Seawater Intrusion and Nitrate Pollution in the Quaternary Coastal Aquifers of Jefara Plain, Northwestern Part of Libya

Abstract

Jefara Plain Quaternary Coastal Aquifer is the most important resource of water supply in the urban coastal, in the northwest part of Libya, used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. However, groundwater overdraft and contamination are the main problems affecting the aquifer system.  This study was conducted to evaluate the principal hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater quality in the urban coastal strip. Besides, investigation of the threats of seawater intrusion and pollution was carried out. In addition, 59 groundwater samples were collected from different wells and analyzed for various parameters. Major cations and anions analyzed in the groundwater samples reveal that groundwater is mainly affected by several factors such as dissolution of calcite and dolomite, seawater intrusion due to aquifer overexploitation, and nitrate pollution mainly caused by the intense agricultural activities and leakage of nitrate from septic pits.