HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN AZINTAN, NORTHWESTERN LIBYA

The groundwater aquifers in Azintan, northwestern Libya suffer from an acute shortage of water. The groundwater was evaluated to determine its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes from major two aquifers in north and south of Azintan area. This study carried out to assess the groundwater quality and to identify major affecting variables. Twelve samples from the two aquifers were collected. The two aquifers were collected and analyzed for total dissolved , 2+ , Mg 2+ solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, Ca . The results show - and HCO3 2- , CO3 2- , SO4 - , Cl + , K+ Na that, the groundwater in many places is dominated by . Two - and HCO3 2- , SO4 - higher concentrations of Cl water types were recognized in this region are Cl-SO4- Na-Ca and Cl-SO4-Na. Gibbs and Piper method, as well as the hardness, soluble sodium percentage and the permeability index all have been used to assess the diagram quality of the groundwater of aquifers. Further, the multiple correlations and Cluster Analysis of groundwater quality parameters were carried out for further classification and interpretation of the groundwater quality. Finally, water qualities in the study area are compared with Libyan standards and WHO guidelines of drinking water and irrigation purposes.