QUATERNARY AQUIFER HYDROCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT, EL-TUR AREA, SOUTH SINAI, EGYPT

Abstract

The main water supply source is Quaternary aquifer in El-Tur area, Southwest Sinai governorate, Egypt. Quaternary aquifer is meteoric origin, mainly recharged by surface runoffs and the outflow of subsurface from Pre-Cambrian basement rock fracture. The groundwater flow direction is from east to west. Twenty one groundwater samples from several wells were collected and analyzed at El-Tur area. Several hydrochemical characteristics were determined including physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, hardness and total dissolved solids). Major anions (sulfate, chloride and bicarbonate) and major cations (sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium) were also studied in laboratory work. Groundwater is an alkaline and salinity ranges from fresh water (363 mg/l) to saline water (24210 mg/l). The chloride and sodium are most predominating in groundwater. The calcium is more than magnesium in terms of content. The results of chemical analyses refer that the types of water are NaCl and MgCl2 of marine genesis as well as CaCl2 of old marine genesis. Na-Cl-SO4 water dominates. According to piper trilinear diagram, groundwater samples are NaCl and mixed Ca/MgCl type. The saturation indices for minerals were calculated and used to understand the rock-water interactions. The results indicate to the presence of 7 minerals that reflect the chemical properties of the shallow aquifer. The majority of groundwater samples is unsuitable for drinking and requires treatment for irrigation. The current study was conducted for qualitative analysis depends on groundwater physicochemical parameters.