0097-8078/05/3205- © 2005 MAIK “Nauka /Interperiodica” 0555 Water Resources, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2005, pp. 555–564. From Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2005, pp. 607–616. Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Howari, Abu-Rukah, Shinaq. Hydrochemical Analyses and Evaluation of Groundwater Resources of North Jordan 1 F. M Howari*, Yousef Abu-Rukah**, and Rafie Shinaq** * Faculty of Science, Geology Department; UAE University; PO Box 17551; Al-Ain, UAE; e-mail: fhowari@uaeu.ac.ae ** Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan Received October 5, 2003 Abstract—The hydrochemical analyses of twenty-three springs were used to determine the properties and types of groundwater of the Tertiary–Quaternary Aquifer of northern Jordan. The result shows that the geolog- ical formation influences the quality of the investigated groundwater more than the anthropogenic factors. The water of the Quaternary–Tertiary aquifer is enriched in Ca ++ due to the dissolution of the nearby carbonate rocks. The investigated water has a low EC values with Ca(Na)–HCO 3 water type. Most springs belong to this hydrochemical facies except Malka. Groundwater in the Malka wells has high salinity with NaCl waters and a strong Ca(Mg)–HCO 3 facies (900 to 1000 mg/l TDS). The area long-term hydrochemical data have been also evaluated; general trend of increase of the analyzed ion was observed. Bicarbonate represents the most abun- dant anion in the studied water, which exceeds the permissible limits. Nitrates (N ) also exceed the permis- sible limit and are the most common contaminant in the investigated water. Data on dissolved major and trace elements (K + , Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl – , S , Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb) in the investigated water revealed that the con- centrations lie within the natural background range. The positive correlation values between various ions indi- cate that most of ions come from same lithological sources. According to the residual sodium carbonate, and EC values, the studied springs are suitable for agricultural purposes. O 3 – O 4 2– WATER QUALITY AND PROTECTION: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS * The text was submitted by the authors in English. Fig. 1. Location map of the study area. 35°50′ 36°00′ 36°10′ 32°40′ 32°30′ 32°20′ 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 22 23 21 Lake Tiberias Yarmouk River Tura Ramtha El Ekade Landfill; Al Ekader Sama Ea Sirhan Um Er Raub El Balj Irbid Huwaara Huaun JORDAN Dead Sea North Rift Cachment Rihaba Ajloun Nuelmet YARMOUK AMMAN-ZERQA BASIN SYRIA N 5 km BASIN INTRODUCTION The scarcity of water resources in Jordan imposes strategic difficulties for economic development and has been a basis for disputes with neighboring countries [2, 6, 16]. In Jordan, groundwater is considered to be the major source of water, and the only source of water in some areas of the country [4, 17]. Most groundwater basins in Jordan are comprised of several groundwater City-Town Spring