Using hydrogeochemical and geographic information system methods as an environmental approach for evaluating of coastal aquifers in west northern coast of Egypt

Abstract

The objective of the current investigation is to get sufficient understanding of the groundwater's geochemical peculiarities and its quality at the area of Egypt's coastline in the northwest. 14 Samples of groundwater have been gathered from 14 wells in various sections of the investigation region, and examined. The pH level within the samples of groundwater reflecting slightly alkaline nature while salinity varies widely from slightly, moderately to very saline water. The spatial distributions of the major ions, except HCO 3− demonstrate an overall increase in the center of the region being researched while HCO 3 − increases in the direction of the northwest (Ghemama area). The major cations in the samples of groundwater decrease in the following order: Na + > Ca 2+ > Mg 2+ > K + while the major anions following order: Cl − > SO 42− > HCO 3− . The spatial distribution of studied heavy metals decrease toward center of the area being researched and slightly increase toward east, and west which could be brought on by local human influence. The heavy metals that were examined for the samples of groundwater can be ordered as follow, Zn > Ba > As > Pb > Ni > Cd > Co > Mn > Cr > Cu. Based on Piper and Schoeller diagram, the samples of groundwater reflect the marine origin. An evaluation quality of the water for the purposes of irrigation and drinking reveals that the samples of groundwater in the research region are not appropriate for irrigation and drinking. Where the concentrations of Cd, Pb and As in the samples of groundwater reveal higher values than those advised by Egyptian and Worldwide Health Organization. Those increased concentrations may be attributed to agrochemical effects and human activities in the research area.