Journal of African Earth Sciences 80 (2013) 820

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Hydrogeochemical and vertical electrical soundings for groundwater investigations, Burg El-Arab area, Northwestern Coast of Egypt
Mohamed G. Atwia a,, Mohamed M. Abu-Heleika b, Mohamed M. El-Horiny a
a b

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt Geology Department, Faculty of Science, El-Minia University, El-Minia 61111, Egypt

a r t i c l e

i n f o

a b s t r a c t
An integrated geological, hydrochemical, and geoelectrical investigation of shallow groundwater occurrence in Burg El-Arab area, northwestern coastal zone of Egypt is carried out. Groundwater of oolitic limestone and clastic aquifers is the principal source of water supply for agriculture in the area. The purpose of this study is to describe the hydrogeologic characteristics of aquifers and to provide a general evaluation of the chemical quality of water in aquifers. Chemical analysis was used to evaluate the chemical characteristics of groundwater and assessment of water quality. Electrical soundings were employed to delineate different water bearing formations and the conguration of the interface between them. Thirty-four water samples were collected and chemically analyzed from the two main aquifers in the area. Groundwaters of oolitic limestone aquifer are dominated by NaCl and have average TDS of approximately 2830 mg/l. Groundwater samples from clastic aquifer are slightly weakly mineralized (TDS approximately 2700 mg/l) and dominated by CaSO4. The hydrochemical data indicate that the groundwater is of meteoric origin. The variation in the chemistry of water is thought to be related to the weathering of minerals of the water-bearing sediments, mixing with marine water, and leaching of fertilizers in the newly reclaimed areas. Groundwater of the area can be used for irrigation under special circumstances management as the sodium hazard is medium while the salinity hazard ranges from high to very high. Thirty-four proles of vertical electrical soundings (VESs) were obtained in Burg El-Arab area to examine the variations of subsurface geology and associated groundwater chemistry. Resistivity and thickness of aquifers, resistivity of the unsaturated zone and depth to the conning bed have been delineated from the interpretation of electrical sounding data. The range of electrical resistivity values have been assigned to different layers by calibrating electrical resistivity with the borehole data. Results of the vertical electrical soundings and the hydrochemistry of the groundwater samples show that the brackish groundwater is dominated in the study area whereas the fresh groundwater is found as isolated patches in oolitic limestone aquifer. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Article history: Received 9 February 2012 Received in revised form 10 October 2012 Accepted 1 November 2012 Available online 28 November 2012 Keywords: Hydrochemistry Vertical electrical soundings (VESs) Burg El-Arab Egypt

1. Introduction The rapid expansion of land reclamation projects in desert areas, growing population and civilization have resulted in an increasing consumption and demand of water for irrigation and domestic uses. Northwestern Coast Zone of Egypt, especially Burg El-Arab area, is considered as a favorable district for further development due to the following reasons. The Egyptian government has already established good infrastructure in this area to encourage agricultural and industrial sectors to invest in it. Moreover, Burg El-Arab is very close to Alexandria (about 50 km) the second largest and important city in Egypt. So, a large number of its population will be attracted to move and settle in this new area.
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mgatwia@yahoo.com (M.G. Atwia). 1464-343X/$ - see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.11.001

Surface water resources in Egypt are limited and fully used through much of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions. Consequently, groundwater is an important source of water for new reclaimed desert areas. Surface water sources in Burg El-Arab area are limited in time and space and are represented by Bahig and El-Nasr canals (Fig. 1). Groundwater of oolitic limestone and clastic shallow aquifers is the most important alternative source of water for agriculture in the region. Groundwater used for irrigation in Burg ElArab began in the late 1960s with drilling number of shallow wells (<40 m) and with the use of windmills. However, groundwater development was sporadic until the 1990s. Spurred by reducing cost of drilling and operating new water wells, protable crop prices, and available nancing. Groundwater irrigation developed rapidly during the last two decades with many wells was drilled in small farmlands to meet the rapidly increasing water demands.

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Fig. 1. Location map and physiographic features of Northwestern Coast of Egypt.

