TITLE:
Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Potable and Agriculture Uses in Southeast Dead Sea, Jordan
AUTHORS:
Omar A. Al-Khashman, Hani M. Alnawafleh, Mou’th A. Al-Shaweesh, Majd A. Al-Turman, Rahaf M. Zakaria
KEYWORDS:
Drinking and Irrigation Water Quality, Groundwater, Dead Sea, Jordan, Saturation Indices
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Hydrology,
Vol.16 No.3,
July
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study assesses the suitability of groundwater for potable and agricultural purposes of southern Jordan to evaluate the water’s appropriateness for drinking and irrigation as well as the degree of ionic toxicity present. Between August 2024 and August 2025, samples of groundwater were taken from thirty-one groundwater resources. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, main ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+), (
HCO
3
−
, Cl−,
NO
3
−
,
SO
4
2−
,
PO
4
3−
, F−), and heavy metals (Fe2+, Al3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Mn2+) were all measured in the samples. Due to prolonged contact with rocks, the water quality in the research region was found to be highly salinized. The research found that bicarbonate and chloride were the predominant ions in groundwater samples, which were classed as alkaline earth fluids. The average ion concentrations were as follows: Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, and
HCO
3
−
> Cl− >
SO
4
2−
>
NO
3
−
>
PO
4
3−
> F−. Comparing these data to WHO and Jordan’s drinking water guidelines helped determine the groundwater’s acceptability for consumption. In addition, different metrics, such as the (SAR), (Na%), (RSC), and utilized to evaluate whether the water is appropriate for agricultural use. Most samples were classed as C2-S1, indicating medium salinity and low sodium threat, according to the US Salinity Laboratory’s figure, that plotted SAR values against electrical conductivity (EC) for each sample. According to this study, groundwater trace metals often don’t provide any environmental or health risks. Furthermore, the water sample measurements show that irrigation uses water in a good to acceptable manner. Future research is required to analyze and appraise the characterization of organic compounds in groundwater quality, according to the study’s recommendations.