Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2008.244.249Al-NaeemAhmed A. 22008112This study was carried out to determine the hydro-chemical
processes and the metal concentration of spring water to evaluate its
suitability for irrigation and other purposes. A total of 10 water samples
were collected from Ain Umm Sabah at different times and from different
locations from the spring basin. EC (dS m-1), pH, temperature,
total cations (Na, Ca, Mg, K) and anions [Cl, CO3, HCO3,
SO4, NO3, Fluoride (F)] were determined. Some trace
and heavy metals (Al, As, Ba, B, Br, Mo, Ni, Si, Cd, Cu, V, Fe, I, Pb,
Mn, Zn, Sr, Se, Sb, La and Se were determined. The Spring water is classified
as C4S2 (high salinity with medium sodicity problem water). Chloride (Cl)
and nitrate (NO3) concentrations were higher than the permissible
limits according to World Health Organization Standards. The Ain Umm Sabah
water is Na-Cl dominant water and can create soil sodicity problems and
cause Na and Cl ion toxicity to plants if used for irrigation of sensitive
crops. The spring water is under-saturated (negative SI) with respect
to calcite, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, halite, fluorite and aragonite
and oversaturated (positive SI) with respect to goethite, siderite and
hematite minerals. The concentration of all the estimated trace metals
was within the permissible limits for its use as drinking water and other
purposes according to WHO. Since the spring water contains high concentration
of NO3, hence can not be used for drinking purposes without
prior treatment. The study findings suggest careful use and pumping of
water from the spring. Further studies are required on regular basis to
monitor the depletion in the spring water level and the temporal change
in water salinity.]]>Al-Barrak, S.A.,19931993Al-Hawas, I.A.,20025651655Al-Kuwaiti, K. and S. Ahmed,20032003Al-Shemi, N. and M. Al-Minawi,1988pp: 194-195pp: 194-195Al-Taher, A.A.,1999pp: 1-385pp: 1-385APHA, AWWA and WEF.,199820th Edn.,Pages: 1220Pages: 1220Anonymous,19841984Appelo, C.A.J. and D. Postma,1994pp: 311-313pp: 311-313Ayers, R.S. and D.W. Westcot,19851985Blaszyk, T. and J. Gorski,1981192833BRGM (Bureau Researches Geologiques Et Minieres),19771977BRGM ,19771977Hussain, G. and M. Sadiq,199157-58773783Hussain, G., M. Sadiq, Y.A. Nabulsi and O.J. Helweg,1994253543Leichtweiss-Institute Research Team,19751975Leichtweiss-Institute Research Team,19781978McClure, F.J.,1982pp: 83pp: 83Montgomery, J.M.,1985pp: 373pp: 373Morgan, J.W. and W.D. Ehmann,19711971pp: 468pp: 468Moselhy, M.M., D.W. Boomer, J.N. Bishop, P.L. Diosady and A.D. Howlett,197823186186Murray, J.J.,19761st Edn.,pp: 179pp: 179Page, A.L., R.H. Miller and D.R. Keeney,19822nd Edn.,Pages: 1159Pages: 1159Parkhurst, D.L.,19951995Reeves, R.D. and R.R. Brooks,1978pp: 421pp: 421Rogers, P. and P. Lydon,19941994pp: 369369Rump, H.H. and H. Krist,19921992Twitchell, K.S.,194434365385United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),19541954pp: 160pp: 160Wakuti Consulting Engineers,19641964Wilcox, L.V.,19551955WHO.,19713rd Edn.,WHO,19931993Yousef, A.F.,19991999