Most of the reclaimed desert areas in Burg El-Arab employ oodirrigation system. A continuous increase of groundwater abstraction from different water wells in the area has led to degradation of water quality, a rapid rising of water levels in some areas, and extended of sea water invasion. The main purpose of the present study is to provide information on the subsurface lithology and groundwater occurrence for hydrogeologic interpretation using an integration of the geoelectric resistivity measurements, lithologic information from boreholes, and hydrochemical data obtained from irrigation wells. Water samples were collected from 34 wells (Fig. 2) represented the study area during the years 20082009 and were analyzed later to determine the chemical characteristics of groundwater. The investigation also included reviewing the published literatures and geologic maps, obtaining data from the existing wells, and conducting the electrical resistivity surveys. Information derived from this study will aid in planning future land use and developing water supplies for irrigation use.

annual rainfall is about 150200 mm/year, most of which occurs during the wet seasons (OctoberApril). Potential evaporation is about 1400 mm/year in coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea (FAO, 1984).

3. Physiography Burg El-Arab area and its surroundings can be subdivided into four distinct geomorphologic units. From north to south, these units are: the coastal plain, piedmont plain, the tableland and the hydrographic basin (Fig. 1). The average altitude of this area is around 30 m above sea level with a maximum elevation of about 80 m, sloping gradually to the north towards the sea (El-Shazly et al., 1975). The coastal plain extends from the coastal line southward to the piedmont plain or to the tableland constituting a varying number of parallel ridges. The area is characterized by the development of successive ridges running parallel to the present coast (El-Bayomi, 2009). Four distinct ridges have been distinguished: the coastal (rst) ridge, El-Max-Abu Sir (second) ridge, Gebel Mariut (third) ridge, and Khashm El-Ish (fourth) ridge (Fig. 1). The ridges are made of white oolitic and pseudo-oolitic calcareous sand grains. These ridges are separated from each other by sabkha-lagoonal depressions (Embabi, 2004). The piedmont plain occupies the area between Gebel Mariut ridge in the north and Mariut tableland in the south. Alluvial deposits of piedmont plain are spread over the surface of at

2. Location and climate Burg El-Arab is one of the big cities located in the Western Mediterranean coast zone (Fig. 1). It is bounded by latitudes 30 450 31 000 N and longitudes 29 280 29 450 E and characterized by Mediterranean climate with high relative humidity (annual mean 66%). Summer temperatures are mild with 32 C as a maximum while winter temperatures average 1321 C. The average

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Fig. 2. Map showing the locations of boreholes, vertical electrical soundings, and the different selected proles in the study area.

terrain forming thin sheets mixed with aeolian sand (Guindy, 1989). Thicknesses of piedmont plain materials are variable, but in some localities between Bahig and El-Hammam locality it might reach to about 10 m. Mariut tableland constitutes a prominent geomorphic unit bounding the coastal and piedmont plains of Burg EL-Arab area (Fig. 1). It is composed mainly of limestone and rises to an elevation of 6080 m above sea level (Shata, 1971). The hydrographic basin is represented in the area by Abu-Mina basin which is a shallow erosional depression and located in the south-eastern part of the study area. The surface of the basin is covered by alluvial deposits of Holocene age (CEDARE, 2009). 4. Geology and hydrogeology framework The study area is generally covered by sedimentary rocks belonging to the Holocene, Pleistocene and late Neogene. However, the depression areas may be occupied largely by alluvial deposits and dune sand accumulations. The Pleistocene sediments can be tentatively differentiated into two units. The rst one is the oolitic limestones which have a wide exposure in the coastal strip of the Mediterranean Sea. These sediments are composed of detrital limestone associated with calcareous clayey soil (Abdel Mogheeth, 1968). Economic gypsum deposits are known in El-Gharbaniate area in the lagoon separating the third and the fourth ridges (Adindani et al., 1975). El-Sharabi (2000) described the gypsum in this region as elongated lenses of variable widths and thickness that gradually changes at the outer edges to gypsiferous limestone and limestone. The second unit

