AccScience Publishing / AJWEP / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/AJWEP026340233
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Characterization and pollution assessment of surface water in the Ziz Basin, southeastern Morocco

Aziza Lamchaimech1 ,  Khadija El-Moustaqim2 ,  Youness Kouchane1 ,  Yousef Hahou1 ,  El Houssaine Ouharba1 ,  Jamal Mabrouki3*
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1 Water and Environment Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra , Morocco
2 Improvement and Valuation of Plant Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, Kénitra, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra , Morocco
3 Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment, Research Center in Water, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra , Morocco
AJWEP, 026340233 https://doi.org/10.36922/AJWEP026340233
Received: 18 August 2026 | Revised: 18 September 2026 | Accepted: 23 September 2026 | Published online: 20 October 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Surface-water resources in arid and semi-arid regions are increasingly vulnerable to climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures, including urban expansion, wastewater discharge, agricultural activities, and inadequate waste management. In southeastern Morocco, the Ziz Basin is an important water-resource system, particularly because it is connected with the Hassan Addakhil Dam. Understanding the spatial distribution of water quality and identifying the main pollution sources are essential for protecting these resources and supporting sustainable water management. This study aims to assess the physicochemical and environmental conditions of the surface waters in the Ziz Basin by analyzing monthly water samples collected during two separate 12-month monitoring periods, in 2016 and 2022, at 7 sampling stations. The results showed that the surface waters in the Ziz Basin were contaminated. The pollution is of domestic origin and threatens the basin’s water quality. The study methodology utilized principal component analysis of physicochemical parameters to categorize the sampling stations into two types. Upstream of the Hassan Addakhil Dam, stations were characterized by high dissolved oxygen levels and lower values for other parameters, whereas downstream stations showed higher COD, BOD5, total phosphorus, and phosphates. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed using standard methods to assess basin pollution control. Results indicated minimal spatiotemporal variation in pollution, although pollution levels increased significantly during the rainy season. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of monitoring and managing water quality in the Ziz Basin, particularly regarding the impacts of urban pollution. The findings suggest the need for effective measures to mitigate the anthropogenic impacts on the region’s environment.

Keywords
Surface water chemistry
Environment
Urban wastewater
Ziz Basin
Domestic pollution
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Electronic ISSN: 1875-8568 Print ISSN: 0972-9860, Published by AccScience Publishing
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