groundwater qualityassessment for drinking and irrigation...

International Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology (IJIET)

IJIET - Special Issue on EGE 2017 51 ISSN: 2319-1058

Groundwater Qualityassessment For Drinking

And Irrigation Purposes In El-Salhia Plain East

Nile Delta Egypt

Abd-Alrahman A.A. Embaby Geology Department, Faculty of Science,

Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt

Mokhtar S. Beheary Environmental Science Department, Faculty of Science,

Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt

SallyM. Rizk Environmental Science Department, Faculty of Science,

Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt

Abstract-Thirty groundwater samples were collected from wells tapping the Quaternary aquifer in El-Salhia plain, East

Nile Delta, Egypt. Assessment of the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes was made by applying water

quality index (WQI), which was based on important physico-chemical and environmental parameters. It is indicated that

70% of the analyzed groundwater samples fall in the good class. These samples were located in the upper and the lower

portions of El-Salhia plain. The remainder (30%), which situated in the middle of the plain, was poor class. Also, addition

calculated parameters were used for irrigation suitability assessment. Accordingly, most of the samples belong to high

salinity and low SAR and very high salinity and medium SAR classes. Such waters are mostly unsuitable for irrigation

under a normal condition and require special type of irrigation methods. These samples are recommended for irrigation

with respect to NO3-, PO43-, RSC, MH and trace elements, while most of them are not recommended according to the

acceptable limits for Na%, SAR, excess Cl- and TH. Poor irrigation water can be managed by improving irrigation

management technologies and using salt tolerance plants.

Keywords-Groundwater quality, Drinking, Irrigation, Trace elements, El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

I. INTRODUCTION

Groundwater is a chief natural resource essential for the existence of life and is also a vital input for all development

activities. Groundwater in El-Salhia plain not only is a main source for irrigation but also it uses in domestic

purposes (drinking and cooking of household).

El-Salhia plain, as a part of the eastern Nile Delta fringe, is situated southwest Port Said on the borders of Port Said,

El-Sharkia and Ismailia Governorates between Longitudes 310 50

/-32

0 20

/ E and Latitudes 30

0 32

/-30

0 52

/ N. The

climatic conditions of the plain are similar to those of the northern part of Egypt. It is rather arid to semi-arid, so the

quality of groundwater is of paramount importance. It is fluviatile plain occupying the areas laying to the east of the

cultivated lands of the Nile Delta and extends to the Suez Canal. El-Salhia plain is bounded along its southern edge

by Wadi El-Tumilate, which extends from the Nile Delta on the west almost due east Ismailia City.

The surface of the plain is occupied by sands and gravels, which are developed into a typical desert

pavement(Geostrazivanjie, 1965).These Quaternary deposits, which cover a vast area, are represented by loose

quartizitic gravels, sands, aeolian sands,sand dunes, superficial deposits, sabakhas, as well as fluviatile and

fluviomarine deposits. Early Pleistocene deposits (old deltaic deposits) are dominating as coarse sand and flinty

pebbles of igneous fragments(Gad, 1995). Tertiary sediments are reported in the subsurface as Pliocene sandy

limestone and marl dolomite in the area northeast of Cairo (El-Haddad,2002).

The most important aquifer in El-Salhia plain is the Quaternary aquifer, which is mainly sand and gravel intercalated

with clay and shales lenses. The aquifer thickness increases northwards attaining 900m near Mediterranean Sea. It

gradually decreases southward reaching 100m.The southward thinning of the aquifer is due to E-W faults(Shata and

El-Fayoumy, 1970).It is a semi-confined fresh water aquifer, recharged from the Quaternary Nile Delta aquifer in

the west and the seepage from Ismailia Canal, where the infiltration rate is about 9.6cm/h(Kotb, 1988). This aquifer

is highly recommended for drilling water wells(El-Mahmoudi, etal. 2006). The depth to groundwater varies from

1m north El-Salhia to 20m near Ismailia Canal(Khalil, 1968). Groundwater depths at New El-Salhia ranged from 1.3



to 18m, while the measured water level ranges from 2.19 to 9.31m with hydraulic gradient of about 0.3m/km(Rizk,

1997). The transmissivity increases in El-Salhia plain from the east to the west direction(Gad, 1995).

The objective of the presentwork is to study thehydrochemical characteristics of the groundwater of Quaternary

aquifer and its suitability for drinking and irrigation in El-Salhia plain.

Many researchers have used WQI for assessing water quality such as: Horton (1965);Tiwari and Mishra

(1985);Pesce and Wunderlin (2000);Debelset al.(2005); JawadAlobaidyet al.(2010);Vasanthavigar and

Srinivasamoorthy(2010) andPalet al. (2016). In the several parts of the world several researchers have assessed the

groundwater quality for domestic and agricultural activities; Kaushiket al. (2000); Subramaniet al.

(2005);Sivakumar and Elango (2010); Tank and Chandel (2010); Dar et al. (2011); Jain et al. (2011); Kamble and

Vijay (2011); Pant (2011); Ramesh and Elango (2011); Srinivasamoorthyet al. (2011); SarathPrasanthet al. (2012);

JafarAhamedet al. (2013); Sajil Kumar and James (2013) ; Vetrimuruganet al.(2013), Embabyet al. (2014)

andShehata and El-Sabrouty (2014).

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty groundwater sampleswere collected from wells tapping the Quaternary aquifer (Fig. 1).The total depth of

these wells ranges from 5 to 90m. Unstable parameters such as the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were

measured in the field. Ca2+

, Mg2+

and TH were determined by EDTA titration using Eriochromeblack-T and

murexide as indicators(Jackson, 1958).Na+and K

+contents were detected by Flame Photometer(Rhoades, 1982).

