Elemental Associations with Groundwater Nitrate in Northeastern Region of Saudi Arabia: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Nitrate pollution in drinking water is a major environmental and health issue. High levels of nitrates in water sources present serious risks to both the environment and public health, highlighting the need for immediate research and management efforts to reduce pollution sources and safeguard water resources for sustainable growth. This study investigates the elemental associations with nitrate concentrations in groundwater across the northeastern region of Saudi Arabia, employing diverse analytical techniques to assess water quality and develop sustainable management strategies. Spatial variations in nitrate levels were observed in both deep and shallow wells using GIS-based interpolation, revealing distinct patterns influenced by geological, hydrological, and anthropogenic factors. A strong linear correlation with a high coefficient of determination (R2 of 0.99) between electrical conductivity and dilution factor suggests the potential interchangeability of ion-selective electrode methods and conductivity meters for EC determination. The study identified a positive correlation between nitrate concentration and electrical conductivity in groundwater samples (R2 of 0.70), indicating that conductivity measurements could potentially serve as a proxy for estimating nitrate levels. However, a very weak negative correlation between nitrate and pH suggests other factors may have a more significant impact on groundwater pH. The research also highlights the strong positive correlation between nitrate and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations, reflecting their close chemical association in water. These findings contribute to the understanding of nitrate dynamics in groundwater and emphasize the importance of comprehensive water quality assessments. Future research should focus on elucidating factors influencing nitrate distribution in groundwater systems and developing more robust predictive models based on readily measurable water quality parameters.