Hydrogeochemistry and Quality Assessment for the Groundwater of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer of the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

I.H., Himida,; H.M., Holial,; M.N., Shaaban,; A.A., El-Fiky,; R.M., Abd El-Latif,

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2011.2712

Hydrogeochemistry and Quality Assessment for the Groundwater of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer of the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Dept of Hydrology, Desert Research Center, Egypt

² Dept of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt

³ Dept of Environmental, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2011.2712

Abstract

Groundwater is considered as one of the most important natural resources, on which a complete dependence for all human consumption, industrial and agricultural activities in El-Bahariya Oasis. Unfortunately, the increased reliance on groundwater resources without any scientific pre-plans has caused some negative hydrogeological impacts such as: rapid decline in groundwater potentiometric levels and groundwater salinization. The hydrogeochemical aspects of El-Bahariya Oasis are thoroughly evaluated in the present work based on chemical analysis of 59 groundwater samples, representing the main aquifer system (Nubian Sandstone Aquifer). Most of water wells drilled in the study area range from 600 to 1200 m in depth. The groundwaters from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer in El-Bahariya Oasis have mixed types of mineralization, i.e., pure meteoric water that vertically infiltrated and settled in the aquifer materials during the past Pluvial times and those affected through groundwater flow by relics of marine water. It has
been found that the majority of the groundwater samples of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer of El-Bahariya Oasis is suitable for drinking, domestic uses, irrigation, livestock and poultry and some industrial purposes.

Keywords

Main Subjects