CO32-

, HCO3-

and TA were analyzed by acid-base titration(Nelson, 1982).SO42-

was estimated by turbidity

method(Adams, 1990). Cl- concentration was measured using Mohr titration method(Jackson, 1958). NO3

- was

determined by Salicylate method(EPA, 1986). PO43-

was colorimetrically counted by hydroquinone method (Snel

and Snel, 1967). DO was by the conventional Winkler’s method(Adams, 1990).BOD was calculated by difference

between initial dissolved oxygen and dissolved oxygen after five days (Adams, 1990).TSS was weighted using

filtration process(APHA, 1992). Trace elements were detected by Plasma Optical Emission Mass Spectrometer

"ICP" (POEMSIII, Thermo Jarrell Elemental Company USA), using 1000 mg/l (Merck) Stock solution for standard

preparation in the Central Laboratory-Water and Soil Analysis Unit, Desert Research Center, El-Matariya , Cairo,

Egypt.

The correlation coefficient matrix for the analyzed groundwater samples is obtained by applying SPSS software

version 17.0. Assessment of groundwater quality in El-Salhia plain for drinking and irrigation purposes was made

by applying the computed equations of drinking and irrigation quality indices (Table 1).

Table (1).Drinking andirrigation quality indices equations.

Equation Reference

Drinking quality index

WQI = QiWi / WiCude (2001)

Qi = {(V actual- V ideal)/ (V standard- V ideal)}×100

Wi = I/Si Irrigationquality indices

% Na+ = Na+ × 100 /(Ca2+ + Mg2+ + Na+ + K+)Wilcox (1955)

SAR = Na+ {(Ca2+ + Mg2+)/2}1/2Richards (1954)

RSC = CO32− + HCO3

− − (Ca2+ + Mg2+)Eaton (1950)

MH% = (Mg2+× 100) /(Ca2+ + Mg2+)Szabolcs and Darab (1964)

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Ph values of the collected groundwater samples from the Quaternary aquifer in El-Salhia plain vary from 7.4 to

9.1 with an average 8.1 (Table 2). They are alkaline. The total dissolved solids "TDS" ranged from 642 to 4530 mg/l

with an average 1921mg/l. There is a marked TDS increase (greater than 4000mg/l) noticed at the northern portion

(Fig. 2). Based on Chebotarev classification(1955), only one sample is fresh water and 41% belong tofairly fresh

water referring to meteoric water influence. About 33%of the samples are slightly brackish, 20%consider brackish

and only sample No.27denote slightly saline water, reflecting leaching processes accompanying irrigation.

The distribution patterns of the major constituents for the Quaternary groundwater in El-Salhia plain are shown in

(Fig. 3). Na+represents the dominant cation in the majority of the samples. It varies from 76 to 1334 mg/l with an

average of about 500 mg/l (Table 2). Marked increases in sodium concentrations, greater than 800 mg/l, appear as

deep red color in the northern and the central parts(Fig. 3).K+represents the least dominant cation; its concentration



is from 5 to 16 mg/l with average 11 mg/l. Mg2+

varies from 5 to 273 mg/l with average 43 mg/l. Ca2+

represents the

second dominant cation in the majority of the samples. It is between 8 to 328 mg/l with an average of 85 mg/l.

Fig. (1):Location Map Of The Collected Groundwatersamples, El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt

Cl- is the dominant anion in the analyzed samples from El-Salhia plain. It varies between 64 and 1562mg/l with an

average of 567mg/l. The highest value of chloride is recorded in the northern part(Fig. 3). Its distribution is also

matched with that of salinity. SO42-

is the third dominant anion, where it varies from 11 to 1220mg/l with an average

of 294mg/l. It is correlated with salinity and chloride distributions. HCO3-represents the second dominant anion; it

varies from 49 to 659mg/l with an average of 366mg/l (Fig. 3). CO3- is the least dominate anion in collected

samples, it ranges between 0 and 24mg/l. NO3- concentrations vary from 0.14 to 39.90 mg/l with average 6.94 mg/l.

PO43-

range from 0.001 to 0.72 mg/l with average 0.15 mg/l(Table 2).



Fig.(2):The Distribution Pattern Of Salinity Values Of The Groundwater Samples Of The Quaternary Aquifer In El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta,

Egypt.

There is positive strong correlation between Na+ and Cl

- (R2> 0.9) indicating that the majority of groundwater

samples belong to Cl-Na type (Table 3). Strong positive correlations are also between TDS, Na+, Cl

- and SO4

2-. It is

clear that there are strong positive correlations between Ca2+

, Mg2+

and TH, HCO3- and TA. Anegative r

2 value is

between DO and BOD, as the increase of BOD lead to decrease of DO. Also, negative correlations between DO and

NO3-&PO4

3-, as the increase of NO3

-&PO4

3- lead to increase the growth of microorganisms, which cause

consumption of DO. Chloride-Sodium is the main water type;it represents about 74% of the samples. This is

indicated that the ion exchange and dissolution are the main processes (Shehata and El-Sabrouty, 2014).

The majority of the plotted groundwater samples (83%) occupy the diamond field subzones (7) of piper diagram

(1944),which reflects primary salinity where Na+ and K

+ exceeds SO4

2- (Fig. 4). Samples No. 17&28 fall in subarea

(9), indicating no dominant cation-anion pairs. Samples No. 1&3 are located in subarea (5), reflecting fresh water

affinity. Only sample No. 10 falls in subzones (6), which is characterized by high salinity. These results are in

accordance with those obtained byDahabet al.(2009).

These conclusions are confirmed with those obtained by The rNa/rCl ratio in the groundwater of the Quaternary

aquifer in El-Salhiaplain varies from 0.93 to 3.40 with average 1.5(Table 2). It is generallygreater than unity in 83%

of the samples, which reflects the effect of fresh water recharge from the Nile water especially Ismailia Canal. It is

less than unity in the latest (17%) which refers to the combined action of dissolution and ion exchange (Tripathy and

Sahu, 2005). The sulphate ratio rSO4/rCl varies from 0.02 to 3.21 with average 0.65; it is less than unity in 80% of

the samples, referring to low sulphate relative to chloride. The rCa/rMg ratio in the samples varies from 0.05 to 9.52

with average 1.8. The rCl/ (rHCO3+rCO3) ratio is one of the criteria to evaluate the presence of seawater intrusion.

