Review of Technologies and Practices for Improving Agricultural Drainage Water Quality in Egypt

Abstract

Water quality plays an important role in water resources management plans, particularly for arid and semiarid regions, where water scarcity has become a real issue. Agricultural drainage water can be reused separately/or in conjunction with fresh water. However, the water quality status of drainage water is concern in reuse implementation strategies. Moreover, the water quality degradation of natural water body that receives the drainage water can be effected. Thus, implementation of water quality treatment practices and technologies is essential. In this chapter, available drainage water treatment practices and technologies, such as controlled drainage, wetlands, bioreactors, and two-stage open ditch, will be discussed in detail. The pilot studies of implementing drainage water treatment systems in Egypt were reviewed and will be described in this chapter. It is recommended to experiment with some low-cost applicable technologies, such as in-stream control structures and treatment systems, and to implement constructed wetland treatment systems on major Egyptian drains.