ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY ON QARUN LAKE AS A CLOSED FINAL DISPOSAL BASIN

Abstract

Lake Qarun can be considered as a natural reservoir in the Fayoum depression. It is the lowest part in the Fayoum depression and its main function is using it as a drainage basin for the Fayoum irrigated area (383,000 feddan). Lake Qarun provides Fayoum's families with 800 ton\ year offish. Tourism activities can be considered an important income to Fayoum Government. Moreover, because of its international importance as feeding and rest place for migratory birds lake Qarun has been declared a Natural Protectorate in 1989.

Lake Qarun is the only completely closed lake in Egypt. The drainage water enters the lake through two main drains ( El-Wadi and EI-Batts drains) holding the Fayoum agricultural and domestic pollution. The lake has no outlet and losses water only by evaporation. The lake was historically a fresh water lake. By time its regime was changed to a drainage reservoir and became a salty lake with high salinity of 35,000 p.p.m Also the salinity of the lake increases 60 times the limits of water characteristics stated in law 48 declared in 1982.