The rCl/ (rHCO3+rCO3) ratio varies between 0.30 and 14.66 with average 2.7 (Table 2). According to the

classification of Simpson (1946), 10% of the samples are located in normally fresh groundwater, 17% in slightly

contaminated, 37 % moderately contaminated, and 30% in injuriously contaminated.Onlysamples No. 19&27 are

plotted in highly contaminated groundwater class.



Fig.(3):The Distribution Patterns Of Major Ions Of Groundwater Samples From El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt; A: Iso-Sodium-, B:

Iso-Magnesium-, C: Iso-Calcium-, D: Iso-Chloride-, E: Iso-Sulphate- And F: Iso-Bicarbonate-Contour Maps.

Table(2).Summary of some parameters and hydrochemical ratios of the collected groundwater samples, El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

Min. Max. Aver. S.D. Median

EC (µmhos/cm) 1003.00 7070 3006.00 1399.21 2666.00

TDS (mg/l) 642.00 4530 1921.00 877.73 1947.00

The pH value 7.40 9.10 8.13 0.41 8.11

K+ 5.07 16.38 10.65 2.94 11.70

Na+ 75.90 1334.46 500.58 324.52 425.73

Mg2+

4.87 272.61 42.61 48.05 34.45

Ca2+

8.00 328.00 85.01 70.77 64.15

Cl- 63.90 1562.00 566.53 403.67 465.05

SO4 2-

11.04 1220.00 294.30 285.45 251.76

CO3- 0.00 24.00 7.00 7.77 6.00

HCO3- 49.00 658.80 365.80 109.38 378.20

NO3- 0.14 39.90 6.94 11.71 1.40

PO43-

0.001 0.72 0.15 0.19 0.07

TSS (mg/l) 60 886 156.6 206.4 394.00

TA 67 659 73.58 108.62 384.00



TH 20.00 1181.00 94.90 270.43 304.00

BOD 1.80 4.00 3.08 0.61 3.05

DO 4.20 7.80 6.03 0.99 6.05

Cu2+

0.001 0.071 0.009 0.012 0.006

Fe2+

0.01 0.65 0.070 0.120 0.040

Pb2+

0.006 0.018 0.010 0.003 0.008

Zn2+

0.0006 0.164 0.010 0.032 0.007

Na+ % 17.00 94.00 69.00 18.88 73.00

SAR 1.40 43.37 12.72 9.40 10.45

RSC -18.60 6.21 -1. 53 5.67 0.30

MH% 9.50 94.90 43.26 19.68 45.55

rNa/rCl 0.93 3.40 1.52 0.54 1.36

rSO4/rCl 0.02 3.21 0.65 0.70 0.43

rCa/rMg 0.05 9.52 1.80 1.98 1.17

rCl/ (rHCO3+rCO3) 0.30 14.66 2.95 2.89 2.04

All major ions are in mg/l, Na%: Soluble sodium percent in %, SAR: Sodium adsorptionratio and RSC: Residual

sodium carbonate in epm, MH: Magnesium hazard in %.



Fig.(4): Plots of the analyzed groundwater samples of the Quaternary aquifer, El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt on Piper Trilinear diagram

(1944).



Table(3).Pearson moment correlation (r) between the different parameters of the Quaternary groundwater samples (n=30), El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta,

Egypt.

EC 1

TDS 0.998 1

pH -

0.458

-

0.461

1

K+ 0.269 0.267 -

0.071

1

Na

+ 0.908 0.913 -

0.471

0.227 1

Mg2+

0.129 0.134 0.093 -

0.082

-

0.126

1

Ca

2+ 0.587 0.585 -

0.177

0.312 0.350 0.013 1

Cl

- 0.915 0.922 -

0.537

0.156 0.876 0.035 0.553 1

SO42-

0 .668 0.665 -

0.055

0.226 0.434 0.353 0.515 0.382 1

CO3

2- -

0.341

-

0.350

-

0.646

-

0.316

-

0.247

-

0.108

-

0.349

-

0.376

-

0.216

1

HCO

3-

-

0.018

0.008 -

0.218

0.276 0.005 0.112 -

0.084

0.014 -

0.204

-

0.193

1

NO3- -

0.080

-

0.078

-

0.416

0.137 -

0.193

0.096 0.326 -

0.081

0.010 0.206 0.029 1

PO43-

0.08 0.086 -

0.365

0.149 0.102 -

0.064

-

0.034

0.116 -

0.168

-

0.181

0.499 -

0.129

1

TSS 0.490 0.486 -

0.301

-

0.238

0.398 0.237 0.184 0.508 0.300 0.029 -

0.235

-

0.267

0.386 1

TA -

0.048

-

0.023

-

0.163

0.268 -

0.017

0.107 -

0.127

-

0.036

-.207 -

0.106

0.982 0.042 0.493 -

0.229

1



TH 0.484 0.486 -

0.051

0.145 0.138 0.741 0.880 0.392 0.598 -

0.307

0.027 0.303 -

0.070

0.293 -

0.004

1

BOD 0.177 0.160 -

0.105

-

0.474

0.193 -.040 0.080 0.183 0.094 0.248 -

0.615

-

0.312

-

0.173

0.518 -

0.587

0.023 1

DO 0.094 0.082 0.184 -

0.546

0.104 -

0.037

0.041 0.022 0.273 0.252 -

0.709

-

0.125

-

0.352

0.350 -

0.692

-

0.003

-

0.759

1

EC TDS pH K+ Na

+

Mg2+

Ca2+

Cl- S04

2- CO3

2-

HCO

3- NO3

-

PO43-

TSS

TA TH BOD DO



Assessment of groundwater for drinking purposes:

Water quality index (WQI) is one of the most important tools to monitor the groundwater pollution (Alamand Pathak, 2010).In

this work, calculation of water quality index was based on important physico-chemical parameters such as: TDS, pH value,

Mg2+

, Ca2+

, Cl-, SO4

2-, NO3

-, PO4

3-, TSS,environmental parameters such as: TA, TH, BOD, DO and some of trace elements

like Cu2+

, Fe2+

, Pb2+

, Zn2+

. The WQI was calculated by using the compared different standards of drinking water quality

recommended byICMR (1975), IDWS(1992),BIS (2003) and WHO (2008).

