CHEMICAL AND ISOTOPIC INVESTIGATION OF GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS IN IDFU REGION ON THE FRINGES OF QENA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

:.,

Due to the continuous growth of population and the urgent need for food security, expanding the reclamation projects within the unlimited desert of Egypt, has started with the desert fringes of the Nile valley and Delta. In the desert fringes of the study area, ldfu, private reclamation farms has been established since the beginning of the nineties. The groundwater extraction is the only source for irrigation and drinking. The development and the continuous pumping may affect the groundater potential (quantity and quality). Therefore, this study was carried out to define the groundwater aquifer system in the area and the interaction between the shallow and the deep aquifers. The geophysical survey determined the thickness and the resistivity values of the various formation of the shallow aquifer and the boundaries of this aquifer (base of aquifer), in addition to the geological survey. The study also defined the sources of groundwater recharge for the Nile aquifer system (Quaternary and Plio-Pleistocene) using the geochemistry and isotopes techniques. Samples are gathered from the different locations representing the concerned aquifer systems (deep and shallow) and the Nile water. The results of the geochemistry and isotopes analysis confirm mixing between the Nile water and Paleowater from deep aquifer as recharging source of the desert fringes aquifers of ldfu area. The groundwater development projects in this area should follow the national water resources plan and policy to prevent the degradation of groundwater quality due to the over pumping from the aquifer system by the private

sector. More investigations such as pumping tests and drilling deep . borholes and observation wells for leveling and quality monitoring which are urgently required to assess the available potential and its furture potentiality under different scenarios for groundwater development.