Water quality assessment for Northern Egyptian lakes (Bardawil, Manzala, and Burullus) using NSF-WQI Index

Abstract

Egyptian Lakes are received different organic and inorganic pollutants from treated and untreated drainage effluent. Forty-five surface water samples from 15 locations were collected in June 2018 from Bardawil, Manzala, and Burullus lakes in northern Egypt. The collected samples measured nutrient salts (NH3, NO2, NO3, and PO4) and some metal ions (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn). Furthermore, several instruments are used for managing and organizing data on the total quality of water bodies with risk factors related to heavy metal pollution. This research aimed to apply the National Science Foundation’s WQI (NSF-WQI) and metal pollution index (MPI) to estimate water quality status and degree of pollution in three Northern Lakes in Egypt. The results indicated that Manzala Lake had the greatest concentration of nutritional salts (7.0, 3.8, 3.2 and 5.6 mg/L) for NH4, NO2, NO3 and PO4, respectively. Furthermore, the same order recorded for the mean levels of metal ions (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn) were (1.69, 0.29, 3.58 and 20.38 μg/l). In contrast, Bardawil Lake had the lowest values. Trophic Status Index TSIs of Bardawil Lake revealed that it is eutrophic with mean values (69.73), whilst those of Manzala and Burullus Lakes revealed that they are hypertrophic with mean values (90.68–86.20). WQI of Bardawil Lake was assessed as a good rating (92.01) and Excellent by NSF-WQI (95.18) according to WHO. On the other hand, Manzala and Burullus Lakes were rated as very bad and unfit. Manzala Lake was deemed unsafe for human consumption because it tested higher on pollution indices (MI, PI and MPI > 1 are polluted with slightly affected than Bardawil and Burullus lakes. This was due to the enormous quantities of human, animal, and industrial wastes dumped into Manzala Lake.