Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Salinization and Origin of the Coastal Shallow Groundwater Aquifer, Northwestern Nile Delta, Egypt

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Groundwater in the Nile Delta

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 73))

Abstract

Serious salinization problem is affecting the northern Nile Delta basin and its groundwater aquifers. The hydrochemistry of major ions (K+, Na+, Mg+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, HCO3 −, CO3 2−) and the trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni) have been used to constrain the hydrochemical characteristics, source, and salinization processes of the shallow coastal aquifer, northwestern Nile Delta. Twenty groundwater wells, varying in depth from 17 to 40 m, had been examined and sampled to carry out the physicochemical parameters and chemical compositions of the groundwater and to obtain additional information on the possible contamination with major elements, trace elements (heavy metals), and nutrients (NH4 +, NO3 −, PO4 2−).

The hydrochemical data indicated that the groundwater of the coastal aquifer, northwestern Nile Delta, is meteoric in origin and is mixed with marine water. The coastal plain aquifer is recognized to be at high risk of increasing salinization. The salinity of the groundwater as a total dissolved solid (TDS) ranges from 1,288 to 4,907 mg/l with an average of 3,155 mg/l. The electric conductivity (EC) of the groundwater ranges from 1,900 to 9,790 μS/cm with an average of 4,620 μS/cm. It is directly related to TDS and the geographical position of each well. The groundwater is slightly alkaline with pH ranges from 7.01 to 8.2. The high salinity, pH, and EC values support the conclusion of seawater intrusion.

The nutrient content such as nitrates is higher than the standard values, which mainly resulted from rural sources. The concentrations of the trace elements are lower than the standard values except for iron, manganese, and nickel. This groundwater can be used for crop irrigation but must be treated before using for drinking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Andersen MS, Nyvang V, Jakobsen R, Postma D (2005) Geochemical processes and solute transport at the seawater/freshwater interface of a sandy aquifer. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:3979–3994

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bianchini G, Pennisi M, Cioni R, Muti A, Cerbai N, Kloppmann W (2005) Hydrochemistry of the high-boron groundwaters of the Cornia aquifer (Tuscany, Italy). Geothermics 34:297–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cary L, Casanova J, Gaaloul N, Guerrot C (2013) Combining boron isotopes and carbamazepine to trace sewage in salinized groundwater: a case study in Cap Bon, Tunisia. Appl Geochem 34:126–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cary L, Petelet-Giraud E, Bertrand B, Kloppmann W, Aquilina L (2015) Origins and processes of groundwater salinization in the urban coastal aquifers of Recife (Pernambuco, Brazil): a multi-isotope approach. Sci Total Environ 530–531:411–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. de Montety V, Radakovitch O, Vallet-Coulomb C, Blavoux B, Hermitte D, Valles V (2008) Origin of groundwater salinity and hydrogeochemical processes in a confined coastal aquifer: case of the Rhone delta (Southern France). Appl Geochem 23:2337–2349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Werner AD, Bakker M, Post VEA, Vandenbohede A, Lu C, Ataie-Ashtiani B et al (2013) Seawater intrusion processes, investigation and management: recent advances and future challenges. Adv Water Resour 51:3–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Aquilina L, Landes AA-L, Ayraud-Vergnaud V, Labasque T, Roques C, Davy P et al (2013) Evidence for a saline component at shallow depth in the crystalline Armorican basement (W France). Procedia Earth Planet Sci 7:19–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Armandine Les Landes A, Aquilina L, Davy P, Vergnaud-Ayraud V, Le Carlier C (2015) Timescales of regional circulation of saline fluids in continental crystalline rock aquifers (Armorican Massif, western France). Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 19:1413–1426. https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/19/1413/2015/

