Hydrogeochemical Facies Investigation of Surface and Groundwater Resources at West Luxor Area, Egypt using Spatial and Statistical Techniques

Abstract

Water quality and quantity have diminished in the agricultural area of west Luxor due to excessive water use and land management techniques. The current study intends to monitor the hydrogeochemical processes of water resources in Egypt's west Luxor area. In August 2021, 79 surface, shallow, and groundwater samples were collected in the study area. In this investigation, three statistical techniques were used: classical, cluster hydrogeochemical statistical analysis (CA), and geo-statistical analysis. Water characteristics are mapped using the Kriging method, which is a Geo-Statistical tool in ArcMap 10.4.1. The laboratory results of the Piper trainer diagram integration (CA) and geo-statistical prediction maps showed that cations (Na + > Ca 2+ > Mg 2+ > K + ) and anions (Cl - > SO 42- > HCO 3- > CO 32- ) dominated. The majority of water types in all samples were Na-Cl, Mixed Na-Cl-HCO 3 , Mixed Na-Cl-SO 4 , and Mixed Na-Ca-Mg-HCO 3 . Prediction maps coincide with hydro-geochemical statistical analysis, which showed that salts and measured heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, As) levels in groundwater and shallow water samples were greater than those of Egyptian Standard Limits, while surface water had high pH, HCO - , and CO 32- levels, indicating pollution sources. As a result, this study found that combining geostatistical and classical hydrogeochemical statistical analysis produced a good assessment of both natural water processes and water quality in the west Luxor area.