Zeitschrift für Umweltverschmutzungseffekte und -kontrolle
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Abstrakt

Water Quality Assessment of Mahmoudia Canal in Northern West of Egypt

Ali M Abdullah and Salah El-Dien Hussona

The main water source for Alexandria and Behiera governorate which locate at northern west of Egypt are Mahmoudia canal (receive about 15 Mm3/day), which receive water from Rosetta branch at Mahmoudia city. The canal receives domestic and agriculture wastes from Zarcon Drain and other non-point sources. Drinking water in Alexandria is supplied from surface water sources of Mahmoudia canal. The water is transferred to the eight water treatment plants for treatment operations. The primary objective of conventional drinking water treatment and distribution is to deliver to the consumer water that satisfy the requirements and does not constitute human health risk. To achieve this, water utilities employ a range of physical and chemical barriers in order to reduce risks. The present study offered comprehensive water quality information of Mahmoudia canal. Cluster analysis grouped 10 sampling sites into three groups, less polluted (LP), medium polluted (MP) and highly polluted (HP). The dissolved oxygen concentrations, as indicated by the results of Mahmoudia canal during the period of study, ranged from 4.9 mg O2/l at the beginning of canal after mixing with discharge of Zarcon drain to 5.9 mg O2/l at the Manshia water treatment plant intake while DO values in Khandak canal, (at 15.2 km from starting of the canal) varied from 6 to 6.2 mg O2/l. Nutrient concentrations did not comply with the permissible limits of ammonia, as well as the values of COD and BOD were exceeded the Egypt standards. Ammonia, 20 samples out of 36 samples were not complying with Egypt standard. All COD and BOD data obtained were exceeding of Egypt standard.