Assessing seawater intrusion impact on groundwater quality in El-Omayed aquifers, Mediterranean coast, Egypt using hydrogeochemical and chemometric analyses

IF 4.9 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Groundwater for Sustainable Development Pub Date : 2025-02-11 DOI:10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101418

Mohammed I.A. Ibrahim , Mohamed A. El-Sawy , Ahmed R. Elgendy , Hossam M. El-Sayed , Laila A. Mohamed , Mohamed A. Aly-Eldeen

{"title":"Assessing seawater intrusion impact on groundwater quality in El-Omayed aquifers, Mediterranean coast, Egypt using hydrogeochemical and chemometric analyses","authors":"Mohammed I.A. Ibrahim , Mohamed A. El-Sawy , Ahmed R. Elgendy , Hossam M. El-Sayed , Laila A. Mohamed , Mohamed A. Aly-Eldeen","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101418","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater, a vital freshwater source, faces threats from natural and human-induced factors, particularly seawater salinization in coastal aquifers. This study assesses the impacts of seawater intrusion and heavy metals (HMs) on groundwater quality (11 aquifers and 2 drains) in Egypt's El-Omayed area along the Mediterranean coast. Several parameters were measured including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), major ions, and seven HMs. Seawater intrusion, geochemical mechanisms, and hydrochemical faces of water, were evaluated by ion deviations (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>D</mi><mi>j</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>), Piper, Gibbs and Chadha plots, and various ionic ratios. The water quality indices (WQI, EWQI, and impWQI), and heavy metal pollution index were employed to assess water suitability for drinking, while EC, total hardness (TH), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI), etc., were used to evaluate water suitability for irrigation. The results indicated that Na–Cl hydrochemical facies were predominant, suggesting significant salinization, and the ion-exchange mechanisms (dissolution-evaporation) influenced by seawater intrusion regulate the groundwater geochemistry. Seawater fractions (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>f</mi><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>a</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>%) ranging from 0.012% to 20.89%, along with the positive mixing ratios (<span><math><mrow><mo>Δ</mo><msub><mi>m</mi><mi>i</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>) of <span><math><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>N</mi><mi>a</mi></mrow><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msup><mi>K</mi><mo>+</mo></msup></mrow></math></span> in all stations, indicates significant ion addition due to seawater intrusion. Although HM concentrations (Fe > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Mn > Cd) within the WHO permissible levels for drinking, the high EC and TDS values suggest substantial saltwater intrusion. WQI, EWQI, and impWQI ranged from 86.53 to 1203.04, 89.14 to 1091.02, and 93.81 to 813.70, respectively, categorizing ∼60% of stations as “very poor,” 1–15% as “poor,” 15–23% as “moderate,” and 1% as “good”. According to FAO, about 38% of stations exhibit moderate hardness (75 < EC < 150), while 69% are permissible for irrigation (EC < 3000). The majority of samples are unsuitable with SAR>12; however, the PI% suggests suitability with PI > 75. Overall, most groundwater in the El-Omayed area is unsuitable for drinking and irrigation without pre-treatment, highlighting the urgent need for effective management and remediation to mitigate seawater intrusion and enhance water quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352801X25000153","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Groundwater, a vital freshwater source, faces threats from natural and human-induced factors, particularly seawater salinization in coastal aquifers. This study assesses the impacts of seawater intrusion and heavy metals (HMs) on groundwater quality (11 aquifers and 2 drains) in Egypt's El-Omayed area along the Mediterranean coast. Several parameters were measured including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), major ions, and seven HMs. Seawater intrusion, geochemical mechanisms, and hydrochemical faces of water, were evaluated by ion deviations (

D_{j}

), Piper, Gibbs and Chadha plots, and various ionic ratios. The water quality indices (WQI, EWQI, and impWQI), and heavy metal pollution index were employed to assess water suitability for drinking, while EC, total hardness (TH), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI), etc., were used to evaluate water suitability for irrigation. The results indicated that Na–Cl hydrochemical facies were predominant, suggesting significant salinization, and the ion-exchange mechanisms (dissolution-evaporation) influenced by seawater intrusion regulate the groundwater geochemistry. Seawater fractions (

f_{S e a}

%) ranging from 0.012% to 20.89%, along with the positive mixing ratios (

Δ m_{i}

) of

{N a}^{+}

and

K^{+}

in all stations, indicates significant ion addition due to seawater intrusion. Although HM concentrations (Fe > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Mn > Cd) within the WHO permissible levels for drinking, the high EC and TDS values suggest substantial saltwater intrusion. WQI, EWQI, and impWQI ranged from 86.53 to 1203.04, 89.14 to 1091.02, and 93.81 to 813.70, respectively, categorizing ∼60% of stations as “very poor,” 1–15% as “poor,” 15–23% as “moderate,” and 1% as “good”. According to FAO, about 38% of stations exhibit moderate hardness (75 < EC < 150), while 69% are permissible for irrigation (EC < 3000). The majority of samples are unsuitable with SAR>12; however, the PI% suggests suitability with PI > 75. Overall, most groundwater in the El-Omayed area is unsuitable for drinking and irrigation without pre-treatment, highlighting the urgent need for effective management and remediation to mitigate seawater intrusion and enhance water quality.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Groundwater for Sustainable Development Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development

CiteScore

11.50

自引率

10.20%

发文量

152

期刊介绍： Groundwater for Sustainable Development is directed to different stakeholders and professionals, including government and non-governmental organizations, international funding agencies, universities, public water institutions, public health and other public/private sector professionals, and other relevant institutions. It is aimed at professionals, academics and students in the fields of disciplines such as: groundwater and its connection to surface hydrology and environment, soil sciences, engineering, ecology, microbiology, atmospheric sciences, analytical chemistry, hydro-engineering, water technology, environmental ethics, economics, public health, policy, as well as social sciences, legal disciplines, or any other area connected with water issues. The objectives of this journal are to facilitate: • The improvement of effective and sustainable management of water resources across the globe. • The improvement of human access to groundwater resources in adequate quantity and good quality. • The meeting of the increasing demand for drinking and irrigation water needed for food security to contribute to a social and economically sound human development. • The creation of a global inter- and multidisciplinary platform and forum to improve our understanding of groundwater resources and to advocate their effective and sustainable management and protection against contamination. • Interdisciplinary information exchange and to stimulate scientific research in the fields of groundwater related sciences and social and health sciences required to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for sustainable development.