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Groundwater is a crucial drinking water resource for rural communities; however, the absence of adequate monitoring programs in these regions often results in uncertainties about groundwater quality. This study focuses on assessing the impact of nitrogen compounds from domestic wastewater on groundwater in rural communities within the province of Al Hoceima. The hydrochemistry of 33 groundwater samples was analyzed using various methods, including descriptive statistics, the Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI), the Chronic Health Risk Index (CHR), and a GIS-based spatial analysis. The investigation revealed significant contamination by nitrogen compounds in regions characterized by high population density. In these areas, nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) concentrations exceeded 50 mg/l and 0.2 mg/l, respectively, surpassing the WHO recommended limits. Notably, NO3- levels ranged from 0 to 89.63 mg/l, with 84.84% of groundwater samples contained more than 10 mg/l. The NPI values ranged from -1 to 3.48, with 33.33% of the samples were categorized as significantly and very significantly polluted. Additionally, CHR values ranged from 0 to 2.43 for adults, 0 to 2.03 for children, and 0 to 2.51 for infants. The CHR values exceeded 1 suggests that the contamination observed in the samples can be attributed to the widespread use of septic tanks in densely populated regions. Thus, to ensure the safety of rural communities, further assessments of health risks are mandatory.

One solution to the shortage of drinking water in Morocco is the development of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants. However, the quality of the permeate produced is corrosive, unbalanced, and does not meet the standards required for its use. The post-treatment process at the Al-Hoceima desalination plant in northern Morocco consists of the addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrated lime (Ca (OH)2). In this study, various analyses were utilized to assess the physical-chemical quality parameters of the water produced after remineralization. The results revealed that the remineralization method adopted by the plant is relatively complex and associated with difficulties in maintaining optimal remineralized water parameters such as pH, TAC, TH, and Ca2+. However, the water produced re-establishes its calcocarbonic balance and is of satisfactory quality for human consumption.