The Environmental Effect of the Spring Water in Matwi Catchment/ Palestine

Abstract

The main objective of this Research is to determine the pollution level of these springs in reference to physical, chemical and biological parameters. The degrees of pollution of the spring water resulting from flowing of the wastewater inside the Matwi catchment / Salfeet area. The water quality of these springs was studied through determination of the major and minor ion concentrations as well as the microbiological parameters. Their suitability for irrigation purposes and the anthropogenic pollution of these springs was evaluated and indicated that the spring water nearby the wastewater flow wadi is unsuitable for drinking and agricultural purposes. All analysed springs show FC and TC of thousands of colonies / 100 ml, which indicate of wastewater flow contaminations. The hydrochemical properties of all spring samples in the sampling campaigns that was carried out in June 2013 show a water type of Ca – Mg – HCO3, which agrees with the nature of the outcropping of these springs in Sarida Catchment of carbonate rocks. In some of them like the NO3, is due to the pollution of wastewater, especially the Matwi spring in the western side of the catchment of 66 mg/L which is above the WHO standards. The spring water samples are plotted using Piper diagram and all samples are falling in the earth alkaline water with prevailing bicarbonate and in the domain of Ca – Mg – HCO3, which frequently recharging water in limestone and dolomite aquifers of Durov diagram.