All the examined groundwater samples are above standard limit for TDS (500 mg/l)BIS (2003). The measured pH values are

within standard limit (6.5-8.5) ICMR (1975)and BIS (2003), except samples No. (1, 3, 10& 20), which exceed the limit. Mg2+

values are below standard limit (100 mg/l) IDWS (1992) except sample No.10. Ca2+

concentrations are below standard limit

(250 mg/l) IDWS (1992) in the analyzed samples except sample No.27, which exceed limit.

With respect to Cl- concentrations, 77% of the Quaternary groundwater is above standard limit for drinking (250mg/l)ICMR

(1975)/ BIS (2003). SO42-

anions in 63% of samples are above standard limit (200 mg/l)IDWS (1992). NO3-and PO4

3-

concentrations are below standard limit (45 mg/l and 5 mg/l, respectively) IDWS (1992).TSS concentrations in 70% of the

Quaternary groundwater samples are below permissible limit for drinking (500 mg/l)WHO (2008). TA values exceed

standard limit for drinking (200 mg/l) BIS (2003) in the collected samples, except samples No.18&27. TH concentrations are

above standard limit (300 mg/l) ICMR (1975)/BIS (2003) in 47% of the samples. They are below standard limit for BOD (5

mg/l)ICMR (1975); this means that the organic load is low in El-Salhia plain. About 90% of this groundwater is above

standard limit for DO (5 mg/l)ICMR (1975) and BIS (2003),where the dissolved oxygen is high. It indicates a good healthy

condition for the community.

With regard to trace element concentrations, Cu2+

concentrations are below standard limit for drinking

1.50mg/l(IDWS,1992)in all groundwater samples in El-Salhia plain.Fe2+

concentrations in groundwater sample No. 8 are

above standard limit (0.3 mg/l)(IDWS,1992), while the rest of samples are below limit.Concentrations of Pb2+

and zn2+

are

below standard limit (0.05 and 5mg/l respectively)(IDWS,1992)in groundwater samples in plain. The WQI level for

groundwater samples was categories based on permissibility for human consumption and the maximum permissible scale for

WQI for the drinking water(Table 4).About 70% of the groundwater samples, which are located in the upper and the lower

portions of El-Salhia plain, fall in the good class (Fig. 5), while 30% of the sampleswhich are located in the middle of the

plain, fall in the poor class.

Fig.(5): Water Quality Index (WQI) Zonation Map Of The Quaternarygroundwater Samples, El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt For Drinking Purposes.



Table(4).Categorization of water quality ofgroundwatersamples based on WQI level, El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

WQI level Description Samples

< 350 Excellent

-

350 - 700 Good water

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,16,

17,19,21,23,24,26,29,30

700 - 1050 Poor water

8,13,15,18,20,22,25,27,28

1050- 1400 Very Poor

water

-

> 1400 Unsuitable for

Drinking

-

IV. ASSESSMENTOF GROUNDWATERFOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES

Many important parameters, which affect both plant and soil, were used to assess the suitability of groundwater in El-Salhia

plain for irrigation purposes.

4.1 Salinity hazard:

Salinity problem occurs if salt accumulates in the root zone, which may significantly affect the quantity of crop

production(Jain et al., 2011). According to Fipps (1996),43% of the groundwater samples are permissible. These are suitable

for irrigation of moderately sensitive crops. 17% of groundwater fall in the doubtful class. It can be used to irrigate moderately

salt tolerant crops. Meanwhile, 40% of groundwater samples, which have salinity values exceed 2100 mg/l, are un-suitable

(Table 5& Fig. 6A). These are only recommended to irrigate salt tolerant crops such as sunflower, oats, soy bean, zucchini,

broccoli, olive and peach (Ayers and Westcot, 1985; and NWQMS, 2000).

4.2 Sodium hazard:

Sodium percent (Na %) varies in groundwater from 17% to 94 % (Table 2). Only groundwater sample No.10 falls in excellent

class (Wilcox, 1955).Samples No.3&17 are in the good class. Groundwater samples No. (1 &23&28) fall in the permissible

class. 50% of samples plot in the doubtful class. Thirty percent are unsuitable for irrigation from this point of view (Table

5&Fig. 6B). High percentage of sodium in irrigation water may lead to sodium accumulations, which causes deflocculating

and impairing of soil permeability (Fipps, 1996 and Singh et al., 2008).

The SAR is the most useful parameter for determining the suitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes because it

measures the alkali/sodium hazard to soils and crops(Subramaniet al. 2005). Its value in the groundwater of Quaternary

aquifer in El-Salhia plain varies from 1.4 to 43.4epm(Table 2).Forty four percent of the groundwater have low SAR. Moderate

to high values, which cause alkali hazard, are recorded in 43% of the groundwater, and the latest 13% of groundwater samples

have very high SAR (Table 5&Fig. 6C).

For assessing irrigation waters, the USSLs diagram (1954)was used in which the SAR plotted against EC (Fig. 7).

Water class of high salinity and low SAR (C3S1) represents 30% of the groundwater samples. This class can be used for

almost all types of soils with little danger of exchangeable sodium(Hem, 1985).Groundwater of very high salinity and low

SAR (C4S1) represents 14%, where these samples can be used for plants of good salt tolerance and also restricts the suitability

for drainage (Mohan et al. 2000). Class of very high salinity and medium SAR (C4S2) contains 30% of the groundwater. This

is satisfactory for salt tolerant crops and soils of good permeability with special leaching. About 23% of these groundwater

samples belong to minor water classes (C3S2), (C4S4) and (C4S4). Groundwater sample No. 27 is out of range.

4.3 Residual sodium carbonate (RSC):

According to Eaton, (1950);about 67% of the Quaternary groundwater samples in El-Salhia plain are in the suitable class

RSC< 1.25 (Table 5). Twenty percent of the samples are medium and 13% belong to unsuitable class and poses bicarbonate

hazard

4.4 Magnesium hazard:

The magnesium hazard values vary from 9.5 % to 94.4% in the Quaternary groundwater (Table 2).About 70% of groundwater

samples are safe from magnesium hazard (MH< 50%) and suitable for irrigation(Table 5). Meanwhile, 30% of the samples are

unsuitable for irrigation (MH> 50%).

