THE HYDRAULIC AND HYDROCHEMICAL IMPACTS OF THE NILE SYSTEM ON THE GROUNDWATER IN UPPER EGYPT التأثيرات الهيدروليکية والهيدروکيميائية لنظام النيل على المياه الجوفية بمصر العليا

Abstract

The Nile system in Upper Egypt includes the River Nile, the irrigation canals and drains nets. The Quaternary groundwater aquifer represents the main aquifer in the area. It is essentially recharged locally from the Nile system water. During the last four decades the water levels in the river were nearly controlled. However, the water levels in the main irrigation canals are periodically fluctuated and are more higher than the water levels in the Nile River at the same latitudes. They are fluctuating continuously but with different amplitudes and manners. In the present study a trial has been made to detect the hydraulic and hydrochemical impacts of the Nile system on the groundwater in some selected localities in Upper Egypt. The study depends mainly on the analysis of the available measured and collected data concerning the surface and groundwater levels and composition in the area. It was concluded that the fluctuations in the groundwater levels are strongly related with the surface water fluctuations in the main irrigation canals, while the chemical impact of the surface water on the groundwater is limited.