Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport in the Quaternary Aquifer in 10th of Ramadan City Area, East Delta, Egypt.

Al-Nimer, Ahmed A.; Gad, Mohamed; Hussein, Enas

doi:10.21608/bfemu.2020.104971

Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport in the Quaternary Aquifer in 10th of Ramadan City Area, East Delta, Egypt.

Document Type : Research Studies

Authors

¹ STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, Faculty of Engineering- Mansoura University

² Professor of Water Resources at the Desert Research Center

³ Water Research Center - Ministry of Irrigation

10.21608/bfemu.2020.104971

Abstract

The establishment of new communities and land reclamation projects in the Egyptian desert areas is one of the most important national targets. One of these areas is the 10^th of Ramadan city. The main goal of the study is concerned with delineation of groundwater contaminants plume in the future. The results show that; the ions concentration of most samples from the oxidation ponds resources contain concentrations of Al³⁺, Cr²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Sr²⁺ exceeding the acceptable limit of WHO (1996) standards. Also, most of the groundwater samples are polluted with Al³⁺ and Fe²⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions. The infiltration from the oxidation ponds and expansion of reclaimed lands irrigated with wastewater reflect critical environmental hazards. The results of the groundwater flow and transport simulation reveal contamination plume expansion. It will travel 1.8, 2.1 and 2.3 km due NE direction after for Al³⁺, Fe²⁺ and Sr²⁺contaminants respectively. It is strongly recommended that wastes from oxidation ponds must not be used in irrigation without tertiary treatment. The oxidation ponds to minimize the pollution of groundwater with heavy metals is highly recommended.