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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation in the Hennaya Region, Northwest Algeria: A Hydrochemical and GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment

by
Abderrahim Badraoui
1,2,
Chérifa Abdelbaki
1,2,
Madani Bessedik
1,2,
Sidi Mohamed Tiar
1,2,
Yacine Abdelbaset Berrezel
1,2,
Mahdi Ziane
1,2,
Amaria Slimani
3,
Ahmed Souafi
4,
Nourredine Boudadi
5,
Bernhard Tischbein
6 and
Navneet Kumar
6,7,*
1
Department of Hydraulics, Faculty of Technology, University of Tlemcen, P.O. Box 230, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria
2
Laboratoire Eau et Ouvrages dans Leur Environnement (EOLE), University of Tlemcen, P.O. Box 230, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria
3
National Office of Sanitation, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria
4
National Office of Irrigation and Drainage, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria
5
National Agency for Water Resources, Tlemcen 13000, Algeria
6
Divison of Ecology and Natural Resources Management, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany
7
Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), United Nations University, UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2025, 17(20), 3025; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203025
Submission received: 6 September 2025 / Revised: 15 October 2025 / Accepted: 17 October 2025 / Published: 21 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Recovery and Clean Water: Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study investigated groundwater suitability for irrigation in the Hennaya Irrigated region of Northwest Algeria. The research pursued two primary objectives: first, to establish the hydrochemical origin of the groundwater through comprehensive analyses including hydrochemical parameters, diagrams, and hierarchical clustering; and second, to assess its suitability for irrigation based on key criteria such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), Wilcox, and US Salinity diagrams. The analysis revealed a high level of groundwater suitability for irrigation, as indicated by various indices: Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values ranged from 1.69 to 2.55 (Excellent), Sodium Percentage (Na%) ranged from 24.22% to 36.98% (Good), and the Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) was negative, falling between −8.91 to −1.70 meq/L (Safe). Kelly’s Ratio (KR) ranged from 0.32 to 0.59 (Good), and the Permeability Index (PI) was between 62% and 99% (Moderate). Supported by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and spatial analysis, the Water Quality Index (WQI) values ranged from 69.25 to 88.71, categorizing the groundwater in the study area as ‘Good’ quality. While suitable for irrigation, the groundwater showed slight salinity (EC 1247–2010 μS/cm) and alkalinity (pH 7.09–8.02), with elevated total dissolved solids (TDSs) ranging from 990 to 1930 mg/L, approaching the permissible limits for optimal agricultural use. The dominant ion concentrations (Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+; HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3−) indicate a mixed hydrochemical facies influenced by both water–rock interactions and evaporative processes. Although these findings are promising, they highlight the necessity for preventive measures. Ongoing proactive management and continuous monitoring are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and protection of groundwater resources in the region.
Keywords: irrigation; groundwater quality; GIS-AHP; WQI; Hennaya irrigated region irrigation; groundwater quality; GIS-AHP; WQI; Hennaya irrigated region

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MDPI and ACS Style

Badraoui, A.; Abdelbaki, C.; Bessedik, M.; Tiar, S.M.; Berrezel, Y.A.; Ziane, M.; Slimani, A.; Souafi, A.; Boudadi, N.; Tischbein, B.; et al. Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation in the Hennaya Region, Northwest Algeria: A Hydrochemical and GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment. Water 2025, 17, 3025. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203025

AMA Style

Badraoui A, Abdelbaki C, Bessedik M, Tiar SM, Berrezel YA, Ziane M, Slimani A, Souafi A, Boudadi N, Tischbein B, et al. Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation in the Hennaya Region, Northwest Algeria: A Hydrochemical and GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment. Water. 2025; 17(20):3025. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203025

Chicago/Turabian Style

Badraoui, Abderrahim, Chérifa Abdelbaki, Madani Bessedik, Sidi Mohamed Tiar, Yacine Abdelbaset Berrezel, Mahdi Ziane, Amaria Slimani, Ahmed Souafi, Nourredine Boudadi, Bernhard Tischbein, and et al. 2025. "Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation in the Hennaya Region, Northwest Algeria: A Hydrochemical and GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment" Water 17, no. 20: 3025. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203025

APA Style

Badraoui, A., Abdelbaki, C., Bessedik, M., Tiar, S. M., Berrezel, Y. A., Ziane, M., Slimani, A., Souafi, A., Boudadi, N., Tischbein, B., & Kumar, N. (2025). Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation in the Hennaya Region, Northwest Algeria: A Hydrochemical and GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Assessment. Water, 17(20), 3025. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203025

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