Spatio-temporal evolution of the physico-chemical water characteristics of the Sebaou river valley (Great Kabylia, Algeria)

The Sebaou river valley (SRV) is located in the northern Tell region of Algeria, and is a significant source of ground and surface waters because of its geographical context within the northern Algerian Tell region. The water resources from the study area are important for both local people and environmental scientists since the area is undergoing significant industrial development. Therefore a quantitative and qualitative study of the surface and groundwater can help us to establish the current physico-chemical variables of the water resources, allowing comparisons with future studies. In this study we present the most comprehensive survey of the hydrogeological properties of this region reported to date, including the spatio-temporal variation of physico-chemical variables as studied by principal component analysis. This method allowed us to confirm the principal chemical facies and to differentiate the waters of the middle and upper Sebaou river from the waters of river tributaries, specifically the Aissi and Bougdoura rivers. The quality of these water resources is declining as a result of local development and so this study is expected to provide a valuable resource for future water management strategies in the region.