Groundwater Rising as Environmental Problem, Causes and Solutions: Case Study from Qus City, Qena, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt

Abstract

A study of the groundwater rising in Qus city and its hazardous environmental impacts were studied.
The study focused on understanding and describing the mechanism by which waste water enters the
groundwater. The main environmental problems are architectural, social and healthy. Detailed
geoelectrical, topographical and brief hydrogeological analyses had been carried out. Three subsurface
geolectrical layers are recognized and their lithological counterparts are identified. The daily seepage
from latrines may represent the main contributor of groundwater rising in the shallow aquifer.
Moreover, seepage from irrigation canals and the municipal water supply system leakages further raise
the groundwater level. The depth of groundwater table attains 0.50 m in the low-lying southeastern
areas and 5.50 m in western areas towards the Nile. The groundwater quality grades from fresh to
brackish water where the total dissolved solids ranges from 289 mg/l to 2129 mg/l. The completion of
the city sewerage network and a dewatering system in the southeastern parts may be suggested as a
solution to overcome the problem.

Keywords