Pollution vulnerability of the Quaternary aquifer near Cairo, Egypt, as indicated by isotopes and hydrochemistry |
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Authors: | M Sadek Abd S El-Samie |
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Institution: | (1) Siting and Environmental Department, National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control, Atomic Energy Authority, 3 Ahmed El-Zomer Street, Nasr City 11762, P.O. Box 7551, Cairo, Egypt, |
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Abstract: | The present study was conducted to delineate the pollution vulnerability of the Quaternary aquifer in two areas, Imbaba and
Shobra El-Khima, near Cairo, Egypt. Environmental isotopes combined with hydrochemistry were used for this purpose. The groundwater
in the Imbaba area (average total dissolved solids about 900 mg/L; sodium/chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate water types)
is more mineralized than groundwater in the Shobra El-Khima area (average total dissolved solids 500 mg/L; calcium and sodium/bicarbonate
water type). A high nitrate content and significant mineralization in the groundwater are probably due to contamination of
recharge to the aquifer by irrigation drainage, deteriorated sewage networks, and septic tanks. The deuterium and oxygen-18
compositions of the groundwater are depleted compared to Nile River water, which is the main source of aquifer recharge. This
less isotopically enriched water probably represents older Nile water recharge that flooded the region before construction
of the Aswan High Dam in 1963, or it is a mixture of a young water and originally deposited paleowater that was in deeper
horizons at a time of cooler and more humid climate. Intensive pumping has moved the paleowater higher in the aquifer. Groundwater
in the Shobra El-Khima area has higher residence time, based on the tritium concentration, than groundwater in the Imbaba
area. The percentage of the isotopically depleted water equals 75% in the Shobra El-Khima and 35% in Imbaba, and the thickness
of the clay cap above the aquifer is 38 m in Shobra El-Khima and 20 m in Imbaba. These factors are indicative of the rate
of recharge to the aquifer and were used to evaluate the pollution vulnerability in the two areas.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | contamination isotopes hydrochemistry Egypt unconsolidated sediments |
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