EVALUATING THE SUITABILITY OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY FOR DRINKING AND IRRIGATION PURPOSES IN EL-MINIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Groundwater is an essential source for industrial, agricultural, and domestic water supply, especially in arid regions. The paper aims to assess groundwater quality and evaluate its suitability for drinking and irrigation uses in El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, using geographic information system (GIS) and hydrochemistry analysis. Twenty-seven groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for Physico-chemical parameters, and the spatial distribution of these parameters were mapped using GIS. 96 % of the collected groundwater samples are suitable for drinking according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Egyptian water standards, while 4 % of them are not, due to their high levels of salinity (>1,000 ppm of dissolved solids). The quality of collected water for irrigation was assessed using salinity hazard, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium hazard (MH), Kelly’s ratio (KR), sodium percentage (Na %), and Permeability Index (PI). All water samples are suitable for irrigation according to EC and SAR, but 52 % of the samples are not safe for irrigation when KR is considered. 74% of the wells are suitable for irrigation if Na% is considered, and 78% for RSC, 55.5% for PI, but only 33 % for MH. Assessing the groundwater quality in El-Minia Governorate provides baseline information for policymakers and water resource experts to develop proper management, utilization, and planning of water resources for sustainable management.