IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUNDWATER AQUIFER IN THE DOWNSTREAM OF WADI HODEIN, EL SHALATEEN, RED SEA, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Desert Research Center, Matariya, Cairo

Abstract

Within the framework of the development activities that the country is keen on in the new urban communities through the state’s cooperation with international organizations such as the FAO (Food and agricultural organization) and the WFP (World Food Program) . In addition it contributes the investment entities with the aim of providing the infrastructure and life necessities of digging water wells and paving roads and public facilities that contribute to the success of the new urban communities. One of these areas is the study area, where a group of production wells were drilled for development activities. With the presence of the Nubian sandstone aquifer, they depend on its feeding on rainwater that falls on the detectors of the Nubian sandstone aquifer and cracked base rocks in addition to the surface runoff of torrential water in this Wadi. 
 
Therefore, the management of surface and groundwater resources plays an outstanding role in sustainable development projects in the study area. The greatest benefit from rainwater harvesting techniques from torrents plays a great  role in feeding the aquifers through studying the relationship of rainfall and surface runoff with the aim of determining the volume of surface runoff, maximum discharge, and the time of arrival to the maximum discharge. This done by making a hydrograph of flow for Wadi Hodein. On the other hand, the assessment of the productivity of the shallow Quaternary aquifer and how to benefit from it in the development project plays a role in the success of this project through operating wells in a proper scientific manner. Furthermore, the research team carried out pumping and step drawdown tests for existing wells to assess the aquifer potentiality and the productivity to suggest the operating program for those wells.

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