HYDROCHEMISTRY OF WATER SPRINGS OF THE TRAVERTINE AQUIFER OF GUELMA IN NORTH-EAST OF ALGERIA.

This work was conducted on ten water springs of the travertine aquifer of Guelma in north-east of Algeria. The physical parameters (pH), Electric Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), TH as well as the concentrations in major ions Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl -, SO42-, HCO-3, NO-3 and SiO2analyzed by standard methods. Hydrochemical facies predominant in the study area is Ca-Mg-HCO3. Water-rock interaction characterized by the dissolution of carbonates and silicates plays a primordial role in the chemical composition of the groundwater. The hydrochemical study of the area showed that the majority of cations and anions, electric conductivity, the TDS and the TH which characterize the chemical composition of the aquifer are within the limits allowed for the drinking water according to WHO guidelines purposes. Soluble sodium percent, SAR, RSC and Magnesium hazard reveal that, barring a few locations, most of the groundwater samples are safe for irrigation purposes.