4.5 Total hardness:

Water with hardness less than 150mg/l; moderately hard based onTodd's classification (1980), is considered desirable for plant

growth. In El-Salhia plain, all the analyzed groundwater samples exceed permissible limit (150 mg/l), and range from hard

(150-300 mg/l) 37% of groundwater samples to very hard (> 300 mg/l) in 50% of the groundwater. Only 13% of the

groundwater are in the permissible limit.



4.6 Nitrate (NO3-):

In El-Salhia plain, all the investigated water samples included in the safe limit; NO3- less than 44 mg/l (Bauderet al., 2004).

4.7 Phosphate:

All analyzed water samples are within suitable class (0-2mg/l) (Shahinasi and Kashuta, 2008).

4.8 Excess chloride:

According to Taylor and Oza classification(1954), about 20% of the Quaternary groundwater samples are suitable for

irrigation, 33% are suitable for moderately tolerant plants, 37% of are undesirable for irrigation except for salt tolerant plants.

Theremaining groundwater samples (10%) are unsuitable for irrigation and can be used in special cases for high salt tolerant

plants.

4.9 Trace elements:

A number of trace elements can limit water use for irrigation where some of them may have negative effects on plant growth.

Pratt and Suarez (1990)set guidelines for evaluating the maximum allowable concentrations of trace elements in irrigation

water for production of plant growth as well as potential toxicity to animals. Accordingly, the concentrations of

Cd2+,

Co2+

,Cr3+

,Cu2+

, Fe2+

, Pb2+

and Zn2+

(0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.20, 5.0, 5.0&0.5mg/l, respectively) are below permissible limits in all

groundwater samples of El-Salhia plain. Manganese concentrations in 73% of the groundwater are in permissible limit (0.2

mg/l) and suitable for irrigation. Vanadium concentrations are in safe limit for irrigation (0.1 mg/l) in water samples, except

groundwater samples No. 10&11.

Fig. (6):Zonation Maps Of The Quaternary Groundwater Samples For Irrigation Uses; A: Salinity, B: Sodium Percent (Na%), C: Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.



Table(5). Classification of groundwater based on salinity (TDS), sodium percent (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and

magnesium hazard (MH).

Classification scheme Categories Ranges Percent of

samples

TDS(Fipps, 1996). Excellent <175 -

Good 175-525 mg/l -

Permissible 525-1400 mg/l 43

Doubtful 1400-2100 17

Unsuitable >2100 40

Na %(Wilcox,1955) Excellent <20 3

Good 20-40 7

Permissible 40-60 10

Doubtful 60-80 50

Unsuitable >80 30

SAR(Fipps, 1996) Low 1-10 44

Medium

high

10-18

18-26

40

3

Very high >26 13

RSC (Eaton, 1950) Suitable <1.25 67

Medium suitable 1.25-2.50 20

Unsuitable >2.50 13

MHKhodapanahet al.

(2009).

Excellent

Unsuitable

<50

>50

70

30

Fig.(7): Classification Of The Groundwater Samples For Irrigation Uses, El-Salhia Plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt, According To Ussls Diagram, 1954.

V. CONCLUSIONS

The Quaternary aquifer represents the main resource of groundwater in El-Salhia plain for agricultural purposes and it also

uses in domestic purposes (drinking and cooking of household). The source and amount of recharge, type of sediments, and

groundwater flow are mainly affecting the geochemical characteristics of this aquifer. TDS content of the groundwater

samples vary between 642 mg/l to 4530 mg/l; indicating fresh to slightly saline water classes. Na+, Cl

- and SO4

2- show strong

positive correlation with TDS. The main water type is mostly chloride sodium. According to the WQI, about 70% of the

examined groundwater samples fall in the good class, which are recommended for drinking and 30% of the samples fall in the



poor class, which must be treated before uses. Only 17% of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation of moderately

sensitive crops, 66% of samples can be used to irrigate moderately salt tolerant crops and the remaining (17%) are only

recommended to irrigate salt tolerant crops. Most of the groundwater samples are recommended for irrigation according to the

acceptable limits for RSC, MH, NO3-, PO4

3- and trace elements, while most of the samples are not recommended for irrigation

according to the acceptable limits for Na%, SAR, excess Cl- and TH. Thus, for agricultural development special management

of salinity control and certain kind of plants with good salt tolerance should be considered.

VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are greatly indebted to the members of Environmental Science Department, Faculty of Science, Port-Said

University. Thanks also to the staff members of Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University. Scientific and

technical advice provided by Prof. Dr. Mohammed Zaky El-Bialy, Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said

University are kindly acknowledged.Special thanks are to the late Mr. Kamal Esa who gave all facilities during field studies

presented in this work.

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Tables used for preparing the final results used in this work

Table (1): Results of chemical analyses for groundwater samples,El-Salhiaplain,East Nile Delta, Egypt.

Ser

No

EC TDS The

pH

value

Cations Anions

PO43-

Water parameters

K+ Na

+ Mg

2+ Ca

2+ NO3

- Cl

- SO4

2- CO3

2- HCO3

- Na+

%

SAR RSC MH

%

TH

1 1106 708 8.7 13.26 96.6 17.0 72 4.70 78.1 16.3 12.00 402.60 0.02 44 2.65 1.99 27.9 250

2 1970 1263 7.5 10.92 289.8 41.3 56 0.14 404.7 32.6 0.00 427.00 0.72 66 7.15 0.79 54.7 309

3 1003 642 9.0 8.58 75.9 36.5 52 34.30 63.9 63.3 24.00 317.20 0.005 36 1.97 0.39 53.4 280

4 3718 2379 8.1 11.70 694.6 17.0 76 4.20 646.1 494.4 0.00 439.20 0.030 85 18.7 1.99 26.8 260

