Seasonal Hydrochemical and Microbiological Statistical Assessment of Lake Al-Mallah Water (Northeast Algeria) Using PCA and Hydrochemical Diagrams

Wahida Kherifi; Fattoum Bouchma; Fedia Bikiri; Lunda Hecini

doi:10.14233/ajchem.2026.35889

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 6 (2026): Vol. 38 Issue No 6, 2026

Issue Published : 31 May 2026

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Seasonal Hydrochemical and Microbiological Statistical Assessment of Lake Al-Mallah Water (Northeast Algeria) Using PCA and Hydrochemical Diagrams

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.35889

Wahida Kherifi

Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7435-0765

Fattoum Bouchma

Hydraulic and Civil Engineering Department, University of El Oued, PO Box 789, El Oued, 39000, Algeria; Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4813-1192

Fedia Bikiri

Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, Algeria; Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8190-9168

Lunda Hecini

Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, Algeria; Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4762-7885

Corresponding Author(s) : Wahida Kherifi

wahidakherifi@yahoo.fr

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 6 (2026): Vol. 38 Issue No 6, 2026
Article Published : 31 May 2026

Abstract

The present study investigates the hydrochemical, physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of Lake Al-Mallah and its tributaries in northeast Algeria to identify the major factors controlling water quality and pollution sources. A total of 17 sampling stations distributed across wadis, wastewater discharge points, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the lake were monitored during high-water and low-water periods. Physico-chemical, hydrochemical and microbiological parameters were analysed using standard methods. Hydrochemical facies and irrigation suitability were evaluated using Piper, Schoeller-Berkaloff and Riverside diagrams, while principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to interpret spatial and seasonal variations in water quality. The results revealed significant spatial and seasonal variability influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Lake waters were mainly characterized by hyper-chlorinated and hyper-sulphated calcium facies due to marine intrusion, evaporation and dissolution of gypsum formations, whereas wadi waters exhibited chlorinated and sulphated calcium–magnesium facies. PCA distinguished two dominant controlling factors viz. mineralisation associated with seawater intrusion and geological formations and anthropogenic pollution linked to wastewater discharge and agricultural runoff. Increased concentrations of nutrients, BOD₅, suspended solids and microbial indicators were recorded during summer, while dissolved oxygen levels decreased due to intensified microbial activity and reduced dilution capacity. Electrical conductivity values approached seawater salinity, confirming strong mineralisation processes. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and riverside assessments indicated generally low alkalinisation risk and acceptable irrigation suitability for most tributary waters. However, persistent microbial contamination and nutrient enrichment near the WWTP and downstream regions demonstrated the considerable impact of urban wastewater and agricultural activities on the ecological condition of Lake Al-Mallah. The study highlights the effectiveness of integrated hydrochemical and multivariate statistical approaches for understanding environmental pressures affecting coastal aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords

Lake Mellah Environmental pollution Wastewater Principal component analysis (PCA) Physico-chemical data

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Kherifi, W.; Bouchma, F.; Bikiri, F.; Hecini, L. Seasonal Hydrochemical and Microbiological Statistical Assessment of Lake Al-Mallah Water (Northeast Algeria) Using PCA and Hydrochemical Diagrams. ajc 2026, 38, 1572-1580.

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A. Das, Desalin. Water Treatment, 324, 101548 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101548

R. Baba-Ahmed, Master Thesis, Identification of Sources of Domestic Effluent and Contamination Routes of a Wetland: Case of Lake Mellah, University of Annaba, Algeria (2008).

W. Kherifi, L. Hecini, F. Bekiri and H. Kherici-Bousnoubra, J. Water Land Dev., 42, 110 (2019); https://doi.org/10.2478/jwld-2019-0051

D. Chapman, Water Quality Assessments: A Guide to the Use of Biota, Sediments and Water in Environmental Monitoring, UNESCO/WHO/ UNEP, London, edn. 2 (1996).

Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse, McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, USA edn. 4 (2003).

