ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Groundwater Quality Assessment of Yanbu
Annakhal Springs, Saudi Arabia:
Implications for Drinking and Irrigation
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Department of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah-21589, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2024-10-20
Final revision date: 2025-02-11
Acceptance date: 2025-03-25
Online publication date: 2025-04-16
Corresponding author
Talal Almeelbi
Department of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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ABSTRACT
The quality of the flowing spring water, an essential groundwater resource, from Yanbu Annakhal,
Saudi Arabia, and its suitability for drinking and irrigation were examined in this study. A total
of 16 samples were collected from four different stations and analyzed for twelve selected water
quality parameters, including: pH, total dissolved solids (TDS (mg/L)), Fluoride (F−), Chloride (Cl−),
Bromide (Br−), Nitrate (NO3
−), Phosphate (PO4
3−), Sulfate (SO4
2−), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+),
Magnesium (Mg2+), Calcium (Ca2+), and total coliform. Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI),
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), and Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR) methods were used to
evaluate water quality, respectively. Based on the EWQI evaluation, the study area was categorized
as medium to poor quality, requiring appropriate treatment to protect public health. The findings showed
that the groundwater had higher concentrations exceeding the permissible level of the World Health
Organization (WHO) in Cl−, Br−, Na+, and NO3
− ions with a mean average concentration of 410.99,
2.58, 73.77, and 246.85 mg/L, respectively. The possible contamination may be due to the geophysical
nature of the area in addition to anthropogenic activities. The outcome of this study is expected to help
researchers, decision-makers, planners, and policymakers develop an advanced approach that would
ensure the supply of pure water and effective groundwater management in Saudi Arabia.