5 3792 2427 8.3 14.82 621.0 53.5 140 5.90 972.7 258.2 0.00 366.00 0.011 70 11.3 -5.42 38.5 570

6 3908 2501 8.2 10.92 540.5 41.3 244 38.5 852.0 421.4 12.00 378.20 0.001 60 8.40 -9.04 21.7 831

7 3066 1962 8.3 13.65 453.1 38.9 152 39.9 710.0 228.0 6.00 359.90 0.003 64 8.47 - 4.72 29.5 540

8 1800 1175 8.1 11.70 328.9 14.4 28 1.4 220.1 351.8 3.00 219.60 0.22 83 8.27 1.12 45.7 128

9 3791 2420 8.4 11.70 653.2 43.8 80 21.7 546.7 657.6 6.00 427.00 0.007 78 14.5 - 0.41 47.3 380

10 2832 1806 8.7 10.92 110.8 272.6 24

13.3

184.6 800.6 6.00 402.60 0.010 17 1.40 -

16.82

94.9 1181

11 2192 1400 8.2 11.70 361.1 4.8 76 18.2 319.5 187.2 3.00 439.20 0.021 78 10.8 3.09 9.5 210

12 3051 1947 8.0 11.70 575.0 26.7 44 0.17 589.3 321.6 6.00 378.20 0.060 84 16.8 1.99 49.8 220

13 3233 2066 8.0 9.36 542.8 38.9 124 7.50 852.0 217.90 3.00 280.6 0.035 71 10.9 - 4.7 33.9 470

14 2100 1378 8.0 5.07 328.9 74.4 24 0.70 482.8 11.04 18.00 451.40 0.350 66 7.5 0.7 83.6 364

15 4756 3044 7.7 11.70 874.0 55.9 104 0.24 1207.0 254.40 0.00 536.80 0.070 79 17.2 -1.0 46.8 489

16 2500 1591 8.0 5.07 361.0 52.8 56 1.40 447.3 297.00 6.00 366.00 0.130 68 8.3 -1.00 61.1 353

17 1626 1035 8.5 13.65 103.5 14.6 168 7.70 85.2 271.20 6.00 378.20 0.002 31 2.0 -3.2 12.4 480

18 1929 962 8.2 7.80 157.0 9.6 8 0.70 185.0 78.00 18.00 49.00 0.080 83 8.9 0.2 66.3 59

19 4600 3104 7.8 6.24 1032.1 43.2 44 0.70 1448.4 249.12 7.20 280.60 0.620 88 26.5 -0.9 61.7 286

20 1960 1232 9.1 10.92 398.4 4.8 8 0.14 312.4 144.00 24.00 353.80 0.020 94 27.4 5.8 49.3 20



Table (1): Cont.

Ser

No

EC TDS The

pH

value

Cations Anions

PO43-

Water parameters

K+ Na

+ Mg

2+ Ca

2+ NO3

- Cl

- SO4

-- CO3

2- HCO3

- Na+

%

SAR RSC MH

%

TH

21 2128 1362 7.9 11.70 345.00 21.9 52 0.28 276.90 264.00 0.00 390.40 0.230 76 10.1 2.0 40.8 219

22 3393 2171 8.3 11.70 665.39 7.2 24 0.70 298.20 702.24 24.00 439.20 0.060 93 30.6 6.2 32.9 89

23 1200 744 8.2 5.07 128.34 24.3 48 0.70 95.85 137.76 1.2 305.00 0.110 55 3.8 0.6 45.4 218

24 4300 2783 7.5 16.38 701.50 73.0 132 0.31 908.80 524.16 0.00 427.00 0.070 70 12.1 -5.6 47.5 629

25 4700 3047 8.0 11.70 860.66 32.4 140 1.40 852.00 906.20 1.80 244.00 0.160 79 17.0 -5.6 27.5 482

26 4688 3000 8.0 11.70 1334.4 19.2 40 0.70 965.6 140.12 10.80 317.2 0.350 93 43.4 1.9 14.1 178

27 7070 4530 7.8 10.90 1162.6 62.4 328 1.40 1562.0 1220.6 0.00 183.00 0.270 70 15.4 -18.6 24.2 1074

28 2020 1293 8.3 5.07 209.30 76.8 84 1.40 305.30 222.24 12.00 378.20 0.210

46 3.9 - 4.0 60.3 525

29 3590 2300

7.4 13.26 653.20 26.8 76 0.42 788.10 83.52 0.00 658.80 0. 185 82 16.4 4.8 36.6 299

30 2160 1386 7.7 10.92 358.80 31.6 44 0.21 390.50 171.84 0.00 378.20 0.510 75 10.0 1.4 54.0 239



Table (2):Water quality values of groundwater samples, El- Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

Ser

No TDS

The

pH

value

Mg2+

Ca2+

Cl-

SO42-

NO3- PO4

3- TSS TA TH BOD DO Cu

2+ Fe

2+ Pb

2+ Zn

2+ WQI

1 708 8.7 17.0 72 78 16.3 4.7 0.02 60 415 250 2.5 7.0 0.010

0 0.02 0.008 0.0006

443

2 1263 7.5 41.4 56 404 32.6 0.1 0.72 395 427 309 3.7 5.0 0.004

0 0.01 0.007 0.0674

400

3 642 9.0 36.5 52 64 63.3 34.3 0.005 320 341 280 3.7 5.0 0.006

0 0.02 0.008 0.0006

514

4 2379 8.1 17.0 76 646 494.4 4.2 0.030 100 439 260 4.0 4.2 0.006

0 0.02 0.008 0.0006

438

5 2427 8.3 53.5 140 972 258.2 5.9 0.011 580 366 570 3.8 4.8 0.006

0

0.02 0.008 0.0006 437

6 2501 8.2 41.3 244 852 421.4 38.5 0.001 400 390 831 2.8 6.6 0.006

0

0.02 0.008 0.0006 424

7 1962 8.3 38.9 152 710 228.0 39.9 0.003 200 366 540 3.9 4.5 0.006

0

0.02 0.008 0.0006 440

8 1175 8.1 14.4 28 220 351.8 1.4 0.220

414 223 128 2.5 7.0 0.009

0

0.65 0.008 0.0091 1046

9 2420 8.4 43.8 80 546 657.6 21.7 0.007 200 433 380 2.3 7.2 0.006 0.02 0.008 0.0006 419