(40 m thickness) is mainly in Abu-Mina basin and composed of uviomarine facies of sands, clays and gypsiferous clays (Mohamed et al., 1979). The Pliocene sediments are not exposed at the surface in Burg El-Arab area. It underlies the oolitic calcareous bars of the Pleistocene sediments in the coastal zone and overlain by clastic sediments of the Pleistocene age in Abu Mina basin. The Pliocene sediments overlie Moghra Formation along the western Mediterranean coastal area. The Pliocene sediments may be subdivided into two units. The upper unit is dominated by loose sands and a few thin layers of limestone. The maximum thickness of the upper unit reaches about 100 m. The lower unit (about 70 m thick) is dominated by dark mudstone and shales. A simplied geological section for the study area is presented in Fig. 3. The main aquifer units in Burg El-Arab area are a consolidated detrital oolitic limestone (Pleistocene) in the coastal zone areas and Pleistocene clastic sediments in Abu Mina basin area. There are several less important aquifers (e.g. unconsolidated coastal dune aquifer (Holocene), and multilayered aquifer consisting of alternation of sand and clay (upper Pliocene). The oolitic limestone aquifer is well developed in the coastal and piedmont plains and extends towards the tableland. These sediments are thin generally towards the south and east until they disappear at an average distance of 25 km south of the Mediterranean coast (Shaaban, 2001). The thickness of this aquifer varies from 20 m at the central of coastal plain to about 50 m at the coast. Groundwater occurs under water table conditions in the oolitic limestone aquifer. The hydraulic conductivity of this aquifer is about 19 m/day (Hilmy et al., 1977). Most recharge to the oolitic

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Fig. 3. Cross-section showing geological units (after RIGW (1991)).

Fig. 4. Equipotential lines (groundwater level contours) based on piezometric data in 2008.

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Table 1 Chemical analyses of groundwater samples showing major-ion contents and other parameters. Well no. Coordinates Longitude 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Mariut lake Bahig Canal El-Nasr Canal 29 290 2000 E 29 290 1900 E 29 280 5900 E 29 290 4500 E 29 310 1500 E 29 320 4700 E 29 340 2200 E 29 350 2100 E 29 360 5000 E 29 360 5000 E 29 380 1700 E 29380 1400 E 29 380 1300 E 29 400 2000 E 29 430 4900 E 29 390 1200 E 29 340 0300 E 29 310 0600 E 29 300 4200 E 29 300 3700 E 29 300 3700 E 29 300 3200 E 29 300 2400 E 29 300 1900 E 29 340 0700 E 29 370 3600 E 29 390 4900 E 29 400 1400 E 29 400 4700 E 29 420 1700 E 29 420 0500 E 29 420 4400 E 29 400 5700 E 29 430 1600 E 29 330 5800 E 29 35 17 E 29 360 1300 E
0 00

EC (lS/cm) Latitude 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 510 510 530 520 530 530 550 560 560 560 550 570 570 570 560 550 530 510 510 510 510 510 510 510 480 490 510 510 510 520 500 490 480 470 0900 N 5000 N 1700 N 3600 N 2700 N 3000 N 1200 N 1500 N 3700 N 4200 N 4900 N 0400 N 5200 N 2500 N 3200 N 5000 N 2000 N 5900 N 2700 N 2800 N 2000 N 2400 N 1600 N 2100 N 0900 N 4800 N 2100 N 2900 N 2000 N 4200 N 4000 N 3400 N 3500 N 2800 N 2800 4040 8230 3470 5800 7700 7160 7280 5890 5960 4660 4790 6650 10,280 9640 7360 5900 4890 3170 5250 1525 3650 2360 3150 6490 4420 4140 3850 3180 4710 11,240 3960 10,240 2140 21,200 941 837

