Date of Defense
27-11-2025 2:00 PM
Location
Room 1077, Building F1
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Water Resources
College
College of Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Alaa Ahmed
Keywords
Groundwater quality, Hydrogeochemistry, Multivariate Statistics, Fujairah, Eastern Shallow Aquifer (ESA), Ophiolite aquifer, Water Quality Index (WQI), Irrigation suitability, Health risk assessment.
Abstract
Groundwater is a valuable resource in the arid climate of the United Arab Emirates, where growing population, agricultural, and industrial activities are putting increasing pressure on limited groundwater reserves. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Fujairah region, with a particular focus on major ions and trace metals, to assess water quality and potential health risks. A total of 64 groundwater samples were collected from the Eastern Shallow Aquifer (ESA) and the Ophiolite aquifer in the study area and were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, major ions, and trace metals. Hydrogeochemical interpretation was conducted using Piper, Gibbs, Chadha, and Schoeller diagrams. Multivariate statistical methods were used to identify the main geochemical processes and cluster samples based on similarity. Ordinary Kriging (OK) interpolation maps highlighted hotspots of elevated salinity, major ions, and trace elements concentrations, whereas Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) was used to compute the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI). Irrigation suitability was assessed using %Na, SAR, PI, MH, PS, RSC/RBSC, and KR, along with USSL/Wilcox classifications. Health risk was evaluated with USEPA’s non‑carcinogenic framework (HQ/HI) for adults and children. pH was generally neutral to alkaline with limited spatial variation across all samples, while TDS was significantly higher in ESA (180 - 22,500 mg/L) compared to the fresher water of the ophiolite aquifer (360 - 1560 mg/L). Nitrate showed hotspots and poor to extremely poor NPI classification in Fujairah City, Dibba, and Masafi, where agricultural activities are present. Facies analyses indicated Na-Cl dominance in ESA and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 to Na–Cl evolution in the ophiolite aquifer. WQI was mostly good to excellent inland and degraded along parts of the coast. Irrigation indices frequently flagged high potential salinity and magnesium hazard, even where SAR remained low to moderate. Adult HI rarely exceeded 1, whereas children HI exceeded the safe limit in almost all samples. Lead (Pb) has exceeded the WHO safe limit of 0.01 mg/L in 11 samples, indicating potential long-term concerns. By combining multivariate, hydrogeochemical, spatial, and health risk assessment methods, this study provides a comprehensive approach to understanding groundwater quality in the Fujairah region. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring and sustainable groundwater management to protect public health and ensure long-term availability of this valuable resource.
Included in
GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT IN THE FUJAIRAH REGION USING HYDROGEOCHEMICAL, STATISTICAL, AND SPATIAL APPROACHES
Room 1077, Building F1
Groundwater is a valuable resource in the arid climate of the United Arab Emirates, where growing population, agricultural, and industrial activities are putting increasing pressure on limited groundwater reserves. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Fujairah region, with a particular focus on major ions and trace metals, to assess water quality and potential health risks. A total of 64 groundwater samples were collected from the Eastern Shallow Aquifer (ESA) and the Ophiolite aquifer in the study area and were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, major ions, and trace metals. Hydrogeochemical interpretation was conducted using Piper, Gibbs, Chadha, and Schoeller diagrams. Multivariate statistical methods were used to identify the main geochemical processes and cluster samples based on similarity. Ordinary Kriging (OK) interpolation maps highlighted hotspots of elevated salinity, major ions, and trace elements concentrations, whereas Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) was used to compute the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI). Irrigation suitability was assessed using %Na, SAR, PI, MH, PS, RSC/RBSC, and KR, along with USSL/Wilcox classifications. Health risk was evaluated with USEPA’s non‑carcinogenic framework (HQ/HI) for adults and children. pH was generally neutral to alkaline with limited spatial variation across all samples, while TDS was significantly higher in ESA (180 - 22,500 mg/L) compared to the fresher water of the ophiolite aquifer (360 - 1560 mg/L). Nitrate showed hotspots and poor to extremely poor NPI classification in Fujairah City, Dibba, and Masafi, where agricultural activities are present. Facies analyses indicated Na-Cl dominance in ESA and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 to Na–Cl evolution in the ophiolite aquifer. WQI was mostly good to excellent inland and degraded along parts of the coast. Irrigation indices frequently flagged high potential salinity and magnesium hazard, even where SAR remained low to moderate. Adult HI rarely exceeded 1, whereas children HI exceeded the safe limit in almost all samples. Lead (Pb) has exceeded the WHO safe limit of 0.01 mg/L in 11 samples, indicating potential long-term concerns. By combining multivariate, hydrogeochemical, spatial, and health risk assessment methods, this study provides a comprehensive approach to understanding groundwater quality in the Fujairah region. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring and sustainable groundwater management to protect public health and ensure long-term availability of this valuable resource.