10 1806 8.7 272.6 24 184 800.0 13.3 0.010 560 406 1181 3.5 5.5 0.006 0.02 0.008 0.0006 443

11 1401 8.2 4.9 76 319 187.0 18.2 0.021 270 442 210 3.5 5.3 0.006 0.02 0.008 0.0006 429

12 1947 8.0 26.8 44 589 321.6 0.2 0.060 258 384 220 3.8 4.8 0.004 0.05 0.007 0.0020 424

13 2066 8.03 38.9 124 852 217.9 7.50 0.035 390 284 470 3.3 5.8 0.006 0.02 0.017 0.0006 785

14 1378 8.0 74.4 24 482 11.0 0.70 0.350 642 469 364 2.3 7.3 0.008 0.14 0.008 0.0106 542

15 3044 7.7 55.9 104 1207 254.4 0.24 0.070 288 537 489 3.1 6.3 0.012 0.09 0.018 0.0071 898

16 1591 8.0 52.8 56 447 297.0 1.40 0.130 338 372 353 3.6 5.1 0.014 0.02 0.014 0.0118 669

17 1035 8.5 14.6 168 85 271.2 7.70 0.002 150 384 480 2.0 7.5 0.006 0.12 0.008 0.0200 522

18 962 8.2 9.6 8 185 78.0 0.70 0.080 661 67 59 2.9 6.4 0.008 0.05 0.018 0.0113 850



19 3104 7.8 43.2 44 1448 249.1 0.70 0.620 886 287 286 2.9 6.1 0.003 0.07 0.007 0.0135 437

20 1232 9.1 4.8 8 312 144.0 0.14 0.020 393 378 20 2.7 6.8 0.004 0.08 0.014 0.0642 736

21 1362 7.9 21.9 52 276 264.0 0.28 0.230 334 391 219 2.9 6.4 0.004 0.06 0.011 0.0006 580

Table (2): Cont.

Ser

No TDS

The

pH

value

Mg2+

Ca2+

Cl-

SO42-

NO3- PO4

3- TSS TA TH BOD DO Cu

2+ Fe

2+ Pb

2+ Zn

2+ WQI

22 2171 8.3 7.2 24 298 702.2 0.70 0.060 463 463 89 3.0 6.0 0.008 0.05 0.017 0.0144 821

23 744 8.2 24.3 48 95 137.8 0.70 0.110 311 306 218 2.7 6.9 0.001 0.04 0.006 0.0165 356

24 2783 7.5 73.0 132 908 524.2 0.31 0.070 395 427 629 2.2 7.4 0.011 0.09 0.011 0.0085 504

25 3047 8.0 32.4 140 852 906.2 1.40 0.160 640 246 482 3.7 5.1 0.011 0.26 0.012 0.0139 859

26 3000 8.0 19.2 40 965 140.1

2 0.70 0.350 415 328 178 2.85 6.5 0.071 0.01 0.014 0.0136 651

27 4530 7.8 62.4 328 1562 1220.

6

1.40 0.270 566 183 1074 3.4 5.4 0.014 0.12 0.014 0.0006 784

28 1293 8.3 76.8 84 305.3 222.2 1.40 0.210

505 390 525 3.6 5.2 0.002 0.13 0.013 0.0180 755

29 2300 7.4 26.8 76 788.1 83.5 0.42 0.018 864 659 299 1.8 7.8 0.023 0.04 0.014 0.1643 696

30 1386 7.7 31.6 44 390.5 171.8 0.21 0.510 119 379 239 3.2 6 0.004 0.01 0.007 0.0006 365

Note: Units in mg/l except pH and WQI.



Table (3):Classification of the collected groundwater samples, El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, for irrigation usesaccording to salinity

based on Fipps (1996).

Classes of water Samples %

Class 1, Excellent(TDS is less than 175 mg/l) - -

Class 2, Good(TDS= 175-525 mg/l) - -

Class 3, Permissible (TDS= 525-1400 mg/l) 1,2,3,8,11,14,17,18,20,21,23,28,30 43

Class 4, Doubtful(TDS=1400-2100 mg/l) 7,10,12,13,16 17

Class 5, Unsuitable(TDS is more than 2100 mg/l) 4,5,6,9,15,19,22,24,25,26,27,29 40

Table (4):Relative tolerance of crop plants to salinity of the examinedgroundwater samples, El-Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt (adapted from Ayers and Westcot, 1976; and NWQMS, 2000).

Classes of crops Samples % Remarks

Class 1, Sensitive

crops (EC< 0.95

mmhos/cm)

- -

Field crops: Bean (field), cowpea

Vegetables: Beans, lettuce, onion, radish.

Fruits: Avocado, strawberry.

Class 2, Moderately

sensitive crops

(EC= 0.95-1.9

mmhos/cm)

1,3,8, 17,23 17 Field crops: Broad bean, corn,

flax

Vegetables: Cabbage, pepper,

potato, spinach, sweet corn,

tomato.

Forages: Alfalfa, clover, corn

(forage), orchard grass.

Fruits: Almond, apple, apricot,

fig, grape, grapefruit, lemon, orange.

Class 3, Moderately

salt tolerant crops

(EC= 1.9-4.5

mmhos/cm)

2,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,

12,13,14,

16,18,20,21,22,2

4,28,29,30

66 Field crops: Groundnut, rice,

safflower.

Vegetables: Beet.

Forages: Tall fescue, barley hay,

trefoil (small), harding grass.

Fruits: Date palm.

Class 4, Salt tolerant

crops (EC= 4.5-7.7

mmhos/cm)

15,19,25,26,

27

17 Field crops: Sunflower, oats, soy bean.

Vegetables: Zucchini, broccoli.

Forages: Bermuda grass, wheat

grass.

Fruits: Olive, peach.