TDS (mg/l)

pH

Ions Ca Mg 212.4 136.7 183.1 133.5 194.1 268.6 166.04 170.93 179.4 224.6 175.81 161.1 220 273.48 210 327.2 168.48 126.9 122 161.2 51 90 70 129.4 200.23 131.86 128.2 127 19.53 190 207.5 131.86 73.25 56.16 195.3 15 3.2 Na 216.4 293.9 1030 470 620 867 785 826 692.5 697.5 540 607.5 805 1366 1200 406.5 765 670 311.7 314.1 135 360 250 330.4 381.5 387 380 270 158 398 1862.5 296 1250 117 2072.1 96 124 K 19.8 26.6 36 44.5 33 46 35 32 34.5 33.5 31.51 29 46 56 43.3 44.7 45 27.5 30.6 17.9 11.8 23 20 15.7 27.5 40 21 43 27 35 47.5 37 38.58 12 128.57 8 6.7 Total cations (meq/l) 37.0 35.5 78.8 38.6 53.4 71.0 63.1 64.8 52.1 54.7 126.0 44.6 58.3 91.3 75.8 51.3 53.9 46.3 31.0 40.2 12.9 30.1 19.6 28.6 46.5 51.9 29.9 45.2 33.1 53.0 101.9 47.4 74.4 24.6 171.4 7.9 8.6 HCO3 250 230 100 256 252 244 192 218 258 242 280 234 260 198 140 220 130 260 330 180 180 200 94 198 160 150 135 95 168 152 190 266 50 180 150 130 128 SO4 950 950 1300 850 1400 1700 1400 1000 1250 1200 700 1200 1100 1050 1500 500 950 1100 900 1250 250 1000 500 550 1450 1800 1650 1750 1200 1550 2500 1500 2800 950 2200 150 150 Cl 525 510 1980 700 900 1300 1200 1600 850 950 850 660 1200 2500 1700 1450 1250 800 210 500 125 150 230 440 600 360 360 207 200 530 1750 320 650 35 4800 90 120 NO3 18 21.56 n.d. 0 6.6 13.64 24.64 7.48 n.d. n.d. 25.5 n.d. 11.44 29.92 16.3 5.72 15.4 3.08 44 34.3 6.2 26 6.6 17.6 8.36 6.6 n.d. n.d. 18.48 12.32 n.d. 4.4 66.44 21.12 0 0 3.5 Total anions (meq/l) 39.0 38.3 84.6 41.6 58.7 76.3 66.5 69.6 54.2 55.7 127.6 47.4 61.2 96.1 81.7 55.0 57.4 49.8 30.8 43.6 11.8 28.7 18.5 27.4 49.9 50.2 32.7 43.8 33.7 49.9 104.5 44.7 78.5 24.1 183.7 7.8 8.7

SAR

1400 2020 4110 1725 2890 3850 3560 3670 2940 2980 2320 2390 3310 5110 4810 3680 2930 2440 1580 2620 761 1820 1180 1570 3240 2190 2200 1920 1580 2350 5610 1965 5110 1065 10,300 469 419

7.5 7.6 7.21 7.37 7.34 6.67 6.38 6.58 7.39 7.47 7.37 7.37 6.61 7.04 7.65 7.3 6.95 7.54 7.7 7.66 6.6 7.74 7.93 7.8 7.02 6.1 7.05 7.33 6.5 6.57 7.87 6.28 8.3 6.33 7.6 6.94 7.2

192 216 360 120 192 200 288 280 126 100 56 84 80 160 104 112 112 120 132 256 50 130 50 64 256 464 464 440 480 384 53 456 260 292 1240 45 56

2.6 3.9 11.0 7.0 7.5 9.4 9.1 9.6 9.3 8.9 8.0 8.9 10.5 15.2 15.6 4.4 10.7 10.2 4.7 3.8 3.2 5.9 5.4 5.5 4.3 4.1 4.0 2.9 1.9 4.2 25.8 3.1 17.6 1.6 14.4 3.2 4.4

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30 560 2700 N 30 54 35 N 30 460 3200 N

0 00

Concentrations are in mg/l otherwise whenever indicated, n.d. = not determined. Wells from 1 to 24 (oolitic limestone aquifer) and from 25 to 34 (clastic sediments aquifer).

