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Groundwater in Morocco is restricted because of the semiarid to arid climatic conditions. In this area, the water resources, especially groundwater, are extremely significant. However, it is under threat from organic and inorganic pollution. Furthermore, it is considered the only source of potable water as well as having different usages in Zagora (the southeast of Morocco), making its quantitative and qualitative protection an urgent priority. The present study focused mainly on the anthropogenic impact on the natural resources and groundwater quality around Zagora city by using geospatial techniques and the Water Quality Index (WQI). This paper uses sampling data from 15 wells in the water table of Oasis Fezouata. 15 samples were collected from wells during rainy and dry seasons in two years 2020-2021 and the analysis of the groundwater quality of studied stations. The suitability of the aquifer Fezouata was investigated using drinking and irrigation water quality indices like SSP, SAR, MHs, PI, and KR. The results showed that sulfate and chloride are the dominant anions in the groundwater samples. While the mean abundance of major cations is Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+, the sodium ion is dominant and K+ is the least abundant. The Water Quality Index suggests that 28.55% are good quality water, (23.90%–47.55%) are poor and very poor quality water, respectively, and 40.24% are unsuitable for drinking purposes in 2020. Furthermore, the WQI of the 2021 campaign showed that only 17.48% were considered good quality water and 38.94% (43.58%) were poor or very poor quality water, respectively. However, 33.21% are unsuitable for drinking water. Based on SAR, PI, SSP, KR, and HM values, the majority of groundwater samples can be used for agricultural purposes, notably those of the upstream part of the study area. These results represent an important contribution to the evaluation of groundwater quality and may be influenced mainly by local factors, especially the wastewater treatment stations and mine discharges, which are the primary sources of deteriorating water quality.

Assessment of groundwater quality is important for drinking water, especially for rural populations. The aim of this study was to assess the groundwater quality for human consumption by integrating the water quality index with geographic information system (GIS) for the eventual interpretation of Meknes area water quality. Eight wells and two springs were investigated between February 2013 and February 2014. In light of the analysis results, spatial distribution maps of chosen physico-chemical parameters such as pH, O2, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42−, NH4+, NO3−, NO2−, PO43−, SO42− and HCO3 – were prepared using GIS. Water Quality Index (WQI) approach is utilized with the groundwater parameters and spatial distribution maps have been developed using GIS for the obtained indexes. The anthropogenic activities may be the likely cause of poor water quality. The north and north-west regions are influenced by anthropogenic inputs from the leaching of landfill and wastewater, whereas the south-west region is affected by agricultural runoff due to a quite high level of agricultural activity. The WQI values varied from 28.88 to 187.18. According to WQI classification, 30% of samples are unsuitable for drinking water purposes. These findings indicate the need for serious reflection on the part of the planners and decision-makers for efficient management of the groundwater resources.