Evaluation of Water Quality of the Nile River at Damietta branch as affected by Omer Bek drain

Abstract

Over two-year period starting June 2014, 72 water samples were collected from Omar Bek drain, Damietta branch upstream and downstream. Based on physical, chemical and bacteriological results obtained, The physical analysis was temperature, pH, and turbidity, chemical analysis was total dissolved salts (TDS), electrical conductivity(EC), alkalinity, total hardness, manganese, iron, nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), ammonia (NH3), dissolved oxygen (DO), and bacteriological analyses involved total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), and Fecal Streptococci (FS). Results showed Omar Bek drain water carries high concentrations of pollutants which affected on all parameter of Nile River downstream. Also, the present investigation showed that Damietta branch upstream was a good raw water quality while Damietta branch downstream was affected by presence of Omer Bek drain.