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limestone aquifer takes place through the precipitation falling directly on the area. Some recharge may occur through excess irrigation water, seepage from irrigation canals, and the Mediterranean Sea. The groundwater discharged naturally to Mallahet Mariut, coastal marshes, and northward to the Mediterranean Sea. It is also discharged through evaporation and pumping. The depth of water level from the ground surface varies from 3 m to 25 m. Ridges and depressions in Burg El-Arab area control the groundwater ow pattern. The ow of groundwater in this aquifer is due north and northeast (Fig. 4). Pleistocene clastic aquifer in Abu Mina basin is mostly built up of uviomarine facies of sands, clays and gypsiferous clays. Groundwater occurs in this aquifer under semi-conned conditions as the clastic sediments are covered with alluvial deposits of Holocene age. The clastic sediments have a thickness varying between 40 and 60 m. Transmissivity ranges from less than 500 m2/ day to about 5000 m2/day (CEDARE, 2009). Recharge takes place through inltration of rainwater, lateral inow from the main aquifer system in the Nile Delta, lateral seepage from El-Nasr canal, and downward percolation of excess irrigation water. It is discharged by evaporation, evapotranspiration, and through a number of wells. In the basin, the inow to the groundwater is principally from the southwest following the regional topography conguration (Fig. 4). The water level is at a depth of 17 m. The coastal aquifers mostly contain slightly brackish water.

5. Methodology 5.1. Chemical analyses Thirty-four water wells were samples in 2008 and 2009 for chemical analysis of water; 24 samples for the oolitic limestone aquifer (wells nos. 124) and 10 samples (wells nos. 2534) from the Pleistocene clastic aquifer (Fig. 2). In addition to that three surface water samples were also collected from Mariut Lake, Bahig and El-Nasr canals, and analyzed to identify the chemical characteristics of surface water. These wells are used for irrigation water and were being pumped during the sampling period. The parameters analyzed or measured were: pH, temperature (C), electrical conductivity (lS/cm), total dissolved solids TDS (mg/l), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), bicarbon2 ate HCO 3 , chloride (Cl ), sulfate SO4 and nitrate NO3 . Analysis of the water samples was carried out following the methods described in Hach (1990). 5.2. Electrical resistivity method For this study, a total of 34 VES proles (Fig. 2) were obtained in 2008 and 2009, using the control 42 resistivity meter (Model E85) with the Schlumberger conguration (A-MN-B). For each VES prole the distance between the potential electrodes (MN) was

Fig. 5. Distribution of groundwater salinity in the Pleistocene aquifers, Burg El-Arab area.

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gradually increased in steps starting from 0.5 m to 50 m to obtain a measurable potential difference. The half current electrode separation (AB/2) was usually increased in steps starting from 1.5 m to 300 m. The eld geoelectric data were processed and interpreted automatically by using two geoelectrical softwares, i.e. the ATO computer program of Zohdy (1989) and RESIX-P computer program of Interpex (1990). An automatic computerized interpretation method (Zohdy, 1989) has been used to obtain true resistivity and depth from the measured apparent resistivity data at each site. The program generates a large number of layers for each sounding data set. To reduce the number of layers an edge-preserving and smoothing technique is applied. RESIX-P (Interpex Ltd., 1990) which is an interactive, graphically oriented, forward and inverse modeling program was used for interpreting sounding data in terms of a layered model. Sounding curves were entered as apparent resistivities versus spacing (AB/2) for Schlumberger sounding array. Estimated resistivities and thickness of layers based on borehole data were used as input parameters for starting model in the inverse modeling. Inverse modeling produces a model that best ts the data in a least squares sense using ridge regression by iteratively adjusting the parameters of the starting model. Because the electric resistivity of sediments depend on lithology, water contact, clay content, and salinity (Choudhury et al., 2001), it is important to correlate the VES results with the lithological and hydrological data obtained from available boreholes in the study area. Two boreholes W-1 and W-2, close to the VES stations VES-19 and VES-28, respectively, were used as representative examples for the correlation. 6. Results and discussion 6.1. Hydrogeochemistry The results of hydrochemical analyses of groundwater samples are given in Table 1 and the areal distribution of dissolved-solids concentration is shown in Fig. 5. Chemical characteristics of groundwater in oolitic limestone vary depending on the rock type

