Introduction Results and discussion Groundwater reservoirs are of great importance for new reclaimed land projects in arid

and semiarid regions such as Egypt, since Nile water supply There are two alternative interpretations of stable water isotopes results. is not sufficient to meet all the demands. El Salhia El Giddida is one of these projects which depends mainly on groundwater supply for irrigation 4th zone, the most enriched purposes. zone, is due to evaporation This study attempts to answer three main questions, which are: 1st zone , enriched with heavy
1) What are sources of groundwater in this aquifer? 2) What are chemical reactions responsible for chemical constituents and salinity? 3) Is there any connection between the quaternary aquifer and the underlying Miocene aquifer, and if so, to what degree?

Sources of Water and Solutes to the Aquifer near the Ismalia and el Kassara Canals of North Eastern Egypt Muhammed Gomaah Desert Research Center, Thomas Meixner University of Arizona, Hydrology and Water Resources

isotopes due to recharging from Nile River water

The climate is characterized by a hot summer and a short rainy winter. The relative humidity is higher in winter than in summer and the evaporation intensity is generally higher in summer than that in winter. The total annual rainfall intensity ranges between 4.2 to 37 mm/year at El Salhia. The maximum and minimum values were recorded in March and September.
31 30
32 00
32 30

Site description

recent Nile

2nd zone , mixture of Old and 3rd zone, the most depleted waters represent isolated formation away from recharge. Fig. (5) Spatial distribution of D

Mediterranean Sea
h nc a Br

31 30

El Manzala Lake

Port Said

a itt m De

Second Interpretation of Water Isotope Results Depends on the relationship between D and18O D = 7.3591 18O + 1.8416

E hr Ba

ak lB

er

ain Dr

31 00

El Qantara

El Ismailia
ad
Bitter Lakes

ana l

El S har kaw iya C

s lI

il ma

ia

a an

30 30

Ca

iro

il ma s I l -E

r ese D a

o tR

Cairo

30 00
Gulf of Suez

10

20

30 Km.

Area of study

Scale

Fig. (1) Location map of Egypt

Mediterranean Sea
31 30

Fig. (2) Location map of the study area.

W D m
40 W100 20 W78

E
Ground surface
W79 E4 W61

D'
Legend: Sand Sand & gravel Sandy clay Clay Limestone Water level
1 2 3 4 km

Sea 0 Level

Fig. (8) Relationship between 18O and Chloride imply different processes that account for salinity. In case of recharge, heavy isotopes increase while Cl remains low. On the other hand dissolution increases Cl content and the isotopic content doesnt change. Evaporation has positive correlation between the two.

Br a

nc

-20 -40

Suez Canal

-60 -80

El Mansoura

31 00

-100 -120 -140 -160

31 45

H. Scale

D
100 78

79

E4

61

D'

32 15 30 35

Ismailia Canal

Demiatta

-180

El Zagazig 30 30

-200
0 Scale 10 km

Key Map

30 20

Miocene aquifer

Fault

Quaternary aquifer

Fig. (6) plot of 18O versus D Many samples are close to LMWL which reflects meteoric origin and some sample deviate from this line reflecting evaporation process. Most sample lie between old Nile recent Nile mixing line

Fig. (4) Hydrogeological cross section D Dexisting in E W direction (after Gad, 1995).

recent Nile

Water samples were collected during March performed at the hydrogeochemistry dept. analyses were conducted at the university chemistry. 18O and D were measured spectrometer.

The aquifer is mainly composed of sand 3230 3130 3200 and gravels intercalated with clay and Legend: shale lenses. It rests directly on Fig. (3) Compiled structural map of Pliocene clay and Miocene sandy the East Nile Delta (After El-Dairy, limestone . The system is hydraulically 1980). The area is affected by connected with the underlying Miocene normal faults which affect water saline water aquifer through faults . quantity and quality. Methodology
0 5 10 15 km Scale

Studied area

30 00

Fig.9: spatial distribution of d-excess values for the area of study

evapotranspiration

Fault line

Syncline

Anticline

Conclusion There are different sources of groundwater which are; Old Nile, recent Nile, and little contribution from the underlain brackish Miocene water through deep seated faults. Recharge is highest near the Ismailia and El Kassara Canals. Sources of salinity are mainly dissolution of salt, especially halite, evaporation, and silicate weathering.

old Nile

and June 2013. chemical analyses were , Desert Research center.. All isotopic of Arizona laboratory of isotope Geoon a gas source isotope ratio mass

Miocene water

Fig. (7) Relationship between 18O and TDS showing different sources of groundwater of 4 end members.