Study of the impact of heavy metals and physico-chemical parameters on the quality of the wells and waters of the Holcim area (Oriental region of Morocco)

To analyze the impact of heavy metals on well and soil water quality from the Holcime Plant Region, we studied the physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, Organic matter, chlorides, sodium, potassium, nitrates, ammonium, sulphates) as well as the evaluation of the degree of metal contamination (iron, zinc, chromium, copper and lead) present in the samples. The analyses carried out revealed low levels of organic matter (MO: max = 1.4 mg / l and mineral matter (conductivity: max = 770 ms / cm).) Analysis of waters of wells and soil showed that grades In NO³⁻ present an average concentration of less than 40 mg / l with temporal variations of remarkable amplitude (in accordance with the standards suggested by the World Health Organization and the Moroccan standards). The average chloride contents do not exceed 783 mg / l (suggested by Moroccan standard). As for nitrous nitrogen, the recorded values showed very low contents and were found lower than the Moroccan standards (0.1 mg.l). Concerning the heavy metals, the examined results showed a significant increase in the concentration of lead in the seven wells, in particular well No. 1 (9.95 µg / l), and an elevation in iron and zinc concentration in the seven wells. The copper and chromium contents were relatively low. In general, the concentrations of these metals at the level of the different samples were found lower than the Moroccan standards (NM 03.7.001, March 2006). In the case of soil analyses, the results showed a high concentration of iron in the seven soil locations, the contents of zinc, chromium and copper remained low, though the lead contents were considerably low.