Spatial distribution mapping for groundwater quality index, East and West Delta, Egypt Available to Purchase

One of the challenges for shortage in surface water due to climate changes and population increase is through used groundwater. The most portion of groundwater extracted is used for agriculture, so the groundwater plays a necessary role in agriculture. The water quality assessment for special use is the main target for any water quality monitoring studies. The present work is aimed for investigation the groundwater quality for agriculture uses in east and west Delta, Egypt. This is carried out through an integrated approach of water quality index (WQI) and Geographic Information System (GIS) for mapping this index. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation technique was used to produce the spatial distribution of water quality index. WQI calculated according to FAO guidelines for using water in agriculture. WQI calculated in west Delta for mapping at El-Sadat, El_Delengate, and Badr districts and in east Delta for mapping at Dayarb_Nagm and Bylbis districts. The population variation and cultivated land area in the study districts compared with WQI. For calculating the WQI, the water quality data collected for 43 wells in west Delta and 28 wells in east Delta. The WQI for El-Sadat district ranged between 2.49 to 88 and El_Delengate as well as Badr districts ranged between 1.99 to more than 100 and between 1.95 to 56 respectively. In east Delta, WQI in Dayarb_Nagm district varied from 35.77 to more than 100 and in Bylbis district from 1.66 to more than 100. According to the WQI categories the water quality in El-Sadat district is changed from excellent to very poor and in Badr district is excellent, good and poor, while in El_Delengate changed from excellent to unsuitable. In Dayarb_Nagm district is varied from good to unsuitable for using, while in Bylbis district is excellent, good, poor, very poor and unsuitable for using. The WQI results reveals that the groundwater in east Delta is more polluted than in west Delta, especially in Dayarb Nagm district, its most area (99.94%) is poor, very poor and unsuitable for usage. The groundwater especially in east Delta needs some degree of treatment before using, and periodic groundwater quality monitor are recommended. According to the perils of groundwater contamination, the groundwater should be protected.