Geotechnical Investigation of Sewage Wastewater Disposal Sites and Use of GIS Land Use Maps to Assess Environmental Hazards: Sohag, Upper Egypt
Abstract
Land application is the only currently available technique for sewage wastewater disposal along the Nile Valley in Upper Egypt. Wastewater disposal projects have been established in the lowland desert zone extending between the cultivated floodplain and the Eocene Limestone plateau. The plan is to use the treated wastewater in irrigating woody farmlands. Some wastewater disposal sites are already operating, and several others will be established in the near future. The proposed wastewater disposal sites are located in a sensitive desert zone that is extremely narrow and situated very close to vital resources including the cultivated floodplain, reclaimed lands, residential areas, and surface water resources. In addition, the subsurface sediments of this zone (Pleistocene sand-gravel succession) constitute a significant part of the Quaternary aquifer of the valley. The objective of this study is to characterize and investigate the wastewater disposal sites and assess their probable environmental hazards. The study showed that the available lands are insufficient to accommodate the projected quantities of wastewater. At the currently operating sites, excess raw wastewater is accumulating on the ground surface forming large uncontrolled ponds. Such wastewater ponds represent a potential environmental hazard and might cause disastrous health effects, where chemical and bacteriological pollution of soil, crops and water resources may occur.
Recommended Citation
A. M. Youssef et al., "Geotechnical Investigation of Sewage Wastewater Disposal Sites and Use of GIS Land Use Maps to Assess Environmental Hazards: Sohag, Upper Egypt," Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 719 - 733, Springer Verlag, Aug 2011.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-009-0069-6
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Geochemical Hazards; Geotechnical Investigation; Land use
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1866-7511
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2011 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Aug 2011
