Groundwater Pollution Sources and Its Quality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: State of the Art

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is noted for being one of the driest places in the world, with few drinking water resources. The use of fertilizers in agriculture, home sewage in the area, industrial effluent discharge along the Red Sea coast, and petroleum industries are all contributing to the pollution of the shallow groundwater in KSA’s major towns. This chapter concentrates on groundwater quality issues caused by anthropogenic and/or geogenic sources in KSA. To evaluate groundwater quality and assess aquifer sensitivity to pollutants, we investigated several water quality factors in this study. This study comprehensively provides the various aquifer layers and the groundwater quality issue. Although most groundwater contaminants are of natural origin, the area also experiences extensive wastewater effluent discharge, industrial, mining, and agricultural activities, all of which contribute to the heavy metal pollution of aquifers. Previous studies, carried out in various regions of the kingdom, revealed that a significant portion of the groundwater quality exceeded the allowable levels, and the majority of it is considered unfit for drinking. However, taking into account the high salinity levels that are ideal for some crops, it may be suitable for irrigation uses. Therefore, this chapter provides precise updated information that aids decision-makers and national planners in making the best decisions that balance society’s needs for water resources and satisfactory environmental impacts.