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Duriez A, Marlin C, Dotsika E, Massault M, Noret A, Morel JL (2008) Geochemical evidence of seawater intrusion into a coastal geothermal field of central Greece: example of the Thermopylae system. Environ Geol 54:551–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Han D, Kohfahl C, Song X, Xiao G, Yang J (2011) Geochemical and isotopic evidence for palaeoseawater intrusion into the south coast aquifer of Laizhou Bay, China. Appl Geochem 26:863–883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Khaska M, La Salle CLG, Lancelot J, Mohamad A, Verdoux P, Noret A (2013) Origin of groundwater salinity (current seawater vs. saline deep water) in a coastal karst aquifer based on Sr and Cl isotopes. Case study of the La Clape massif (southern France). Appl Geochem 37:212–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sola F, Vallejos A, Daniele L, Pulido-Bosch A (2014) Identification of a Holocene aquifer-lagoon system using hydrogeochemical data. Quatern Res 82:121–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cendón DI, Ayora C, Pueyo JJ, Taberner C, Blanc-Valleron MM (2008) The chemical and hydrological evolution of the Mulhouse potash basin (France): are “marine” ancient evaporites always representative of synchronous seawater chemistry? Chem Geol 252:109–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lucas Y, Schmitt AD, Chabaux F, Clément A, Fritz B, Elsass P (2010) Geochemical tracing and hydrogeochemical modelling of water–rock interactions during salinization of alluvial groundwater (Upper Rhine Valley, France). Appl Geochem 25:1644–1663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Merchán D, Auqué LF, Acero P, Gimeno MJ, Causapé J (2015) Geochemical processes controlling water salinization in an irrigated basin in Spain: identification of natural and anthropogenic influence. Sci Total Environ 502:330–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Mongelli G, Monni S, Oggiano G, Paternoster M, Sinisi R (2013) Tracing groundwater salinization processes in coastal aquifers: a hydrogeochemical and isotopic approach in the Na-Cl brackish waters of northwestern Sardinia, Italy. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 17:2917–2928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Forcada GE, Evangelista MI (2008) Contributions of boron isotopes to understanding the hydrogeochemistry of the coastal detritic aquifer of Castellón Plain, Spain. Hydrogeol J 16:547–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Allam MN, Allam GI (2007) Water resources in Egypt: future challenges and opportunities. Water Int 32:205–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Abdel-Galil I, Hegazi AM, El-Demerdashe S, Affifi MY, El-Shourbagy M, Metwall A (2004) National report for combating desertification, Desert Research Center, Egypt, 63 p

    Google Scholar 

  20. MWRI (Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt) (2016) Water scarcity in Egypt: the urgent need for regional cooperation among the Nile Basin Countries, 5 p. http://www.mfa.gov.eg/SiteCollectionDocuments/Egypt%20Water%20Resources%20Paper_2014.pdf

  21. Leaven MT (1991) Hydrogeological study of the Nile Delta and adjacent desert areas, Egypt, with emphasis on hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology, thesis, Free University, Amsterdam, also published by RIGW/IWACO as Technical note

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cartwright I, Weaver TR, Fulton S, Nichol C, Reid M, Cheng X (2004) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic constraints on the origins of dryland salinity, Murray Basin, VIC, Australia. Appl Geochem 1233–1254

    Google Scholar 

  23. Cruz JV, Silva MO (2000) Groundwater salinization in Pico Island, Azores, Portugal: origin and mechanisms. Environ Geol 39:1181–1189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. El Fayoumy IF (1964) Geology of groundwater supplies in Wadi El Natrun area, M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. Sci., Cairo Univ., Cairo, Egypt, 109 p

    Google Scholar 

  25. El Shazly EM, Abdel Hady MA, El Ghawaby IA, El Kassas SM, El Khawasik MM, Sanad S (1975) Geological interpretation of Landsat satellite images for west Nile Delta area, Remote Sensing Center, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Cairo, Egypt, 86 p

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gindi A, Abd-Alla MA (2000) Stable isotopes and microfacies of the middle Miocene Marmarica formation, north Western Desert, Egypt. Egypt J Geol 44:109–125

    Google Scholar 

  27. Landis GP, Swanberg CA, Morgan P, Boulos FK, El-Serif AA, El-Sayed AA, Basta NZ, Melek YS (1995) Reconnaissance hydrogen isotope geochemistry of Egyptian groundwaters. Ann Geol Surv Egypt 20:655–673

