New Aspects of Water Quality Assessment in the Nile River's Rosetta Branch, Egypt

Azzam, Mohamed Ibrahim; Omran, Kawthar A

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.378508.5740

New Aspects of Water Quality Assessment in the Nile River's Rosetta Branch, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Microbiology Department, Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring, National Water Research Center, El-Kanater El-Khairia 13621/6, Qalibia, Egypt

² Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia

10.21608/ejabf.2025.378508.5740

Abstract

This study provides a thorough evaluation of water quality along the Rosetta branch, from the upstream area of the El-Rahawy drain to the branch's endpoint. The analysis used a correlation matrix to explore the relationships between various water quality parameters. Results from the water quality index (WQI) calculations highlight a significant concern regarding coliform bacterial contamination, which is particularly prevalent during the winter months and is identified as a major factor in the deterioration of water quality in the area. To further investigate the sources of pollution and their impact on mass loading, a two-way ANOVA was applied. This statistical method revealed notable differences in how various pollution sources affect water quality, with some parameters having a more significant impact on mass loading than others. The study identifies the El-Rahawy, Tala, and Sabal drains as the main contributors to pollution, while the Ganob El-Tahreer and Zawiet El-Bahr drains were found to have minimal effect. A notable improvement in water quality was observed toward the end of the branch, attributed to natural self-purification processes and dilution effects. Based on these findings, the study underscores the importance of implementing effective wastewater treatment before discharge or reuse and stresses the need for ongoing monitoring efforts to reduce health risks and protect the delicate aquatic ecosystem within the Rosetta branch.

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