Journal of American Science 2015;11(11) http://www.jofamericanscience.org Environmental Impact on Water Resources at the Northwestern Part of the Nile Delta, Egypt Awad S.R.1, El Fakharany M.A2 and Hagran N.M.3 1Research Institute for Groundwater, El-Kanater El-Khairia, Egypt 2Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Egypt. 3Drinking Water Supply Company, Giza, Egypt. [email protected] Abstract: Surface water and groundwater in the northwestern part of the Nile Delta is of vital importance for domestic, agricultural, and industrial water supply. The increases in population together with the agricultural and industrial development have resulted in increasing pollution of water resources. The main objective of the present study is to assess the environmental impact on the quality of water resources in the study area. To achieve that, surface water and groundwater samples have been analyzed for major ions, nitrates, and trace elements, in addition to detection of total and fecal coli-form bacteria. The distribution maps for different pollutants in groundwater are carefully studied. Results indicate that both surface water and groundwater in the study area are suffering from quality problems. The majority of the studied area are characterized by fresh water (TDS <1000 ppm) with low contents of Na, Cl, and SO4 and the groundwater is suitable for drinking. High contents are recoded mostly at the northwestern portions as local polluted zones distributed within the area. This is referred to extensive withdrawing in the newly reclaimed areas in the northwestern portions and to the existence of local pollution sources resulted from the infiltration of domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes in the intensive populated area. The distribution of nitrate content in groundwater wells shows that the low concentration (<50 ppm) exist at the south western parts of the investigated area, whereas the maximum content (>50 ppm) exists at the east and the northern portions. The increase of nitrate is due to domestic conditions in highly urbanized areas and the use of fertilizers in the old land. The concentrations of trace elements (chromium, lead, nickel and zinc) in groundwater are within the acceptable limits for drinking and domestic uses. Iron, manganese, Cadmium and Copper contents are over the acceptable limits and this could be referred to fertilizer application, and sewage sludge disposal. The number (count/100 ml) of total coli-form and fecal coli-form bacteria are high in surface water and shallow groundwater. So, the surface water and shallow groundwater should be treated and sterilized before drinking. [Awad S.R., El Fakharany M.A and Hagran N.M. Environmental Impact on Water Resources at the Northwestern Part of the Nile Delta, Egypt. J Am Sci 2015;11(11):1-11]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 1 Keywords: Groundwater, Quaternary, Environment, Quality, Pollution. 1. Introduction below zero during winter nights. The annual mean of Groundwater in study area is of vital importance the air temperature is around 20 ºC. The annual mean for domestic, agricultural, and industrial water supply. of the evaporation intensity (Ev.) decreases from south The increase in population together with the to north and from summer to winter influencing both agricultural and industrial development has resulted in groundwater and surface water quality, particularly increasing pollution of water resources. The study area where groundwater is close to the ground surface. The lies in the northwestern part of the Nile Delta bordered rainfall intensity (R.F.) effect on the surface and by Rosetta Branch in the east, and the Cairo–Alex groundwater is negligible especially during summer. Desert Road in the west between longitudes 29º 58' The 100-200 mm amount of rainfall may take place and 30º 44' 20'' E and latitudes 30º 30' and 31º N (Fig. intermittently and in a short time. 1). The traditionally cultivated lands are The study area is characterized by a low relief and predominated in the northeastern part of the study area. slope gently from south to north and from west to east. Reclaimed lands are present on the western fringes The ground elevation varies between less than sea level using surface water from El-Nubariya, El-Nasr, and El- at the north near Hush Isa and more than 50 m above Bustan canals. Groundwater, or conjunctive use of mean sea level at the southwestern periphery nearby surface water with groundwater, is used for irrigation. Cairo-Alex. desert road. Drainage water from open drains is partly reused for Topographic features cause variations in depth to irrigation to cover the shortages of the irrigation water. groundwater and presence of water logged areas and Many of concentrated towns and villages with environmental problems. The air temperature (T) extensive population and small scale industries are exceeds 40 ºC during summer days or it may reach present in the area. Generally, surface water system 1 Journal of American Science 2015;11(11) http://www.jofamericanscience.org directed into large population densities and activated surface. Because of the small thickness of the clay cap, industrial areas. Untreated liquid wastes and effluents contaminated waste water infiltrates contaminating the directly discharged into canals, drains and on land groundwater in the aquifer. Fig. (1): Location Map of the Study Area. 2. Objectives and Methods addition to detection of total and fecal coli-form The main objective of the present study is to bacteria. The hydrogeological and hydrochemical data assess the environmental impact on the quality of water were processed by different software programs as resources in the study area. To achieve this purpose, Surfer, Aquachem…etc., besides construction of water field and laboratory measurements carried out for the level map of the Pleistocene aquifer, thickness map of collected surface water and groundwater samples (Fig. the Holocene aquitard, hydrogeological cross sections 2). Both surface water and groundwater samples and distribution maps for different pollutants in analyzed for major ions, nitrates, and trace elements, in groundwater. 29° 47' 30° 30' 30° 52' 31° 31° 85 7 Hosh 78 76 Eisa 3 2 84 83 8 77 Itai Abu 79 82 El-Barud El-Matamir 81 9 El-Delengat l a 70 80 71 n 1 a C Jaynaclis 5 72 r 69 s C a Kom a N DOO86E 68 ir l- l-Bu Hamada o E sta E65l - 63 n C -N 67 17 a ub R 30° 45' A nal ar 30° 45' iy o le a C 66 x 6215 61 an s a 52 14 al e n E t l t d - r 12 60 11 R a i E a a 51 l B y - D R a 47 54 r 55 h a e 56 a s y E n e a h l r - c t B 53 h E R e l o - Badre h 57 N a e a City i d r s y e 43 19 58 r C i a C n 40 a a n DOO92 l DOO8838 a 37 l 10 30° 30' 30° 30' 29° 47' 30° 30' 30° 52' Scale Main Cities Canals Main Roads 0 5 10 15 km Sampled wells Open Drains Railways Fig. (2): Location Map of Surface Water and Groundwater Samples 2 Journal of American Science 2015;11(11) http://www.jofamericanscience.org 3. Results and Discussions Generally, the Quaternary sediments belonging to the 3.1. Geology Pleistocene and Holocene mainly cover the study area, The geology of the considered area and its while Miocene and Pliocene sediments outcrop at the vicinities have been discussed by several workers, southwestern portions (Fig. 3). The lithostratigraphy of among them are Sandford and Arkell (1939), Shata the area could be summarized from base to top as (1953, 1955, 1959 and 1961), El Fayoumy (1964), follows: Attia (1975), El Ghazawi (1982), and Shedid (1989). ). Fig. (3): Geologic Map of the Study Area and its vicinities (After EGSMA, 1981 and EGPCO/CONOCO, 1988). 1-The Miocene sediments are composed of thick Sand dunes belonging to Holocene age are found clastic sequence carrying mixed fluviomarine fauna. It covering the middle and southern portions of the study overlies the basalt of the Abu Roash and extends area. northward into the north western desert. 3.2. Hydrogeology 2-The Pliocene sediments are formed of clay, The hydrogeological conditions of the study area sand, gravelly sand with limestone interbeds. The could be discussed under the following topics including Pliocene clay is overlain by the Quaternary deposits in surface water system and groundwater system. the Nile Delta flood plain. 3.2.1. Surface water system 3-The Pleistocene sediments are exposed at the The surface water system comprises Rosetta western parts of the studied area, while in the branch and a set of canals and a set of open drains northeastern portions they are overlain by the Holocene (Fig.2). Generally, the surface water levels of canals Nile silt and clay and rest on the Pliocene clay. They increase in summer and decrease in winter in response are composed of sand and gravel intercalated with clay to the water quantities entered these canals. The canals lenses. The Pleistocene sediments have a variable and drains are passing mainly through Nile silt and clay thickness, ranges between 300 min the eastern portions deposits of Holocene age. Locally, where the Nile silt near Kom Hamada and 80 m near Cairo-Alexandria and clay deposits disappeared, the canals and drains are desert road. passing through the Pleistocene sediment. Direct 4-The Holocene Nile silt and clay deposits are connection between surface water and groundwater occupying the northeastern parts. Their thickness exists. changes from place to place ranging from 0 to 25 m. The water levels in Rosetta branch varies from 3 Journal of American Science 2015;11(11) http://www.jofamericanscience.org 5.56 m amsl to 3 m amsl, whereas the groundwater km 12.700 on the left bank for irrigation water in El level in adjacent area varies from 7 m amsl to 5 m Bustan area.