Assessment of groundwater resources in el Maghara area, central Sinai, Egypt

Abstract EN

Land reclamation projects and the establishment of new communities represent one of the main national targets to meet the population explosion.

El-Maghara area is one of these new communities.

The present study elucidates the characteristics of groundwater which is available in five water bearing formations in El-Maghara area.

These are the Quaternary alluvium deposits, the Upper Cretaceous fractured limestone, the Lower Cretaceous Nubian sandstone, and the Upper Jurassic fractured limestone and the Middle Jurassic sandstone and limestone.

These limestone aquifers are dissected by several faults and fracture system which affect the groundwater recharge and movement.

Meanwhile, the chemical properties of the investigated groundwater are mainly affected by lithology, tectonics and climatic conditions.

The water quality varies, generally, from slightly fresh (Upper Cretaceous) to saline (Middle Jurassic) and the water type is mainly chloride-sodium.

Water suitability for irrigation is discussed on basis of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) relationship.

The results indicated that the groundwater is not suitable for irrigation under the ordinary conditions but may be used under very special circumstances.