ASSESSMENT OF SUITABLE SITES FOR AQUIFERS RECHARGE BY TREATED SEWAGE (CASE STUDY)

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the artificial recharge for groundwater to replenish the depleted groundwater reservoirs has been under intensive consideration worldwide. Authorities in Egypt have recently devoted much attention to artificial recharge of various aquifers. Egypt is facing shortage of drinking water where the percaptia share in fresh where renewable water has decreased tremendously in the last two decades to less 600 m3/captia /year, so we must use sewage water after treatment for artificial recharge into aquifers, and then use the recover water for agriculture . Groundwater in western Nile delta area has a vital importance because it is considered the available source for different developing purposes. This water is pumped from the Quaternary aquifer. The values of transmissivity of the aquifer and permeability of the soil cover are the main effective factors responsible for pollutant transportation from the surface to the water table. The effective porosity (specific yield) of the Quaternary water bearing formation ranges from 0.16 to 0.02 and the hydraulic conductivity ranges from 102.8 m/day to 4.7 m/day. The western Nile delta region is attended by a rapid reclamation of desert land. Large reclamation projects, supplied with surface water from the Rosetta branch, started in the fifties. These projects are implemented by the government and occupying a total area of 40.000 feddan. New extensions with a total area of 100.000 feddan will be completed in the coming year (e.g. El Bustan extension area).