and the geographic conditions of the aquifer in relation to both sea level and fresh surface water (Bahig canal). The relationship between TDS values of groundwater samples and well depths reveals that the groundwater salinity is not clearly affected by changing well depths (Atta et al., 2007). Groundwater in this aquifer is of sodium-chloride type and water salinity ranges from a relatively fresh water zone (TDS < 1000 mg/l) near to El-Gharbaniat area to a slightly saline (TDS 10003000 mg/l) in most water samples. Close to the natural outlet of oolitic limestone aquifer, Mallahet Mariut and Mediterranean Sea, the groundwater is mostly moderately saline (3000 and 10,000 mg/l TDS) with TDS varying between 3000 and 5000 mg/l. The sequence of both anions and cations in the water samples has the following order.
2 Cl > SO2 > Ca2 4 > HCO3 and Na > Mg

Groundwater of Pleistocene clastic aquifer in Abu-Mina basin is generally slightly to moderately saline and has a TDS ranging between 1000 and 5000 mg/l (Fig. 5). The concentration of dissolved solids in groundwater near to El-Nasr canal is generally fresh water (TDS < 1000 mg/l). In parts of Abu Mina basin the groundwater may exceed 4000 mg/l due to the rise of the piezometric level and the exposure of groundwater to increased evaporation. Groundwater in this aquifer contains sulfate as the dominant anion and calcium as predominant cation which is attributed to the occurrence of gypsum in water-bearing formation, the contact of water with limestone, and widespread of fertilizer use to improve soil properties (e.g. MgSO4H2O). Most groundwater samples are characterized by the following sequence for both anions and cations
2 SO2 > Na > Mg2 4 > Cl > HCO3 and Ca

The water samples plotted on Pipers diagram (Piper, 1944), Fig. 6 shows that two groups of water samples can be distinguished

Fig. 6. Trilinear diagram of groundwater in the study area.

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Fig. 7. Sulins graph for groundwater classication, Burg El-Arab area.

in the diamond shape-eld. The rst group that includes most of the water samples from the oolitic limestone aquifer occupies the lower right hand side of the diamond shape. Its chemical properties are dominantly characterized by primary salinity and therefore, sodium-chloride water type prevails. The second group which represents the Pleistocene clastic aquifer water samples occupies the upper right hand side. All waters have secondary salinity characteristics, where chloride and sulfate salts are dominant due to leaching and sea water intrusion. Results of chemical analyses were also analyzed using the Sullins (1946) classication method. These data can be used to determine the origin of the groundwater. The data show that most of the water samples are of Na2SO4 water type of meteoric origin (Fig. 7). Stable isotopes measurements of water samples taken from wells in Burg El-Arab area conrm that the main source of recharge in these aquifers are local precipitation during the rainy seasons (Nada and Al-Gamal (1996) and Rashad (2009)). Nitrate values ranged from 3.1 to 34.3 mg/l with mean of 16.6 mg/l (as NO 3 ) for the groundwater samples from oolitic limestone aquifer and 4.466.4 mg/l (mean 24.55 mg/l) for samples from the Pleistocene clastic aquifer (Table 1). The relatively high nitrate concentration in Burg El-Arab area is due to extensive use of nitrate fertilizers and leakage of sewage from septic tanks. 6.2. Water quality Most of the water sampled is unsuitable for domestic uses on account of high TDS, sodium, chloride, sulfate and nitrate content. The groundwater of the area is only evaluated according to its suitability for irrigation uses. The quality of water used for irrigation is an important factor in productivity and in quality of the irrigated crops. The US salinity laboratory staff (1954) developed an irrigation classication system based on sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and specic conductance. Irrigation classication for water samples from aquifers in Burg El-Arab was determined using the salinity Staffs classication system (Fig. 8). Most of the water in Abu Mina basin has very high salinity hazard and medium sodium hazard. This type of water can be used for irrigation if some leaching occurs. Plants with moderate salt tolerance (e.g. olive, cucumber, tomato, sunower,
Fig. 8. Classication of groundwater in Burg El-Arab area for irrigation use.

wheat, etc.) can be grown in most instances without special practices for salinity control. Groundwater in Pleistocene oolitic limestone has very high salinity hazard and high sodium hazard. This water may not be suitable for irrigation on soils with poor drainage without management for salinity control.