F.L. Burton, H.D. Stensel and R. Tsuchihashi, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, Metcalf & Eddy, McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, USA, edn. 5 (2012).

L.A. Richards, Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils, Agriculture Handbook No. 60: USDA Washington, DC, USA, p. 160 (1954).

S. Shrestha and F. Kazama, Environ. Model. Software, 22, 464 (2007); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2006.02.001

T. Kaur, R. Bhardwaj and S. Arora, Appl. Water Sci., 7, 3301 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0476-2

D. Vayana, Master’s Thesis, Étude des données physico-chimiques des eaux du secteur nord du Piton des Neiges, Île de la Réunion, Université de la Réunion, Réunion, France (2009) (In French).

J. Lagarde, Introduction à l’analyse des données. Paris, France: Éditions Dunod, p. 157 (1995).

J.I. Drever, The Geochemistry of Natural Waters: Surface and Ground-water Environments, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Prentice Hall, edn. 3 (1997).

T. Debieche, Ph.D. Dissertation, Evolution of Water Quality in the Seybouse Basin (North-East Algeria): Mechanisms of Salinity Acquisition and Anthropogenic Pollution, Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, Avignon, France, p. 192 (2002) (In French).

I. Guasmi, Ph.D. Dissertation, Water Pollution and Self-Purifying Power of Oued Medjerda (North-East Algeria), University of Annaba, Annaba, Algeria, pp. 163-185 (2009) (In French).

J.C. Davis, Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, edn. 2 (1986).

O. Saadi, F. Dimane, N. Nouayti, A. Nouayti and A. Bourjila, Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol., 25, 220 (2024); https://doi.org/10.12912/27197050/181167

S. El Blidi, M. Fekhaoui, A. Serghini and A. El Abidi, Impact of domestic and industrial wastewater on the quality of the waters of Oued Boufekrane (Meknes, Morocco), Bulletin de l’Institut Scientifique, Rabat (2006) (In French).

D.R. Rowe and I.M. Abdel-Magid, Handbook of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA (1995).

R.G. Wetzel, Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, Academic Press: San Diego, CA, USA, edn. 3 (2001).

S.K. Singh, A.K. Gupta and A.P. Singh, Environ. Monit. Assess., 185, 3241 (2013); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2788-8

V.S. Pitchaimani, R.J. Jerin Joe, G. Shyamala, G. Manjula, M.D. Babu, B. Hemalatha, S.S. Ezhil and G. Ravindran, Discov. Sustain., 5, 372 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00584-w

R. Reghunath, T.R. Sreedhara Murthy and B.R. Raghavan, Water Res., 36, 2437 (2002); https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00490-0

World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, Geneva, Switzerland, edn. 4 (2011).

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United States Environmental Protection Agency, Parameters of Water Quality: Interpretation and Standards, Office of Water Washington: DC, USA (2002).

L. Chaoui, F. Derbal, M.H. Kara, and J.P. Quignard, Cahiers Biol. Marine, 47, 233 (2006).

Y. Rozen and S. Belkin, FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 25, 513 (2001); https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6976.2001.tb00589.x

S. Zheng, F. Feng, D. Liu, F. Qian, X. Xie, H. Yu and Y. Song, Microorganisms, 14, 110 (2026); https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010110

L. Selak, T. Marković, P. Pjevac, and S. Orlić, Sci. Total Environ., 849, 157859 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157859

F.O. da Silva, A.F. Camargo and H. Treichel, Brazil. Appl. Sci. Rev., 8, 42 (2024); https://doi.org/10.34115/basrv8n1-003

T. Johnson, J. Butcher, S. Santell, S. Schwartz, S. Julius and S. LeDuc, J. Water Clim. Chang., 13, 1684 (2022); https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2022.363

Author Biographies

Fedia Bikiri, Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, Algeria; Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

Lunda Hecini, Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, Algeria; Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria

Research Laboratory in Subterranean and Surface Hydraulics, University of Biskra, PO Box 145, Biskra 07000, Algeria