Water Quality Changes during the Initial Operating Phase of Riverbank Filtration Sites in Upper Egypt

Rifaat Abdel Wahaab,Thomas Grischek,Ahmed Salah

doi:10.3390/w11061258

Rifaat Abdel Wahaab, Thomas Grischek + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061258

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Abstract

To meet the increasing water demand and to provide safe drinking water in Egypt, the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) and its affiliated companies have started a program to develop riverbank filtration (RBF) sites in all Egyptian governorates. The paper gives an overview of water quality changes as a result of RBF, during the initial phase of operation at three sites in Upper Egypt, between 2015 and 2018. Significant changes were observed for chloride, sulfate, iron, manganese, ammonium, and in the bacterial counts. After the initiation of pumping from the RBF wells, it took 2 to 8 months until stable water quality was observed for the hydrochemical parameters and 2 to 14 months for the microbiological parameters. The results showed that RBF wells should be operated continuously, to maintain the advantage of lower Fe and Mn concentrations achieved by the wash-out effect in the aquifer zone, between the river bank and the RBF wells.

Highlights

Egypt’s freshwater consumption is growing ten times faster than its freshwater production [1], and the current ballooning demographics show no sign of abating any time soon
The salinity of River Nile water showed an increase in the downstream direction; the electric conductivity (EC) ranged from 273–461 μS/cm and the chloride concentrations were 11–27 mg/L
Water quality deteriorated in the downstream direction, due to the disposal of municipal and industrial effluents, the inflow of agricultural drainage, as well as the

Summary

Introduction

Egypt’s freshwater consumption is growing ten times faster than its freshwater production [1], and the current ballooning demographics show no sign of abating any time soon. The total population of Egypt increased from 22 million in 1950 to around 88 million in 2015 [2]. A high population growth rate would exaggerate the problems associated with water allocation. Egypt is facing problems with an increase in water demand and with pollution of the River Nile water through industrial, agricultural and municipal inflows. Along the River Nile, there are a total of 56 large drains that discharge water and transfer pollutants from industrial and settlement areas, and 72 drains that discharge water mainly from agricultural areas. The exports from agricultural areas and domestic wastes are considered to be the main sources of water pollutants in the River Nile [4]. The water quality of the River Nile mainly depends on the water quality in the

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