    Google Scholar 

  28. Nagy HM (2001) Hydrological and environmental characteristics of wetlands in Egypt. Lowland Technol Int 3:41–56

    Google Scholar 

  29. Masria A, Negm A, Iskander M, Saavedra O (2014) Coastal zone issues: a case study (Egypt). Procedia Eng 70:1102–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Philip G (1955) Geology of the Pleistocene sediments of the Mediterranean coast, west of Abu Qir, Ph.D. Thesis, Fac. Sci., Cairo Univ. Egypt

    Google Scholar 

  31. Salim MG (2012) Selection of groundwater sites in Egypt, using geographic information systems, for desalination by solar energy in order to reduce greenhouse gases. J Adv Res 3:3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Sanad S (1973) Geology of the area between Wadi El Natrun and the Moghra Depression Ph.D. Thesis Fac. Sci, Assuit Univ, Assuit, Egypt

    Google Scholar 

  33. Shata A (1962) The geology, origin and age of groundwater supplies in some desert areas of the U.R.E. Bulletin de l’Institut du Desert a Egypt 12:61–120

    Google Scholar 

  34. Swanberg CA, Morgan P, Boulos FK (1984) Geochemistry of the groundwaters of Egypt. Ann Geol Surv Egypt 14:127–150

    Google Scholar 

  35. Tarabees E, El-Qady G (2016) Sea water intrusion modeling in Rashid area of Nile Delta (Egypt) via the inversion of DC resistivity data. Am J Clim Chang 5:147–156. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2016.52014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zaghloul ZM, Taha AA, Hegab OA, El-Fawal FM (1979) The Plio-Pliostocene Nile Delta subenvironments, stratigraphic section and genetic class. Ann Geol Surv Egypt 9:282–291

    Google Scholar 

  37. Zaghloul ZM, Abdallah AM, Serag El-Din H, Hefny K (1984) Groundwater pollution in the Nile Delta area. Egypt J Geol 28:131–140

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sharaky AM (1990) Geomorphological studies on sand dunes and ridges is some African deserts, M.S. Thesis, Dept. Natural Resources, Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, Egypt, 175 p

    Google Scholar 

  39. El-Asmar HM, Wood P (2000) Quaternary shoreline development: the northwestern coast of Egypt. Quat Sci Rev 19:1137–1149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Shukri NM, Philip G, Said R (1955) The geology of the Mediterranean coast between Rosetta and Bardia, part 2: pleistocene sediments: geomorphology and microfacies. Bull Inst Egypt 37:395–427

    Google Scholar 

  41. Shata A, Hefny K (1995) Strategies for planning and management of groundwater in the Nile Valley and Nile Delta in Egypt, Working Paper Series No. 31-1, Strategic Research Program (SRP), NWRC-MPWWR, Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sherif MM (1999) The Nile Delta aquifer, chapter 17. In: Bear J, Cheng AHD, Sorek S, Ouazar D, Herrera I (eds) Sea-water intrusion in coastal aquifers: concepts, methods and practices, book series theory and application of transport in porous media, vol 14. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp 559–590

    Google Scholar 

  43. NWRP (2005) National Water Resources Plan, Facing the Challenge, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for 2017

    Google Scholar 

  44. RIGW and IWACO (1991) Monitoring and control groundwater pollution groundwater quality survey, in the Nile Delta and adjacent desert areas, V. I and II. Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  45. Farid MS (1980) Nile Delta groundwater study M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. Engin., Cairo Univ., Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  46. PRB (2017) World Population Data Sheet. www.worldpopdata.org

  47. American Public Health Association (1989) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, New York

    Google Scholar 

  48. Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Trans Am Geophys Union 25914–25923

    Google Scholar 

  49. Sulin VA (1948) Condition of formation, principals of classification and constituents of natural waters, particularly water of petroleum accumulation. Moscow, Leningrad, Acad Sci USSR

    Google Scholar 

  50. Brownlow AH (1996) Geochemistry, 2nd edn. Prentice, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 582 p

    Google Scholar 

  51. Krauskopf KB, Bird DK (1995) Introduction to geochemistry, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 647 p

