Spatial Variations of Major Ion Chemistry and Hydrogeochemical Processes of Groundwater, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

A. Okbah, Mohamed; I. El-Gammal, Maie; S. Ibrahim, Mahmoud; A. M. Abokhder, Salah

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.40851

Spatial Variations of Major Ion Chemistry and Hydrogeochemical Processes of Groundwater, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2019.40851

Abstract

The current study is conducted to spatial distribution of major ions and hadrochemical properties of forty groundwater samples collected for one year (during 2017) from ten different Cities of Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Samples for turbidity, pH, conductivity, TDS, total alkalinity, total hardness as well as major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and anions (Cl^-, SO₄^--, CO₃^-- and HCO₃^-) were determined. The results showed variations in the regional annual mean values of all the water quality parameters tested. All the groundwater parameters have lower values than those recorded by the Egyptian standard and WHO, less than the permissible limits. The major cations follow the trend: Na⁺> Ca²⁺> Mg²⁺> K+, the domination of sodium and calcium ions in the groundwater is due to weathering of rocks. The major anions abundance followed the order HCO₃⁻> SO₄²⁻> Cl⁻> CO₃ ^2-. In general, the ground water of Menoufia Governorate is suitable for drinking and agriculture purposes. The molar ratios of major ions of the groundwater revealed that the chemical composition of the groundwater samples was mainly influenced by carbonate weathering with a small contribution of silicate weathering.

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