in the Gharb region of Morocco.