{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,23]],"date-time":"2026-02-23T16:17:45Z","timestamp":1771863465363,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":105,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]],"date-time":"2025-08-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755043200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Water"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Groundwater quality in arid and semi-arid regions of Morocco is under increasing pressure due to both anthropogenic influences and climatic variability. This study investigates the physicochemical and heavy metal characteristics of groundwater across four Moroccan regions (Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Oriental, Souss-Massa, and Marrakech-Safi) known for being argan tree habitats. Thirteen groundwater samples were analyzed for twenty-five parameters, including major ions, nutrients, and trace metals. Elevated levels of ammonium, turbidity, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen were observed in multiple samples, surpassing Moroccan water quality standards and indicating significant quality deterioration. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) detected arsenic concentrations exceeding permissible limits in sample AW11 alongside widespread lead contamination in most samples except AW5 and AW9. Spatial patterns of contamination were characterized using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), K-means clustering, and GIS-based Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation. These multivariate approaches revealed marked spatial heterogeneity and highlighted the dual influence of geogenic processes and anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality. To assess consumption suitability, a Water Quality Index (WQI) and Human Health Risk Assessment were applied. As a result, 31% of samples were rated \u201cFair\u201d and 69% as \u201cGood\u201d, but with notable non-carcinogenic risks, particularly to children, attributable to nitrate, lead, and arsenic. The findings underscore the urgent need for systematic groundwater monitoring and management strategies to safeguard water resources in Morocco\u2019s vulnerable dryland ecosystems, particularly in regions where groundwater sustains vital socio-ecological species such as argan forests.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/w17162393","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]],"date-time":"2025-08-13T09:43:01Z","timestamp":1755078181000},"page":"2393","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Integrated Multivariate and Spatial Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Sustainable Human Consumption in Arid Moroccan Regions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-0796-2559","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yousra","family":"Tligui","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment (LAMSE), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90090, Morocco"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8583-632X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"El Khalil","family":"Cherif","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR), Insituto Superior Technico, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Wafae","family":"Lechhab","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment (LAMSE), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90090, Morocco"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0239-3410","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Touria","family":"Lechhab","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment (LAMSE), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90090, Morocco"}]},{"given":"Ali","family":"Laghzal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"High Institute of Marine Fisheries (ISPM), Fisheries Department, Agadir 80000, Morocco"},{"name":"Laboratory of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco"}]},{"given":"Nordine","family":"Nouayti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Management and Civil Engineering Team, Laboratory of Applied Sciences, National School of Applied Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Al Hoceima 32200, Morocco"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0464-1118","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"El Mustapha","family":"Azzirgue","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment (LAMSE), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90090, Morocco"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8478-3441","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joaquim C. G. Esteves da","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s\/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Farida","family":"Salmoun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Natural Substances and Environment (LAMSE), Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier 90090, Morocco"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100821","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dwt.2024.100821","article-title":"Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Drinking, Irrigation, and Industrial Purposes Using Water Quality Indices and GIS Technique in Gorgan Aquifer","volume":"320","author":"Faraji","year":"2024","journal-title":"Desalination Water Treat."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101468","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gsd.2025.101468","article-title":"Rising Threats to Groundwater Recharge: Adaptive Strategies for the Sahel under Climate Change","volume":"30","author":"Granata","year":"2025","journal-title":"Groundw. 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