Geoelectrical and hydrogeochemical studies to delineate the impacts of surface water systems on the groundwater in the area between el Teina plain and the Middle Sinai Road, East Suez Canal, Egypt

الملخص EN

Groundwater represents one of the main sources of water supply in arid regions.

So, groundwater contamination due to drain system or any other surface water is a good target to study.

This study deals with the area lying in the northwest of Sinai Peninsula which is characterized by the presence of Al Salam Canal project.

This means the presence of a network of irrigation canals and drains.

The presence of water wells as a supplementary source of irrigation helped us to monitor the relationship between these surface water systems and the groundwater through 2-D geoelectric imaging and chemical analysis of different water samples either from the water wells or from the irrigation canals and drains.

The measured twelve 2-D imaging profiles indicate that the seepage from the irrigation canals can be considered as a source of feeding to the groundwater due to the presence of cracks in the lining cement of these canals.

On the other hand, the water drain with open surface (not sealed) can be considered as a source of groundwater recharge where the water table exists at shallow depths.

The hydrochemical parameters of fifteen water samples confirm that the surface water system represents the main source of recharge to the shallow aquifer in addition to the local recharge as a result of rainfall.

The majority of groundwater samples have low salinities, while the others have high salinities.

The chemical water type of these samples is Chloride – Sodium representing an advanced stage of water evolution.

Canal water and the majority of groundwater are considered suitable for irrigation where their salinities and minor contents of B, Fe, Mn & Pb are within the permissible limits.

Sealing of the drains and using the wells to observe the changes in water quality with time are recommended.