*2.2. The R'mel Groundwater*

The R'mel aquifer, located south of Larache city along the Atlantic coast, constitutes an essential groundwater tank. It varies originally and seasonally from good chemical quality to very poor quality. The R'mel aquifer is shallow in the south, where the level is roughly 5 m below the ground. The water table in the north and the littoral zone varies between 15 and 20 m. It is used to supply drinking, industrial, and irrigation water. The drinking water supply is done by individual, artesian, or surface wells. The R'mel aquifer is experiencing intensive pumping to supply drinking water to the rural inhabitants and for the irrigation of agricultural lands. The R'mel aquifer is mainly fed by precipitation and irrigation water. The phenomenon of the water table upwelling, observed at the level of the R'mel plateau, is mainly due to the over-irrigation and the lack of a suitable drainage system.

In the region of R'mel, the sandy-textured plateaus have an excessively low waterretention capacity and limited fertility. As a result, the R'mel region has become more exposed to pollution by several pollutants deriving from the expansive use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Because of the excessive groundwater pumping, the problem of seawater intrusion is another growing concern in the region. Legislative and regulatory dispositions on soil and their protection within the irrigated areas are few and scattered. A large part of R'mel lands has been developed for crops under rotations and sprinkler irrigation. The aspect of crop rotation in the R'mel region has resulted in maximum use of the soil and water. Hmamou and Bounakaya [40] pointed out that water resources in the R'mel region have become insufficient to meet irrigation and other needs on agricultural land. Added to this is farmers' lack of understanding regarding the excessive spread of fertilizers and pesticides in the R'mel area.