Class 5, Very salt

tolerant crops (EC=

7.7-12.2 mmhos/cm)

Field crops: Cotton, sugar beet,

sorghum, wheat.

Class 6, Generally too

saline crops

(EC>12.2 mmhos/cm)

Field crops: Barley (grains).

Forages: Tall wheat grass.

Table (5):Classification of groundwater samples based on the soluble sodium percent (SSP),(Wilcox, 1955), El-Salhiaplain, East Nile

Delta, Egypt.

Classes

of water

Range of soluble sodium

percent (%)

Samples %

Excellent <20 10 3

Good 20-40 3,17 7

Permissible 40-60 1,23,28 10

Doubtful 60-80 2,5,6,7,9,11,13,14,15,16,21,24,25, 27,30 50

Unsuitable >80 4,8,12,18,19,20,22,26,29 30



Table (6):The classes of SAR values (alkali hazard) of irrigation waterbased on Fipps,s classification (1996), for Quaternary

groundwater samples in El-Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

Classes of

alkali hazard

SAR

Value

(epm)

Samples % Remarks

Low 1-10 1,2,3,6,7,8,10,14,16,17,1

8, 23,28

44 Use of sodium sensitive crops

suchas avocados must br cautioned

Medium 10-18 5,9,11,12,13,15,21,

24,25,27,29,30

40 Amendments (such as Gypsum) and

leaching needed

High 18-26 4 3 Generally un suitable for continuous

use

Very high >26 19,20,22,26 13 Generally un suitable for use

Table (7): Guidelines for the residual sodium carbonate (RSC) in irrigation water (Eaton, 1950) for groundwater samples, El-

Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt.

Quality

parameter

Residual sodium

carbonate (RSC),

(epm)

Samples %

Suitable <1.25 2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,13,14,15,16,17,18,19, 23,24,25,27,28

67

Medium

suitable

1.25-2.50 1,4,12,21,26,30 20

Unsuitable >2.50 11,20,22,29 13

Table (8): The classification of Quaternary groundwater samples of El-Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt according to magnesium

hazard (MH) values (Khodapanahet al., 2009).

Water classes MH

(%)

Samples %

Excellent <50 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,13,15,17,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,29 70

Unsuitable >50 2,3,10,14,16,18,19,28,30 30

Table (9):Quality ofgroundwater samples,El-Salhia plain, East Nile Delta, Egypt based on the threshold guideline of chloride after Taylor and Oza (1954).

Chloride

content (ppm) Water condition for irrigation Samples %

<200 Good quality and is suitable for public water supply and

for irrigation

1,3,10,17,18,

23

20

200-500 Can be used for moderately tolerant plants 2,8,11,14,16,

20,21,22,28,30

33

500-1000 Most probably un desirable for irrigation purposes except

for salt tolerant plants

4,5,6,7,9,12,13

24,25,26,29

37

>1000 Not suitable for irrigation, but can be used in special cases

for high salt tolerant plants

15,19,27 10



Table (10):Trace constituent’s concentrations in groundwater samples, El-Salhiaplain, East Nile Delta, Egypt for irrigation.

SerNo Cd2+

Co2+

Cr3+

Cu2+

Fe2+

Mn2+

Pb2+

V3+

Zn2+

1 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.0100 0.02 0.361 0.008 0.01 0.0006

2 0.0010 0.001 0.01 0.0040 0.01 0.431 0.007 0.03 0.0674

3 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.0060 0.02 0.002 0.008 0.01 0.0006

4 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.0060 0.02 0.078 0.008 0.01 0.0006

5 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.0060 0.02 0.290 0.008 0.01 0.0006

6 0.0012 0.003 0.01 0.0060 0.02 0.993 0.008 0.02 0.0006

7 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.0060 0.02 0.132 0.008 0.02 0.0006

8 0.0011 0.002 0.02 0.0090 0.65 0.001 0.008 0.03 0.0091

9 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.006 0.02 0.006 0.008 0.09 0.0006

10 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.006 0.02 0.002 0.008 0.15 0.0006

11 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.006 0.02 0.047 0.008 0.12 0.0006

12 0.0011 0.001 0.01 0.004 0.05 0.012 0.007 0.03 0.0020

13 0.0013 0.002 0.01 0.006 0.02 0.006 0.017 0.01 0.0006

14 0.0052 0.004 0.03 0.008 0.14 0.005 0.008 0.02 0.0106

15 0.0006 0.005 0.01 0.012 0.09 0.221 0.018 0.01 0.0071

16 0.0001 0.002 0.02 0.014 0.02 0.012 0.014 0.01 0.0118

17 0.0018 0.001 0.01 0.006 0.12 0.041 0.008 0.01 0.0200

18 0.0140 0.002 0.03 0.008 0.05 0.013 0.018 0.02 0.0113

19 0.0026 0.001 0.01 0.003 0.07 0.015 0.007 0.02 0.0135

20 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.004 0.08 0.221 0.014 0.08 0.0642



Table (10): Cont.

SerNo Cd2+

Co2+

Cr3+

Cu2+

Fe2+

Mn2+

Pb2+

V3+

Zn2+

21 0.0006 0.001 0.01 0.004 0.06 0.322 0.011 0.01 0.0006

22 0.0171 0.002 0.02 0.008 0.05 0.033 0.017 0.03 0.0144

23 0.0053 0.003 0.01 0.001 0.04 0.005 0.006 0.01 0.0165

24 0.0016 0.001 0.01 0.011 0.09 0.083 0.011 0.02 0.0085

25 0.0140 0.002 0.03 0.011 0.26 0.001 0.012 0.04 0.0139

26 0.0052 0.002 0.02 0.071 0.01 0.011 0.014 0.01 0.0136

27 0.0053 0.001 0.01 0.014 0.12 0.003 0.014 0.01 0.0006

28 0.0058 0.002 0.01 0.002 0.13 0.015 0.013 0.02 0.0180

29 0.0014 0.001 0.01 0.023 0.04 0.474 0.014 0.08 0.1643

30 0.0011 0.003 0.01 0.004 0.01 0.082 0.007 0.01 0.0006

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