Abstract

The establishment of new communities and land reclamation projects in the Egyptian desert areas is one of the most important national targets. One of these areas is the 10th of Ramadan city. The main goal of the study is concerned with delineation of groundwater contaminants plume in the future. The results show that; the ions concentrations of most samples from the oxidation ponds resources contain concentrations of Al3+, Cr2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ and Sr2+ exceeding the acceptable limit of WHO (1996) standards. Also, most of the groundwater samples are polluted with Al3+ and Fe2+ and Sr2+ ions. The infiltration from the oxidation ponds and expansion of reclaimed lands irrigated with wastewater reflect critical environmental hazards. The results of the groundwater flow and transport simulation reveal contamination plume expansion. It will travel 1.8, 2.1 and 2.3 km due NE direction after for Al3+, Fe2+ and Sr2+contaminants respectively.  It is strongly recommended that wastes from oxidation ponds must not be used in irrigation without tertiary treatment. The oxidation ponds to minimize the pollution of groundwater with heavy metals is highly recommended.   Key words: Hydrogeology, heavy metals, MODFLOW, contaminant transport simulation, 10th of Ramadan City. &nbsp

Highlights

  • In Egypt, great efforts have been done to increase the land reclamation

  • Based on the contents of trace elements, heavy metals, minor ions and acceptable contaminant levels, it is clear from Table 4 that the ions concentration of B2+, Ba2+, Cd2+, Co2+,Cu2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ in all wastewater samples are below the acceptable levels of WHO standard

  • About 62.5% of the total samples are polluted with Al3+ and Fe2+ ions. These pollutants may attribute to the wastewater of industrial activities such as Iron and steel factory in 10th of Ramadan city as a general

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Summary

Introduction

In Egypt, great efforts have been done to increase the land reclamation. During the last sixty years, heavy investments have been devoted to turn territories of the unproductive desert into green productive areas, to serve the highly increasing population. Priorities of land reclamation are given to the west and east Nile Delta regions due to the presence of high potential groundwater aquifers of quality and wide plains with deep sandy soil. The 10th of Ramadan city is one of the settlements that are constructed on the peripheries near or close to Cairo city to extend the occupational area and to release the socio economic stresses affecting Cairo due to overpopulation and development practices.

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