6.3. VES curves and borehole data Fig. 9 shows the VES curve for the site VES-19 that is at the coastal plain area, in oolitic limestone aquifer. The lithological variation, deduced from the borehole W-1, is shown in the left side of

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Fig. 9. Representative examples of the VES (VES-19) calibration with the lithology of the nearest well (well W-1).

Fig. 9. Based on the correlation between the VES results and the lithological information from the borehole, three major resistivity layers are recognized in the coastal plain area (Fig. 9). The topmost layer, consisting of calcareous loam mixed with organic matter, is represented in the geoelectrical column by two units of which the upper one has a thickness of less than 1.5 m and an average

resistivity of 22 Ohm-m. The underlying layer has a thickness of about 7 m with an average resistivity of 2 Ohm-m. This decrease in the resistivity from the surface downwards is attributed the increase in moisture content. The second resistivity layer shows resistivities below 50 Ohm-m and is interpreted to coincide with a water saturated oolitic limestone aquifer. The third geoelectric

Fig. 10. Representative examples of the VES (VES-28) calibration with the lithology of the nearest well (well W-2).

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Fig. 11. Geoelectric cross-section along prole BB0 .

zone is the lowermost interpreted zone, which extends from the base of the overlying oolitic limestone to the maximum depth of investigation. The third layer which has a low resistivity (<5 Ohm-m) is regarded as water saturated clays and sandy clay. At the sounding points the two layers of Pliocene sediments could

not be distinguished affectively using resistivity data and are represented as a single geoelectrical layer. Fig. 10 shows the results obtained from the site of VES-28 near the borehole W-2 at the southern part of the study area where a clastic aquifer in Abu Mina basin occurs. Borehole lithology data

Fig. 12. Geoelectric cross-section along prole CC0 .

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show that the main aquifer materials are composed of silt and ne to coarse-grained sand in the upper, and of gravels in the deeper part (Fig. 10). The rst geoelectric zone extends from the ground surface to a depth which ranges from 1 to 2 m and attains relatively high resistivity (264 Ohm-m). The relatively high resistivity of this zone can be attributed to ne-grained sediments. The second geoelectric zone underlies the rst zone and extends to a depth of 50 m, with resistivity value of 16 Ohm-m. Interpretation of this zone resistivity, in the light of correlation with the borehole information, indicates water saturated of aquifer materials which composed of coarse-grained sand and gravel. The third layer which has a low resistivity (<5 Ohm-m) is regarded as clay or sandy clay saturated with brackish water.

6.4. Geoelectric cross-sections Three geoelectrical cross-sections were constructed to reveal the lateral and vertical hydro-lithological variations in the study area (Figs. 1113). Of them, two sections are oriented as NESW which are approximately parallel to the Mediterranean coast, while one section is oriented as NS (Fig. 13), which is approximately transverse to the coast. The three sections provide insight into the subsurface sequence in the study area. A total of 10 VES stations were recorded along cross-section B B0 (Fig. 11). Interpreted resistivity values of water-bearing forma-

tions observed from these stations are from 15 to 65 Ohm-m. In general, most of the proles can considered as slightly brackish layer. This brackish layer (1530 Ohm-m) is thicker towards VES 8 and 9 (Fig. 11). Only in VES13, 15, and 16 the fresh water which has true resistivity ranging from 47 to 65 Ohm-m is obtained. Groundwater drawn from well 21 was found to be fresh water (TDS < 1000 mg/l) and it originates from the fresh zone with resistivity of 65 Ohm-m. The fresh water zone can only be seen in the western part near to Bahig canal (Fig. 1). Prole CC0 (Fig. 12) is located 2 km to the south of prole BB0 and is parallel to it. The prole is included the oolitic limestone in the western part and clastic sediments of Abu Mina basin in the eastern part. The interpretation results of this prole indicate that along the total length and to its depth of penetration the fresh and brackish water zones are encountered. The fresh water zone can only be seen in the central part near to Burg El-Arab city (VES 19 and 20). Resistivity values ranging from 11 to 26 Ohm-m represents the brackish water in Abu Mina basin. A much similar resistivity distribution is shown in prole DD0 (Fig. 13), where brackish groundwater zone dominates.

