Spatial modelling of groundwater pollution using a GIS

This study investigates the groundwater contamination by heavy metals of the industrial area of Jorf Lasfar, located on the Atlantic coast of El Jadida, Morocco. This paper describes groundwater mapping and data collection and management to be created. Water samples collected from wells near the area of the industrial installations immediately located on the coast for chemical analyses. Multivariate statistics and GIS techniques were applied to classify the elements, to facilitate interpretation of the spatial relationships among key environmental processes and to identify elements influenced by human activities. The results show that the area in general is characterized by hard water and high salinity hazard, possibly due to its proximity and hydraulic connection with the sea. Fe, Mn, F, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr and Cd were found to be the major contaminants in groundwater. The analysis of groundwater indicates contamination at various degrees. Spatial distribution modelling of element concentrations is produced to indicate contamination plumes from possible anthropogenic sources. It was observed that the groundwater in south-eastern of the Jorf Lasfar industrial area is contaminated due to industrial effluents in coast and predominant wind direction. Cluster analysis (CA) classified the elements into two groups: the first group being influenced by human activities, the second predominantly derived from natural sources