Evaluation of ground water quality and suitability for different uses in El- Kharga, El- Dakhla and El- Farafra Oases, Western Desert, Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Groundwater is the main source of domestic, industrial and agriculture uses in most of El- Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra Oases in the Western Desert of Egypt, which affected the groundwater quality. The hydrochemistry of major ions (Na+,K+, Mg+, Ca+2 , Cf, S042 -, HCO3, and CO3 2 ; together with trace elements (Fe and Mn) has been used to constrain the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater, Western Desert of Egypt aquifers. The present study focu.ses on 1- Hyc[rochemical characterization of the ground water 2- Origin of the groundwater 3- Evaluation of the groundwater suitability for different purposes. The obtain results reveal that the electrical conductivity varied from 0.187 (Bir Mut) and 1.25 dS!m (Bir Teneida). The regional salinity distribution shows increasing salinities towards ElKharga Oasis. The total dissolved salts (TDS) are 112 ppm for Bir Mut and 768 ppm for Bir Teneida. The studied groundwater samples is slightly acid to strongly alkaline where.'PH values varied from 6. 1 to 8. 7. SAR values characterized by exQellent water suitable for irrigation, where RSC values indicate a good quality and suitable for using irrigation. The calcium (Ca +2 ), sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg+2 ) and potassium (K) ions aquire the higher concentrations of the cations, while bicarbonate (HCO3"), chloride (Cf) and sulfate (SO4) ions aquire the higher concentrations of the anions. The concentrations of the major cations and anions are lower than the maximum standard limits, while Fe and Mn ions are higher than the standard limits (WHO 1984).

Summary in Arabic.

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