6.5. Resistivity contour maps Based on the interpreted-resistivity of the main aquifers derived from VES data, contour map of average resistivity values

Fig. 13. Geoelectric cross-section along prole DD0 .

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Fig. 14. Contour map of earth resistivity of the main aquifers in the study area.

Fig. 15. Thickness contour map of the water saturated oolitic limestone (A), and combined geoelectrical layer (B) based on interpretation of VESs.

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for oolitic limestone and clastic sediments is shown in Fig. 14. In general, low resistivities of oolitic limestone occur in the northern part, towards Mariut lake, toward the center, the values increase continuously. A comparison of Figs. 14 and 5 suggest that the occurrence of low resistivities is probably, in parts, caused by high concentration of TDS. The water bearing formation in Abu Mina basin has relatively lower resistivities ranging from 3 to 23 Ohm-m all over the basin (Fig. 14). There is a general southward decrease of the resistivities values which may be due to the type of the water present and/or the presence of clay lenses in the aquifer. The variation of the water-bearing formations thickness in the study area is shown in Fig. 15. The maximum thickness of the oolitic limestone is observed in the northwestern part of Burg El-Arab area. The thickness of the clastic sediments in Abu Mina basin varies from 26 to 58 m. The minimum value (26 m) is found at the western part of the investigated area, whereas the maximum thickness (58 m) is found at VES nos. 30 and 31 near El-Nasr canal. 7. Conclusions and recommendations Two aquifers can be identied in the study area, oolitic limestone aquifer and clastic sediments aquifer. The water is used mainly to meet the demands of the agricultural sector in the area. The oolitic limestone aquifer consists of oolitic and pseudo-oolitic calcareous sand grains with occasional pockets of gypsum and clays. The thickness of this aquifer ranges from 20 to 50 m; saturated thickness increase towards the north. The oolitic limestone aquifer acts as a phreatic aquifer. The production rate of wells in the area ranges from 5 to 50 m3/h. The Pleistocene clastic aquifer occurs at Abu mina basin in the south-eastern part of the study area. The water-bearing sediments are mainly of deltaic deposits of gravelly sand whose thickness ranges from 40 to 60 m. This aquifer is bounded by Holocene alluvial deposits above and by Pliocene alternating sand and clay below. Groundwater occurs in this aquifer under semi-conned conditions. Signicant rises in aquifer heads and changes in the ow system have occurred in response to man-made articial surface water canals (e.g. Bahig and El-Nasr canals), exploitation of groundwater, and the accumulation of irrigation return ow which nally joins the underlying groundwater. The water from the oolitic limestone aquifer is a sodium chloride type. Dissolved solids in samples collected from the aquifer ranged from 761 to 5110 mg/l. Water from the clastic aquifer contained dissolved-solid concentrations ranging from 1065 to 5610 mg/l and is a calcium sulfate water type. Water quality of the clastic aquifer has been deteriorating as a result of over pumping from the aquifer and the exposure of shallow groundwater to increased evaporation. Most of the water samples are unt for domestic uses on account of high the concentration of TDS, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate. It can, however, be used for irrigation purposes under special circumstances management for salinity control as the sodium hazard is medium while the salinity hazard ranges from high to very high. Data from this integrated hydrochemical and geoelectrical studies indicate that water quality from the water wells and geophysical surveys varies from fresh to slightly brackish. Based on the resistivity values and geoelectric cross-sections, the area is dominated by slightly brackish groundwater and the fresh water is found as isolated patches. Based on the results of this study, it is recommend that: 1. Drip and sprinkler irrigation system should be introduced to the farmers, which in future may result in a more sustainable use of the existing groundwater resources.

2. Installing a complete network of irrigation and drainage systems, especially in Abu Mina basin, which will enable optimum use of water with minimum losses. 3. Locations future production wells, especially in lowland must be carefully considered by water managers and planners if the adverse impacts of proposed wells withdrawals on the hydrogeologic ow system are to be controlled. 4. Electrical resistivity measurements should be carried out prior any drilling operations for delineating the most appropriated sites in regarding to their salinity and thickness of the aquifers.

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