QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN HAIL AREA, KINGOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Introduction
Background
The Arabian Peninsula is located in southwest Asia (Fig. 1); a region that is distinguished by its aridity and dry environment along with very limited natural fresh water resources (Al-humoud et al., 2010; Alsharhan et al., 2001; Haddadin, 2002).
Fig. 1.
However, the region is rich in petroleum and mineral resources and has therefore hosted massive related industries which have a great potential to impact the quality of natural water resources (Sadiq and Alam, 1997; Sharma and Al-Busaidi, 2001). During the last fifty years, the region has experienced rapid industrial and economic developments accompanied by a large increase in the number of population, which resulted in a higher demand on freshwater, mainly for human consumption and agricultural activities (Al-Senafy and Abraham, 2004; Husain et al., 1991; Murad and Krishnamurthy, 2004). However, the renewable water resources in Saudi Arabia are limited with ground water as the major source of water supply.
Hail secures its drinking water from government run wells through the Hail, Water Project, which supplies water to the city of Hail. Drinking water is provided to towns, villages and hamlets in the region through mini water projects consisting of one well and one elevated water tank and one water filler, in the areas where water is suitable for drinking. In areas where there is no potable ground water, drinking water is provided by tankers under the supervision of the Ministry of Water and Electricity. Consumption of potable water in the Region is estimated to 25 million cubic meters in 2012. Currently, implementation is underway for more than 23 projects of water and wastewater in the Region including construction of drinking water tanks, water supply systems, wastewater systems, treatment and purification plants with a total cost of SR 396 million riyals.
For irrigation, the region depends on groundwater, where there are 27 storage dams in 2012 with a capacity of 17 million cubic meters approximately. The northern, eastern and western areas of Hail, are rich in groundwater water which is suitable for cultivation. Groundwater is also found in the northeast part of the city of Al-Heta, heading east, then southeast of Salma Mountain, to the borders of Al Qassim region. As a consequence, the assessment of the quality and quantity of such limited water resources, especially in arid lands, becomes an imperative tool to manage these resources in the best possible manner for any future sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of this work is to assess the chemical and physical quality of the different water resources in the Hail city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also the study will evaluate the efficiency of water treatment process regarding contamination by nitrates. As well as, comparing this research results by the world guidelines to assess the water for different purposes.
1.2 Nitrate Major uses and sources in drinking-water
Nitrate and nitrite are naturally occurring ions that are part of the nitrogen cycle. The nitrate ion (NO3-) is the stable form of combined nitrogen for oxygenated systems. Although chemically unreactive, it can be reduced by microbial action. The nitrite ion (NO2-) contains nitrogen in a relatively unstable oxidation state. Chemical and biological processes can further reduce nitrite to various compounds or oxidize it to nitrate (ICAIR Life Systems, Inc., 1987).
Nitrate is used mainly in inorganic fertilizers. Nitrate can reach both surface water and groundwater as a consequence of agricultural activity (including excess application of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers and manures), from wastewater treatment and from oxidation of nitrogenous waste products in human and animal excreta, including septic tanks. Nitrite can also be formed chemically in distribution pipes by Nitrosomonas bacteria during the stagnation of nitrate-containing and oxygen-poor drinking-water in galvanized steel pipes or if chloramination is used to provide a residual disinfectant and the process is not sufficiently well controlled.
Atmospheric nitrate concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 µg/m3 and water nitrate concentrations of up to 5 mg/l (van Duijvenboden & Matthijsen, 1989). The nitrate concentration in surface water is normally low (0–18 mg/l) but can reach high levels as a result of agricultural runoff, refuse dump runoff or contamination with human or animal wastes.
The natural nitrate concentration in groundwater under aerobic conditions is a few milligrams per liter and depends strongly on soil type and on the geological situation. In most countries, nitrate levels in drinking-water derived from surface water do not exceed 10 mg/l. In some areas, however, concentrations are higher as a result of runoff and the discharge of sewage effluent and certain industrial wastes.
When nitrate levels in drinking-water exceed 50 mg/l, drinking-water will be the major source of total nitrate intake, especially for bottle-fed infan
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