Suggested solutions for the problems of salinity increase and cumulated pollution in lake Qarun, Egypt: Present and future (A review)

Abstract

Lake Qarun is the third-largest natural lake in Egypt. The lake turned from a freshwater body to a saline basin. The lake receives up to 70% of the drainage water of Fayoum (i.e. agriculture drainage, sewage drainage, and industrial drainage). Drainage water is the only source of lake inflow while the evaporation of freshwater is the only outflow. At the present, the level of salinity concentration in the lake exceeds the global allowable level. This increase in salinity and cumulated pollution affected the ecosystem and reduced fish production to 25% of its value in 2014. This research aims to identify the problems of salinity increase and cumulated pollution in Lake Qarun and review the suggested solutions. Also, the efforts of the Fayoum governorate for developing the lake and the future projects planned to be implemented were reviewed. The development of Lake Qarun turned in an increase in national income.