Chemical Studies on the Water Quality in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
The water quality was studied for selected samples from groundwater and network water -supply. The values of NH 3, NO 3-, pH, TDS, alkalinity, hardness, Pb, Cd, Fe3+ and Mn2+ were estimated. Ammonia values ranged between 0.07 -0.7 ppm. N itrate values ranged between 2.4 and 0.35 ppm. The TDS was between 645 ppm and 480 ppm. For Fe3+ and Mn2+ the values are below the limits of WHO except for well 9; and manganese in wells 6 -10. Several wells showed values of Cd above the Saudi STD. The netw ork water -supply in Tabuk city was investigated. The TDS values for these samples were between 500 -600 ppm. The hardness values exceed the Saudi STD limit. When ammonia was tested, only one sample showed high value. Chloride level was below 158 ppm, but su lfate values for most samples were 128 -222 ppm. For iron only one sample (well no. 9) was above the permissible limit.
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Introduction
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered as one of the most water scarce countries in the world. It depends on groundwater as well as desalination water as source of water supply. According to the last published report of Ministry of water, it is clear that aquifers shared with 46% of total water production in Saudi Arabia according to MOWE-report [1]. In Tabuk, groundwater production reached 30 million m3 that year. Accordingly, it is of interest to evaluate the water quality in this region. Very little studies which directed to evaluation of water quality in Tabuk region (either groundwater or network water-supply) were recorded. The previous studies were concentrated on hydrology of Tabuk area as part of Saq aquifer by Al-Ahmadi [2]. The author evaluated only the major ions, but nothing was mentioned about the different minerals. The author recommended that the TDS value of aquifer water ranged between 630 and 420 ppm. This indicates that the groundwater is refreshed. Sharaf and Hussein [3] evaluated the groundwater in Saq region in Saudi Arabia. They were studying the water composition concerning chloride, sulfate, carbonate, and calcium. Al-Harby [4] put a simple management model for irregularly located wells is presented by considering interference between adjacent wells at a certain risk level and safe groundwater velocity which depends mainly on the hydraulic conductivity at individual well sites. Sen and Al-Somyien [5] put a simple management criterion for confined Saq aquifer in Tabuk region.
In the present study, evaluation of water quality of groundwater and network-water supply will be introduced for the first time according to the WHO [6] and Saudi STD [7]. In addition, the study included the evaluation of Pb and Cd levels for the first time. The selected wells were located inside the city. Most of them were the source of water-network supply for the city population. This study is considered as a role of the university towards community since there is no scientfic studies that record the variation in water quality in this area.
Conclusion
Quality studies is important for human need. It is associated with health and human safty. These studies is considered as a role of the university towards community, since there is no scientfic studies that record the variation in water quality in this area. Evaluation of major water -parameters in Tabuk city, Saudi Arabia was successfully intoduced. The relation between between groundwater quality and the network -water supply quality w as predicted. Evaluation of Pb and Cd levels for the first time in these area was pridected. No lead was recorded above limits, while Cd limits of most wells exceeds the Saudi STD limits. Other heavy metals need more studies to evaluate the water quality in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia.