Investigation of the Physical and Chemical and Characteristics With Analysis of a Few Groundwater Wells and the Level of Contamination in the Rada’a Albaydha City, Yemen.

Abstract

This investigation focuses on assessing the levels of positive and negative ion contamination in groundwater and its potential health impacts on residents in the Rada’a  Albaydha city area. This locale is known for its extensive number of wells, estimated at around 20, which have been excavated randomly in recent times. For this study, (8)  wells were specifically chosen to analyze their suitability for both irrigation and drinking purposes. Through conducting physical and chemical assessments, including the measurement of positive ions ( Ba 2+ , Mg 2+ , Ca2+ , Li+, K+, Na+) utilizing an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) instrument, variability in ion concentrations was observed across the samples, reflecting their various origins. The analysis revealed that the levels of well water contaminants fall within the safety  limits set by Yemeni and international standards, except for potassium ions, which exceeded these thresholds. Similarly, sodium ion levels were detected within acceptable limits in some wells, while other wells recorded levels surpassing the safety benchmarks established by Yemeni and international authorities. Additionally, negative ions (CO3---, HCO3-, F-, CL-) were quantified using a Spectrophotometer (2800). For these eight wells, the concentrations of all tested water samples complied with Yemeni and international permissible levels, with the exception of two wells where chloride and fluoride ions were found in excess of the allowable limits. Moreover, parameters such as normal acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were evaluated, revealing that the pH levels ranged from 6.5 to 6.8, categorizing the well water as slightly acidic. The EC and TDS measurements varied significantly, with values ranging from 492 to 3999 micro-siemens/cm , correlating with the concentration of dissolved salts. Notably, the water from all but one well was deemed suitable for consumption and agricultural use based on the TDS content meeting Yemeni and international guidelines. However, one well was identified with TDS levels beyond acceptable limits, rendering it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation purposes.