    Google Scholar 

  52. Baas Becking LGM, Kaplan IR, Moore D (1960) Limits of the natural environment in terms of pH and oxidation-reduction potentials. J Geol 68(3):243–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ismail SS, Ramadan A (1995) Characterization of Nile and drinking water quality by chemical and cluster analysis. Sci Total Environ 173/174:69–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Komy ZR, El-Samahy AA (1995) Dissolved ions of trace and major elements and in suspended sediments in the Nile, Egypt. Chem Ecol 11:25–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Ministry of Irrigation, Desert Irrigation Department (1976) Groundwater resources of the north western coastal zone, groundwater series in the Arab Republic of Egypt Number 5, part 1, pp 8–11

    Google Scholar 

  56. Dyke L (1999) Regional groundwater and stream chemistry survey, Oak Ridges Moraine, ON. In: Current research 1999-E, geological survey of Canada, pp 111–121

    Google Scholar 

  57. Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1996) Aquatic chemistry, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  58. Faure G (1991) Principles and applications of inorganic geochemistry. Macmilian Publ. Co., New York, 626 p

    Google Scholar 

  59. Hem JD (1970) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. Second Education a Geological Survey Water Supply, Washington, 140 p

    Google Scholar 

  60. Sharaky AM, El Hasanein AS, Atta SA, Khallaf K (2017) Nile and groundwater interaction in the Western Nile Delta, Egypt. In: Negm AM (ed) The Nile Delta, volume 55, the handbook of environmental chemistry, Springer International Publishing AG, pp 33–62

    Google Scholar 

  61. Smith VH, Tilman GD, Nekola JC (1999) Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Environ Pollut 3:179–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Wall W (2013) Nitrogen in waters: forms and concerns, nitrogen in Minnesota surface waters. Minn Pollut Contr Agency A2:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  63. World Health Organization (WHO) (2017) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. Geneva, Switzerland, 541 p

    Google Scholar 

  64. Brian Oram PG (2017) water quality terms glossary. http://www.water-research.net/ndex.php/glossary

  65. Gill R (1989) Chemical fundamentals of geology. Unwin Hyman Ltd., London, 291 p

    Google Scholar 

  66. Brian Oram PG (2017) Nitrates and nitrites in drinking water and surface waters. http://www.water-research.net/index.php/nitrate

  67. Gale HS (1912) Nitrate deposits, Department of the Interior United States Geological Survey, Smith GO, Director, Bulletin, p 523

    Google Scholar 

  68. FAO (1985) Water quality for agriculture, FAO irrigation and drainage paper No. 29, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  69. NAS and NAE (National Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering) (1972) Water quality criteria, report prepared by Committee of Water Quality Criteria at Request of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 594 p

    Google Scholar 

  70. USEPA (2005) Drinking water standards. http://www.epa.com/

  71. Fetter CW (1994) Applied hydrogeology, 3rd edn. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 691 p

    Google Scholar 

  72. WHO (1998) World Health Organization, Copper. Geneva, World Health Organization, International Programme on Chemical Safety (Environmental Health Criteria, monograph No. 200)

    Google Scholar 

  73. Richard LA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils, Agric. Handbook No. 60, M.S. Dept. Agric., Washington, pp 69–82

    Google Scholar 

  74. Prasad MSVKV, Siva Praveena G, Prasada Rao PVV (2015) Assessment of groundwater suitability for irrigation purpose: a case study of Narsapur-Mogalthur mandals, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. IOSR J Environ Sci Toxicol Food Technol 9(3):7–11. ver. III

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Nag SK, Suchetana B (2016) Groundwater quality and its suitability for irrigation and domestic purposes: a study in Rajnagar Block, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. J Earth Sci Clim Change 7:337. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7617.1000337

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources, Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Abbas M. Sharaky & Adel S. El Hassanein

  2. Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Giza, Egypt

    Samir A. Atta & Karema M. A. Khallaf

Authors
  1. Abbas M. Sharaky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adel S. El Hassanein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samir A. Atta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karema M. A. Khallaf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abbas M. Sharaky .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim M. Negm

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sharaky, A.M., El Hassanein, A.S., Atta, S.A., Khallaf, K.M.A. (2017). Salinization and Origin of the Coastal Shallow Groundwater Aquifer, Northwestern Nile Delta, Egypt. In: Negm, A. (eds) Groundwater in the Nile Delta . The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 73. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2017_183

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation