Study of water quality of springs in Petra region, Jordan: A three-year follow-up

Petra region area was located in south part of Jordan has grown and urbanized rapidly. This area depends on the groundwater as a water resources. This study was undertaken to assess the physical, chemical quality of spring water of Petra region during a 36-months survey (September 2002 to September 2005). The samples were analyzed for temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+), major anions (Cl−, NO−3, HCO−3, SO2−4, PO3−4, F−) and trace metals (Fe2+, Al3+, Cu2+, Ni2+ Pb2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+). Water quality for available springs in the study area showed high salinity due to longer period of contact with rocks. The chemistry of spring water samples were alkaline earth waters with prevailing bicarbonate and alkaline earth waters with prevailing bicarbonate chloride. Some springs showed that elevated nitrate, sulfate contents which could be due to percolation from septic tanks, cesspools and irrigational activities. The infiltration of wastewater from cesspools and septic tanks into groundwater was considered the major source of water pollution. The results showed that there were considerable variations among the examined samples with respect to their physical and chemical parameters, which lie below the maximum permissible levels of the Jordanian and WHO drinking water standards. The results indicate that the trace metals of springs water of Petra region do not generally pose any health or environmental problems.