Study on enhancing groundwater quality in a coastal area of Saudi Arabia using a curved glass solar still

Due to the complex geological factors and their causes, it is essential to realize the saltiness and pollution of the groundwater in the arid shoreline aquifer. The intrusion of seawater into coastline aquifers is an increasingly significant issue due to urbanization, the exploitation of groundwater, and the global rise in temperature. The increasing salt concentration of groundwater in shoreline aquifers has emerged as a significant social and economic problem in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, groundwater alkalinity levels must be accurately determined to ensure the effective protection and preservation of water resources. A compilation of eight water samples was collected along the south-western coast of Saudi Arabia, and a comprehensive evaluation of the groundwater quality was conducted using a combination of indicators. The findings indicated that the intrusion of saltwater caused a significant increase in the salt concentration and damage to the groundwater quality near the coastline. In this work, a curved glass solar still (CGSS) has been deployed to process the groundwater, and the performance of the CGSS in improving the groundwater quality was assessed under clear sky conditions. The findings indicate that the desalination process executed using the CGSS resulted in a more substantial improvement in groundwater quality, with an average daily yield of 3513 ml/day achieved with the CGSS.